Andrew W. Mellon Fellow in Media Conservation

Brooklyn Museum and Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), New York (USA)

BIO

Flaminia Fortunato is currently completing an Andrew W. Mellon fellowship in media conservation at the Brooklyn Museum in New York. Previously, she was a fellow at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) New York. As part of the conservation team at the museum, she is involved in day to day acquisition, documentation, installation and conservation of the media collection. She holds a MA in Conservation-Restoration of Modern Materials and Media from the University of the Arts Bern, Switzerland and has gained experience in conservation both in museum settings and private studios.

ABSTRACT

Acquisition of Media Works in Museum Collections Today

The acquisition of media works in museum collection is a crucial moment in the life-cycle of an artwork, its display and preservation.

This process requires a proactive approach which includes collaborating with other departments within the institution, establishing a dialogue with the artist and artist’s representative and, gaining an initial understanding of the aural and technical qualities of the work. Many factors influence acquisition practices and those often depend on the type of collecting institution, the artwork acquired, the type of acquisition (if a gift or a purchase) and the team responsible for shepherding works into the collection.

Borrowing from the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Brooklyn Museum’s recent acquisitions, this presentation will illustrate practices and challenges encountered during the acquisition of media works. Bringing the perspective of a member of the conservation team, this presentation will highlight how collaboration within and outside the institution contributed to the understanding of these works and ultimately to care for the museums media collections.