The MMCA Sri Lanka Hosts Second ‘Museum Intensive’

The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) conducted the second edition of its Museum Intensive training programme on 27 June. This one-day workshop focused on paper and photography conservation and was developed in close partnership with the World Monuments Fund (WMF). The MMCA Sri Lanka’s Museum Intensive series is designed to address professional capacity-building needs within Sri Lanka’s cultural sector.

The workshop brought together 50 professionals in Sri Lanka with an entry-level understanding of paper and photography conservation. It was structured to provide an introduction to caring for paper-based materials and the agents of deterioration that affect paper and covered handling, storage, and types of treatments. Participants benefited from hands-on demonstrations using actual paper and photographic samples.

Speaking about the second Museum Intensive on Paper and Photography Conservation, Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator at the MMCA Sri Lanka said, “This programming is conceived in collaboration with international organisations, and targets professionals, including students, working or aspiring to work in public and private museum and gallery environments in Sri Lanka.” She added, “The goal is to build capacity within our cultural sector, across a wide range of areas specific to the needs of the local context.”

The first Museum Intensive held in October 2022 focused on Audience Engagement. It included significant discussion, project-based learning, and collaborative work, guided by visiting professionals and MMCA Sri Lanka staff. Following its success, the second Museum Intensive on Paper and Photography Conservation was led by Dr Lois Rowe, Principal at the City and Guilds of London Art School, and Nicola Walker, Senior Conservator for Paper & Photography at the National Trust, UK, and Tutor on the Book and Paper Conservation course at the City & Guilds of London Art School.

The MMCA Sri Lanka is an education-led initiative that aims to establish a public museum dedicated to the display, research, collection, and conservation of modern and contemporary art for the benefit and enjoyment of the general public, schools, and tourists. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm (except on Poya days and public holidays) on the ground floor of Crescat Boulevard, Colombo 3, and the entrance to the museum and all its public programmes are free. Information about the museum and its exhibitions and public programmes can be found via its website www.mmca-srilanka.org, or on Facebook at facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at instagram.com/mmcasrilanka/.