Textile Conservation Centre closure

Closure of the Textile Conservation Centre on 31 October 2009
confirmed

Statement issued by the TCC Foundation

TCC CLOSURE

As recipients of earlier updates about the future of the Textile
Conservation Centre will be aware, the University of Southampton has
decided to close the TCC on 31 October 2009.  The Centre's
supporting Trust, the TCC Foundation, has for some months been
discussing the possibility of transferring elements of the Centre's
work to the School of Archaeology, University of Oxford. Although
there were many benefits to be gained from such a move, it is now
clear that a transfer will not be feasible. The pressure on creating
new student places at the University of Oxford meant that a viable
plan proved impossible.

The Textile Conservation Centre will therefore be closed by the
University of Southampton on 31 October 2009 and its staff will be
made redundant with effect from 1 November 2009

Textile Conservation Centre Foundation

The TCC Foundation will continue to make every effort to ensure that
the TCC's work, accumulated knowledge and expertise will not be
completely lost as a result of the University of Southampton's
closure decision.  The Foundation Trustees are meeting shortly to
review options and will issue a further statement in due course.

Speaking on behalf of the Foundation, Peter Longman, Deputy
Chairman, thanked those responsible at the TCC and the Universities
of Oxford and Southampton who had worked hard to explore the
possibility of transfer.   Longman said "this closure will have
serious implications for the conservation and museum sector in terms
of career-entry education, CPD and research."  These pressing issues
are highlighted in Demos' It's a Material World report,initiated by
the TCC Foundation.  This report is downloadable from

    <URL:http://www.demos.co.uk/publications/materialworld>

Next Few Months

Until 31 October 2009 all the TCC's activities will continue as
normal: the two MA programmes (MA Textile Conservation and MA
Museums and Galleries), commercial work and research by staff and
PhD students.

Time will also be made to celebrate the huge achievements of the
Centre since it was founded by Karen Finch OBE in 1975.  To that end
the TCC is organising two open days (18-19 June 2009) for
supporters, former clients, graduates and the Centre's friends to
see the work of the current staff and students for one final time
before closure.  A major reception will also be held in London for
those who have funded and supported the TCC over the past 34 years.

For more information about the closure or about the TCC's June Open
days please contact Nell Hoare, Director of the TCC, at
tccuk<-at->soton<.>ac<.>uk


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                  Conservation DistList Instance 22:48
                Distributed: Thursday, February 26, 2009
                       Message Id: cdl-22-48-001
                                  ***