Training Opportunity

Collections Care for Costume and Textiles

Free Training Course for East Devon Museums at Axminster Heritage Centre

This training will give you the knowledge and experience to learn:

  • how to pack a range of costume and textiles for storage
  • how to prepare them for freezing, as a pest treatment
  • how to approach the display of costume and textiles, introducing the mounting of costume, including C20th uniforms and C19th bonnets.

Part 1: Handling and packing costume for storage and for freezing

Resources: Acid free tissue, costume, costume boxes, polythene, parcel tape, handouts

Part 2: An introduction to the display of costume, including C20th uniforms and C19th bonnets

Resources: Fosshape, Plastazote LD45 foam, acid free card, polyester wadding, scoured unbleached cotton calico, scoured unbleached cotton jersey, lightweight silk habotai, polyester boning (Rigilene), Gutermann cotton sewing thread, pattern paper, sewing machine, iron, sleeve ironing board, cutting mat, scalpels, scissors, costume books, Lara Flecker book, handouts

Opportunity to view a Georgian Axminster Carpet conserved in 2018, and a new display of a Thomas Whitty Rug conserved in 2023 at Axminster Heritage Centre.

About the trainer: Morwena Stephens has over 25 years of experience as a textile and world cultures costume conservator. She carries out collection care surveys, improvements and training, and the remedial conservation and mounting of costumes and textiles. She is based in Exeter and recent projects have included the conservation of children’s dress for Killerton House, collection care improvements to the textile pattern book collection at Coldharbour Mill and the conservation of a Samurai armour for St Michael’s Mount.

This ACED training opportunity is funded by the UK Government through the Shared Prosperity Fund.

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Morris Dancers © Kyle Baker Photography