FUNDAMENTALS OF CONSERVATION AND MANAGEMENT OF CULTURAL HERITAGE I

Part of the core teaching in Conservation of Cultural Heritage and Performing Arts Management, the course is designed for students enrolled in the archaeological and historical-artistic curricula and aims to provide the methodological tools and basic notional skills regarding the conservation and management of works of art in museums.

The objectives of the teaching are: to provide a solid knowledge of the fundamental features of the history of museums and their conceptual and physical evolution, illustrating the cultural reasons, functions and types of organization and set-up over the centuries; to make students capable of interpreting the present exhibition forms in the light of the historical evolution of the relationship between a work of art and the museum context and of the relationship between a work of art and the public; allow female students to identify with awareness the critical issues underlying the current debates regarding museums.

This course constitutes the first part of the course of Elements of management and conservation of cultural heritage and is connected to the second module of 6 credits (FT0451-2, held by prof. Cupperi), with which it shares the final test.

-knowledge and understanding: attendance of the course and individual study will allow female students to acquire the fundamental vocabulary of museology and museography and basic knowledge on the history of museums, their functioning, their social role and their management from past to present.

- ability to apply knowledge and understanding: knowing how to recognize the distinctive features of an organization and an exhibition in relation to its context and knowing how to compare it with similar cases; being able to identify the main problems related to the different methods of conservation and display; know the relationship between conservation interventions and museology.

- ability to judge: ability to critically evaluate the choices of organization, displaying and management of a contemporary museum on the basis of the criteria it presents, recognizing its forms and cultural reasons.

- communication skills: knowing how to use the specific vocabulary of museology in an appropriate way to describe the historical and contemporary museum reality; acquire the ability to intervene with full knowledge of the facts in the debate on the issues of heritage management and conservation by comparing themselves with colleagues and teachers.

- learning ability: knowing how to recognize the fundamental characteristics of a museum from the point of view of organization and set-up; knowing how to place the history of a museum in the broader evolution of the history of European and world museums with reference to historical-social contexts and with comparisons with similar or opposable cases.

No particular prerequisites required, however knowledge of the history of ancient and modern art would be desirable and visiting museums (at least venetian ones) is strongly recommended.

The module (6 cfu) will deal with museology and elements of museography.

The lectures will start by addressing the specific vocabulary of the discipline and some conceptual issues related to collecting and the museum.
Through case studies linked to works and contexts of primary importance, the course will then proceed by analysing the evolution of the methods of conservation, exhibition and presentation of works of art (from ancient sculpture to contemporary art) in the major European centres, with particular attention to the Italian territory, and will then extend to the world context from the 20th century to the present day.
The course aims to provide the tools to understand the evolution of the status of movable works of art from objects of worship or everyday use to museum pieces, through the analysis of the phases of culture and taste that have led from the formation of collections to the concept of the modern museum, up to the crisis and renewal of the same concept in today's society.

Lessons' Structure:
The first part of the course will consider the studioli, the wunderkammer/kunstkammer, the modes of displaying ancient sculpture between the 1500s and 1600s in Florence, Rome and Venice and the Museums of the Enlightenment.
The second part of the course will analyse the Napoleonic period through the birth of the Louvre Museum, addressing in parallel the issue of Napoleonic requisitions and the development of museums in conquered territories.
The third part of the course will consider the great museums of the 19th century in Germany, England and post-unification Italy, leading to the 20th century debate up to the era of reconstruction.
The last part of the course will be devoted to the museums of the 21st century and the challenges of the globalised society.

Since it is not possible to hold lectures at museum sites due to the high number of participants in the classroom, museum professionals will be invited during the course to explore the more practical aspects of museum management and operation.

All students are obliged to study the adopted bibliography, knowledge of which is a prerequisite for passing the examination.

Compulsory bibliography:

- Maria Teresa Fiorio, "Il museo nella storia. Dallo studiolo al museo virtuale", Pearson, Milano 2023.
- Maria Vittoria Marini Clarelli, "Il museo nel mondo contemporaneo. La teoria e la prassi", Carocci, Roma 2024, pp.21-90; 163-190 (capitoli 1, 2, 3, 4, 9).

Recommended bibliography:

- G. Bazin, "Le temps des musées", prefazione e traduzione di P. Dragoni, Edifir, Firenze, 2018 (Introduction and chapter VI, pp. 95-108).

PLEASE NOTE: All students are required to visit at least one Italian museum of their choice (provided they are National or International Galleries/Museums, or Civic Museums that preserve archaeological works and/or medieval, modern, contemporary art), of which they must be able to narrate the history of the formation of the collections and to refer to the current criteria of arrangement and display. The visit to the chosen museum should take place after the end of the lessons or after reading the reference bibliography, so that what is observed in situ can be related to what was learnt during the course.

The verification takes place through a written test concerning both module I and module II (prof. Cupperi), during which candidates are required to answer questions relating to the exam program of both modules (3/4 questions related to Module I, 3/4 questions related to Module II).
For organisational reasons, the two parts of the test (Module 1/Module 2) may be held on different days. In any case, the grades will be given by the sum of the marks obtained in the two parts of the test, for each of which a maximum of 15 points (+lode) will be awarded.

For the Module I test, candidates will have 2 hours to answer open-ended questions on the topics covered during the course and on what they have learnt from the compulsory bibliography. Examples of questions will be given during the optional tutorials.

Four exam sessions will be guaranteed.

No books, notes, paper or electronic media of any kind may be used during the written examination and no talking to other candidates is allowed.

EVALUATION CRITERIA:
- correctness and propriety in the use of language and vocabulary specific to the discipline;
- correctness and completeness of knowledge;
- ability to critically process knowledge.

Grades in the range 18-22 will be awarded where the above-mentioned points reach a sufficient level; grades in range 23-26 will be awarded where the above-mentioned points reach a fair level; grades in range 27-30 will be awarded where the above-mentioned points reach an excellent level; honours will be awarded where the above-mentioned points reach an excellent level.


For practical information relating to theexams, please consult the Moodle space, the teacher's web page, or prof. Cupperi's one regarding module II.

Frontal lessons supported by teaching materials on power-point, made available weekly on the university's Moodle platform. The lessons are expected to be interactive, therefore students are warmly invited to participate.

For any changes or updates, please always consult the Moodle space relating to the course.

Ca' Foscari applies Italian law (Law 17/1999; Law 170/2010) for support and accommodation services available to students with disabilities or with specific learning disabilities. In case of motor, visual, hearing or other disabilities (Law 17/1999) or a specific learning disorder (Law 170/2010) and need for support (classroom assistance, technological aids for carrying out individualized exams or exams, accessible format material, notes retrieval, specialist tutoring to support the study, interpreters or other), please contact the Disability and SLD office: disable@unive.it.

Ca' Foscari has included a point dedicated to "Inclusion, social justice, gender equality" (Flagship 7) in the University Strategic Plan 2021-2026 and has adopted, since 2022, a GEP (Gender Equality Plan): https://www.unive.it/pag/fileadmin/user_upload/comunicazione/sostenibile/doc/Inclusione/Piano_di_Uguaglianza_di_Genere_CF_DEF.pdf

written

This subject deals with topics related to the macro-area "Human capital, health, education" and contributes to the achievement of one or more goals of U. N. Agenda for Sustainable Development