Midwest Art Conservation Center Upcoming Workshops
Forwarded from one of our members Lauren Fly:
Several workshops from the Midwest Art Conservation Center (MACC) with one from Lauren Fly who previously presented at 2024 MRCG Symposium:
In Person: Courier Training
February 6th and 7th, 2025, 9:00AM – 4:30 PM Central Time
Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Instructors: Lauren Fly, Samantha Springer, and Meg Colbert
This two day in person workshop will prepare you to successfully work as a contract courier during any stage of the loan process and follow good courier practices. From accompanying an object during travel and navigating cargo flights to building trust with clients and problem solving crate modifications, this workshop will cover it all. The first day combines materials from the Courier Training Program Framework developed by several European registrars groups to promote best practices in the museum and gallery sector. The second day focuses on best practices for packing and crating with focus on the aspects a courier might need to provide the best care for loaned objects.
This training is targeted towards private practice conservators and collections care professionals with a wide range of background experience – from those who have not supplied courier services before to those who have travelled broadly. The curriculum provides attendees with a comprehensive courier manual including training presentations, real-world scenario exercises, and practical checklists.
Through the combination of tabletop exercises, group discussion, hands-on activity, Q&A period, a bibliography of online resources, and take-home worksheets, participants will learn:
The responsibilities of working as a contract courier
Best practices for local travel with a loan
On-site expectations of the borrower and lender for packing/unpacking and installation/de-installation
How to establish trust with the lender
Considerations for determining courier fees
Determining what services to offer
The tools and equipment needed as a courier
Questions to ask the lender and borrower
Courier-specific contract and insurance needs
How to market courier services
Review of basic crate types and their appropriate use cases
Fundamentals of crate construction, signage, and documentation
Overview of materials used for crating and packing
Strategies for handling and storing crates
Common crating and packing issues encountered as a courier, and how to troubleshoot on site
Lauren Fly is the founder of Fly Arts Initiative, a conservation and collections management practice in New York City. She trained at NYU’s Conservation Center and the Hamilton Kerr Institute at Cambridge, focusing on structural treatment of paintings on canvas. With 20 years of experience, Lauren works with museums, collectors, and galleries, and is active in conservation education and public awareness.
Samantha Springer established Art Solutions Lab in 2020 in the Portland, Oregon area to provide preventive care and treatment services to arts and culture organizations, municipalities, artists, and private collectors. Her practice grows from her MS attained at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation, MA in Art History from Hunter College and experience at major museums. A generalist in object conservation, Samantha specializes in preventive care and sustainability, collaborating with living artists to preserve cultural heritage. She also serves as AIC Board Director of Committees and Networks.
Meg Colbert has been active in art services since 1997, collaborating with museums, galleries, and private collections to design specialized packing and crating solutions. With a Master’s in Art History from Hunter College and an MLIS from SUNY Buffalo, she has shared her expertise at prominent conservation conferences, including the AIC Annual Meetings and ARCS Conference. Meg authored the widely referenced Packing Sculptures for Storage and Transport and is currently developing a companion volume focused on flatworks.
Fee: $400 Register here
