– Addressing professional capacity building needs in Sri Lanka’s arts and cultural sector
The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Sri Lanka (MMCA Sri Lanka) successfully concluded its third Museum Intensive on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the cleaning and storage of archival materials. The Museum Intensive programme developed by the MMCA Sri Lanka provides critical training to professionals in Sri Lanka’s arts and cultural sector, reinforcing the museum’s commitment to building local expertise in art conservation and museum practices.
Museum Intensive 3, held in Colombo on 10 and 11 March, was developed in close collaboration with World Monuments Fund. The two-day programme was facilitated by freelance paper conservation consultant Nicola Walker ACR, a Tutor at the City & Guilds of London Art School, UK and a Senior Conservator in Paper and Photography at the National Trust, United Kingdom.
The training combined theoretical knowledge with hands-on practice, ensuring that participants could apply their learning to real-world scenarios. Day one focused on best practices for handling paper-based materials and identifying key agents of deterioration. Participants were then introduced to Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which included recognising common pests that threaten archival materials, emergency responses to mould outbreaks, and practical demonstrations of pest eradication techniques, including freezing treatments.
The second day focused on cleaning and storing paper-based and photographic materials, emphasizing archival stability. Key sessions included surface cleaning techniques, where participants explored various tools and methods for safely cleaning delicate documents, and best practices for storage.
Speaking about the programme, Sharmini Pereira, Chief Curator at the MMCA Sri Lanka, stated that, “Our Museum Intensive programme is a cornerstone of our mission to promote professional development in Sri Lanka’s cultural sector. By collaborating with international experts, we ensure that local practitioners receive world-class training tailored to our unique challenges. This programme not only enhances individual skills but also strengthens the broader ecosystem of art conservation in the country.”
The workshop gathered professionals from prominent cultural institutions, including the National Art Gallery, Collective for Historical Dialogue and Memory, Lionel Wendt Art Centre, Curado Art Space, Foto Design, University of Jaffna, and Sri Lanka Archive Of Contemporary Art, Architecture & Design, along with independent conservation professionals and MMCA Sri Lanka team members.
“I am delighted to be working with the very talented team at the MMCA Sri Lanka. Together with huge support from World Monuments Fund, strong connections are being made across the cultural sector, providing a forum for learning, communication, and developing new skills within the area of collections care,” added Walker.
The MMCA Sri Lanka is an education-led initiative dedicated to establishing a public museum for Sri Lankan modern and contemporary art. Training programmes such as Museum Intensive reinforce the MMCA Sri Lanka’s role as a catalyst for professional growth in the museum and cultural sector in Sri Lanka. Museum Intensive targets professionals and trainees, including students who work or aspire to work in public and private museums and galleries across the country, as it was developed to address professional capacity-building needs within Sri Lanka’s cultural sector. Information about the museum can be found on its website, www.mmca-srilanka.org, or on Facebook at facebook.com/mmcasrilanka and Instagram at instagram.com/mmcasrilanka.
