Duurzaamheid

The Sustainability for Conservation Working Group was established to stimulate positive change within the field of restoration by integrating sustainable and socially responsible practices into the professional work process. Recognizing the urgent need for environmental awareness, the group brings together a multidisciplinary network of professionals committed to reducing the environmental footprint of cultural heritage activities.

Our aim is to promote sustainability in conservation and restoration through knowledge sharing, collaboration and practical action. We aim to provide professionals with tools, insights and resources to make more sustainable choices, both in theory and in practice. From organising practical workshops and webinars, to setting up platforms for exchanging materials and sharing best practices, we offer ample opportunities for continuous development and collaboration.

The working group also supports other RN working groups by advising on more sustainable solutions, tailored to different specializations. We create connections between disciplines and ensure that sustainability becomes a natural part of every project, decision and restoration method.

The group was founded on the belief that sustainability should be accessible and inclusive, and therefore encourages participation from conservators, researchers, students and other concerned professionals, wherever they are on their journey to more sustainable practice.

Why join us?
Whether you are looking for more sustainable alternatives, want to connect with like-minded professionals, or want to actively contribute to the transition to a more sustainable field: this working group offers an open and collaborative platform.

Would you like to become a member or collaborate on a project?
We warmly invite you to join us in building a greener future for cultural heritage.

📧 Contact: bianca.ds.goncalves@gmail.com

De werkgroepcoördinatoren

Bianca Goncalves

The current coordinators have diverse areas of expertise, including painting restoration, ship restoration, academic research and material innovation. This diversity strengthens the objectives of the working group and ensures a dynamic exchange of ideas and experiences.

• Bianca Gonçalves (Chair) – Painting Conservator & Junior Researcher, GoGreen (Rijksmuseum)
Bianca Gonçalves is a Brazilian painting conservator working in the Netherlands and Brazil through Atelier CurArte. She is also a part-time junior researcher at the Rijksmuseum for the GoGreen project. She was trained in Portugal and Belgium, and has worked in Europe, Brazil and Australia. Bianca integrates sustainable practices into her practice and promotes accessibility within the conservation profession. She is a volunteer at Sustainability in Conservation and manages social media for both SiC and KiCulture.

• Magdalena Wsol (Treasurer) – Painting Conservator, Redivivus & Coordinator EUKON Conservation
Magdalena is a painting conservator at Redivivus and coordinator of EUKON Conservation, a platform for restoration education in Poland. As a former member of SiC Poland, she focuses on sustainable practices applicable in independent studios. Through her studio Pracownia w Ramach, she organizes initiatives with a focus on sustainability and stimulates cross-border knowledge sharing, especially within smaller restoration communities.

• Catarina Rocha Pires (Coordinator) – Painting Conservator & PhD Candidate, MOXY project
Catarina Rocha Pires is a PhD candidate at the University of Amsterdam and part of the Horizon Europe MOXY project, supervised by Prof. Dr. Klaas Jan van den Berg and Dr. Emilie Froment. She obtained both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Conservation and Restoration from the NOVA School of Science and Technology in Lisbon, Portugal. Prior to her PhD, Catarina gained practical experience in conservation and restoration and in conservation science through internships at the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) in Amsterdam, SRAL The Conservation Institute in Maastricht, and various museums in Lisbon.

• Joram Lehmann (Coordinator) – Ship restorer, Lehmann Ship Restoration.
Joram Lehmann is a specialist in the restoration of iron and steel ships, particularly those constructed using riveting techniques, a hallmark of vessels built before 1960. Since 2000, he has worked independently under Lehmann Scheepsrestauratie, restoring maritime and industrial heritage such as steam boilers, ships, and bridges. Trained initially as a piano technician at the Pianovakschool Amsterdam, he later pursued music studies at the Conservatorium Constantijn Huygens in Zwolle and earned a master’s degree from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

Duurzaamheid

De werkgroepcoördinatoren

Webinar recap: Sustainability in Conservation with Lorraine Finch

Removal of Varnishes in Aqueous Environment