Category 2: Department Statements

This category is part of The National Gallery Art Handling Manual

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Subcategory 2.4

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• Subcategory 1
• Subcategory 2
• Subcategory 3
• Subcategory 4

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The Art Handling Department at the National Gallery has been formed to provide specialised, technical support to a number of different divisions within the Gallery. This includes Conservation, Curatorial, Photographic and Exhibitions as well as a number of other departments. Our role is to help realise the goals of these areas by taking responsibility for the installation, transportation and all aspects of manual handling of the Collection at the Gallery.

Our remit is to follow the highest standard of care for the Collection. As a principal, we consider our work as an arm of Conservation, carrying out our tasks with reference to all current conservation recommendations and believing our first task being the reduction or elimination of risk, and preventing damage to the objects in our care.

We believe we also have a role and a responsibility to lead on innovations and improvements in art handling techniques. To fulfil this aim, we have created a program of design that has produced a series of specialised equipment as well as new procedures to improve our work with the Collection. We continue to look for improvements from within the Department as well as take a keen interest in the work of other departments in the field, helping to inform our own ideas.

The responsibilities of the Department also extend to promoting the work of Art Handling outside of the Gallery environment. This involves creating contacts within the area of art handling, exchanging ideas and techniques and if requested or where a need is identified, creating training opportunities for other art handling operations.

The Art Handling Department occupies an important and significant role within the practical life of the National Gallery. By creating an environment of care and innovation within our field, we aim to contribute to the future activities of the Gallery, ensuring the Collection continues to be used as intended for many years to come.

Patrick O’Sullivan | Head of Art Handling | The National Gallery