ABSTRACT
In order to understand textile conservation at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) today, it is essential to understand its roots and the massive changes which have occurred in the last half century. This case study documents changes in textile conservation practice at the V&A since the 1960s, including the change from in-post training to the employment of those graduating from formal conservation training courses, and the development of costume mounting as an integral part of the textile conservation role. Work practice was influenced by the development of major multi-venue international tours from the early 1980s, while the establishment of private conservation commissions also led to the introduction of a more structured, business-like approach into studio practice. By 2010 all work at the V&A was governed by the Strategic Plan and the overall Future Plan development strategy with the overarching requirements of the V&A always in mind: the ambitious public programme, the need to deliver within strict budgetary parameters and increasingly restricting financial constraints. This swing towards conservation as a cost-effective business has been rapid and has escalated as we have moved increasingly towards a project culture.
