Australia Assists to Conserve Eastern Indonesian Artefacts

Australia is sponsoring a three-week workshop and training program at the East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Provincial Museum in Kupang to help conserve fragile wooden and bamboo artefacts from Eastern Indonesia.

“Rare and precious cultural heritage items from Eastern Indonesia are commonly made of wood and bamboo, so we are delighted this workshop will be of direct assistance to the Museum NTT in managing its unique collection,” said Australian Ambassador to Indonesia, Bill Farmer.

The program will be conducted from 1 to 18 April by Australian conservator Carolyn McLennan from the Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory.

The workshop will provide a ‘hands on’ experience to show local museum staff how to identify vulnerable wooden and bamboo objects with active infestations, including demonstrations of fumigation techniques to preserve threatened items.

Ms McLennan will also work with the NTT Museum to create a dedicated textile storage facility which will include the construction of textile storage racks to prevent damage caused by exposure to insects and light.

The project, which is sponsored by the Australian Government through the Australia- Indonesia Institute, will build on strong people-to-people relationships between Eastern Indonesian and Northern Australian cultural heritage specialists.

“This close cooperation at a cultural level is just one of the practical ways in which Australia and Indonesia are working together as close neighbours,” Mr Farmer said.

Further information:
Fiona Hoggart, First Secretary (Cultural) Tel. (021) 2550 5265, mob. 0811 936 302