Welcome to the 59th season of the Washington Conservation Guild!
This page will update as venues, speakers, and talk titles are confirmed and event recordings are edited. Be sure to browse our previous seasons or past meeting summaries.
September 6, 2025 (Saturday 11:30–12:30 pm)
In-person Member Tour of the Heurich House Museum
October 2, 2025 (Thursday 5:00–7:00 pm) | MEETING RECORDING
“New Technology in the Service of Cavity, Brace Packing, and Storage of Culture Objects” in-person lecture with Bob Crozier and Blaine Edlefsen of ArtFit 3D at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Building
November Safety Summit rescheduled in January
December 4, 2025 (Thursday 5:15–6:30 pm) | MEETING RECORDING
“Discovering Hidden Paint Treasures at the Brice House in Annapolis” virtual lecture with Dr. Susan Buck, Private Practice Conservator and Paint Analyst
Followed by an in-person Member Tour on Saturday, December 6, 2025
January 22–23, 2026 (Thursday & Friday 1:00–5:00 pm)
“8th Safety and Cultural Heritage Summit” virtual conference
Day 1
- Opening Remarks by Lauren Kesslak
- Keynote Address by Brandy Howard and Kate McEnroe
- Lightning Round Talks
- “Paper Trails and Safety Tales: Power BI for Instant Health Safety Insights in Book and Paper Conservation” by Natalie Granados
- “Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB) containing Artifacts” by Allison Kelley and Matt Gross
- “Recommended Practice: Lighting Museums” by Scott Rosenfeld
- “Bridging Disciplines: The Critical Role of Health + Safety Collaborations in Hazardous Collections Surveys” by Kerith Koss Schrager and Rachael Perkins Arenstein
- “Museum Occupational Exposure Assessment Study” by Paul Wambach and Kathryn Makos
- “Mitigating Mercury: Analyzing, Documenting and Stabilizing a Collection of Mercury Tall Clock Pendulums” by Mallory Warner, Dawn Wallace, and Claudia Meyer
- Closing Remarks by Keara Teeter
Day 2
- Opening Remarks by Lauren Kesslak
- “Moving Towards a Balanced Approach to the Screening, Interpretation, and Reporting of Hazardous Residues on the Collections at the National Museum of the American Indian” by Beth Holford and Céline Wachsmuth
- “Developing a Sharable Guide Based on Experience in Adapting Established Occupational Environmental Health & Safety Practices in a Museum Setting” by Maria Fusco, Lauren Holt, and Steven Laudicina
- “Going Greener: A Comparative Inventory of Greener Products for the Preservation site in the European legislative and research framework” by Davide Del Curto and Anna Turrina
- Lightning Round Talks
- “Reducing Energy While Preserving Experience and Engagement” by Anna Roderick
- “Statewide Effort to Improve Safety for Staff and Collections” by Ann Marie Willer
- “Germicidal Ultraviolet Disinfection of Public Spaces” by Kathleen M McPhaul
- “Valentine’s Day Vandalism in the National Archives Rotunda: A Collaborative Recovery Effort” by Stephanie Hornbeck and Amy Lubick
- Closing Remarks by Keara Teeter
February 5, 2026 (Thursday 5:00–7:30 pm)
Annual “Three-Ring Circus” Lecture Series in-person at the Smithsonian’s S. Dillon Ripley Center
March 5, 2026 (Thursday 5:30–7:00 pm)
“Community Support Session for WCG Members Grappling with Current Events” in-person meeting with Ilana Hipshman, LCSW-C (Licensed Certified Social Worker – Clinical) at Teaism Penn Quarter
March 28, 2026 (Saturday TBA)
Natural Dye workshop with Fatima Janneh
April 2, 2026 (Thursday 5:00–7:00 pm)
“Emerging Professional Talks” in-person lectures at the Folger Shakespeare Library
April 11, 2026 (Saturday 9:30–5:00)
Community Partnership Project at the General Federation of Women’s Clubs Headquarters
May 14, 2026 (Thursday 5:00–7:00 pm)
Annual “Business Meeting & Raffle” in-person program at the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington
