1st Edition of the Tools for Art and Conservation Science

Science Retreats, LDA, is a SME created in April 2015 with the overarching mission of promoting dissemination of knowledge in the realms of arts, sciences and humanities. The company manages the “Casa Morgado do Esporão”, while undertaking businesses in the following activities: provision of fully furnished accommodation for tourists (classification of economic activities CAE 55201), organization of training events (CAE 85591 and 85593), organization of fairs, congresses, meetings and other similar events (CAE 82300).

Science Retreats

ScienceRetreats and <A HREF="http://www.hercules.uevora.pt/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">HERCULES</A>, at the University of Evora, are jointly organizing the 1st edition of the course Tools for Art and Conservation Science. Photography and optical microscopy are among the oldest available tools for conservation science in the laboratory, but for in situ research the use of costly, complex and sometimes bulky equipments can still present some practical restrictions. This lead us to focus the 1st edition of this course on teaching resourceful techniques for Heritage conservation. Our target audience includes historians, architects, art technicians and lovers of wall paintings in general.
Using 17th and 19th century wall paintings at House Morgado do Esporão as case studies, this workshop will teach how to assess the painters craft and evaluate the overall state of conservation with cost-effective, light and easily handled digital cameras and optical microscopes. This 5-days training course aims to provide theoretical and practical skills for in loco documentation and analysis of paint layers in different working conditions and light sources including image capture, photo editing; interpretation of the photographs and of optical images for art, art history and conservation purposes.   
The program comprises:
- Comprehensive overview of wall paintings conservation science;
- Photographic documentation in visible and raking light with standard and advanced imaging tools: photo mosaics, panoramic views, Reflectance Transforming Image RTI and macro.
- Technical photography in three spectral bands with a digital transformed camera for full spectrum - ultraviolet (360-400nm), visible Vis (400-780nm) and Infrared IR ( 780-1100nm) - in five technical methods:  UV fluorescence (UVF), UV reflected (UVR), near infrared photography (NIR) and infrared false color (IRFC)
- Digital optic microscopy and microphotography of paint layers and pigments  with 20x to 453 x amplifications.
- Integration of results and discussion
Requirements 
No special requirements although we are expecting to recruit students with a background in archaeology, history of art, photography, restoration.
Language
English
Fees and cancelation policy
20% discounts on the registration fee are available to students and researchers from Hercules and students from the University of Évora (contact us by email to obtain the promotional code). When paying through a non-Portuguese EU institution you will be exempt of VAT (value added tax) if you provide the adequate VAT tax code. If you come from outside the EU you are also exempt of VAT. Should you prefer paying the registration fee via wire transfer let us know and we'll provide you with the necessary information. 
If you wish to cancel your participation in this course, cancellations up to 20 days before the course start date will incur a 30% cancellation fee. For later cancellations, or non-attendance, the full course fee will be charged. In the unlikely event that the course is cancelled due to unforeseen circumstances, accepted candidates will either be entitled to a full refund of the course fee, or the fee can be credited toward a future course. The organisation is not responsible for travel costs, or any other expenses incurred by the candidate as a result of such cancellation. Every effort will be made to avoid the cancellation of the planned course.
Participation
The course accepts a minimum of 8 students and maximum of 10 students.
Logistics
The course fee includes participation in the course, provision of course material and the certificate of participation in the end of the course, as well as daily coffee breaks (offering assortment of coffees, teas, fruit juices and cookies).
There will be limited accommodation at the “<A HREF="Logistics%20The%20course%20fee%20includes%20participation%20in%20the%20course,%20provision%20of%20course%20material%20and%20the%20certificate%20of%20participation%20in%20the%20end%20of%20the%20course,%20as%20well%20as%20daily%20coffee%20breaks%20(offering%20assortment%20of%20coffees,%20teas,%20fruit%20juices%20and%20cookies).%20%20%20There%20will%20be%20limited%20accommodation%20at%20the%20“Casa%20Morgado%20Esporão”.%2010%%20discounts%20on%20announced%20rates%20will%20be%20offered%20to%20registered%20students.%20Should%20they%20wish,%20students%20will%20also%20be%20able%20to%20share%20double%20rooms%20and%20apartments%20in%20the%20house.%20Alternatively,%20there%20is%20also%20a%20wide%20range%20of%20accommodation%20options%20in%20the%20city%20centre.%20Once%20registered%20let%20us%20know%20what%20are%20your%20preferred%20options%20for%20accommodation%20are%20and%20we’ll%20be%20more%20than%20happy%20to%20advice.%20%20" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Casa Morgado Esporão</A>”. 10% discounts on announced rates will be offered to registered students. Should they wish, students can share double rooms and apartments in the house. Alternatively, there is also a wide range of accommodation options in the city centre. Once registered let us know what your preferred options for accommodation are and we’ll be more than happy to provide assistance.
About the instructors: 
Dr. Milene Gil
Is a post-doctoral research fellow on Mural Paintings Conservation Science at <A HREF="http://www.hercules.uevora.pt/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">HERCULES</A> Laboratory of Évora University . She began her career  in 1995 and has since developed her skills by training in international renowned Conservation Institutions such as Instituto Centrale per il Restauro (Italy), University for Applied Science and Art of Hildesheim (Germany); Restoration Department of the archeological site of Pompei (Italy) and at Centre d’Études de Peintures Murales Romaines (France). From 2004 to 2007, she also worked as a professional expert at the Coptic Monastery of El-Suryan (Egypt) in tempera and encaustic paintings. She obtained her PhD in 2010 in conservation and restoration at the Faculty of Science and Technology of University Nova of Lisbon in Art Theory, History and Artistic Production Techniques.For the past 15 years, she has worked in preventive conservation, documentation, diagnostic, technical and material investigations in some of the most emblematic sites of Portuguese mural art and architecture, such as the facades of Terreiro do Paço, in Lisbon, the Rotunda of the Convent of Christ, in Tomar, and the Roman Archeological Site of Tróia. She is also actively engaged since 2007 in the training and promotion of Portuguese mural cultural heritage through FCT projects (Mural Paintingd2D and PRIM’ART), outreach activities such as papers, lectures, workshops, online documentaries, exhibitions, guided visits, regional and national education networks for academic and public in general.
Manuel Ribeiro
Manuel Ribeiro is a professional photographer and videographer specialized in the documentation of cultural heritage. His professional career began in 1983 and he spent the subsequent six years working in documentation of archaeological sites and digs, studio photography of artifacts and photo archive management for the former government institute IPPC (now DGPC). In 1990, in partnership with a graphics designer, started a small company providing general communication services for publications and exhibits tailored for cultural heritage institutions. In 2000 he began working independently as a freelance photographer, continuing to develop his skills in the documentation of cultural heritage, mainly in the area of book illustrations, catalogues and exhibits for the former IGESPAR (now DGPC) and his illustrative photography featured in several issues of the scientific magazine Monumentos for the former DGEMN (now IHRU). From 2010 onwards he became increasingly interested in technical photography (multispectral, panoramas, mosaics, RTI). During the same period, his emerging interest in videography production and direction led to several short and mid length documentaries. In 2015, he founded <A HREF="http://qm0.pt/" TARGET="_blank" DATA-MSYS-CLICKTRACK="0" REL="nofollow noopener noreferrer">QMØ</A>, a small production company providing integrated services for cultural heritage. Manuel Ribeiro has much experience providing professional training. In 2016 he won  the Mais Arte &amp; Fotografia award of the Mais Alentejo magazine.