Spotlight on: Conservation of Contemporary Art and Media MSc

Programme Director Professor Pip Laurenson tells us more about this innovative new programme.

Pip, could you tell us a bit more about your professional background? 

I come to the programme having spent 30 years working a conservator of contemporary art, mainly at Tate. First as a sculpture conservator and then going on to establish and lead Tate’s pioneering Time-based Media Conservation section until 2010 when I took up  a new role as Head of Collection Care Research to develop, lead and support research related to the conservation and management of Tate's collections.  

My research focuses on developing new ways of working and new conceptual frameworks that address the changing needs of collections of contemporary art in the twenty-first century. I have a long-term interest in the future of conservation training, championing the development of a conservation profession that is inclusive, open to new ideas and approaches, and able to encourage and engage people in the relevant and pressing debates of our time. 

What type of students would suit this course? 

Contemporary art conservation is best suited to those who enjoy engaging with new challenges and situations, and are sensitive to the requirements of each unique artwork and context. Artists continue to develop new ways of making art and forms of art practice which means that contemporary art conservation is a rapidly evolving field. While conservation science can provide some solutions to conservation problems, conservation is essentially a socially situated practice and as a conservator you have an ethical responsibility to consider a range of different voices and perspectives in your conservation decision making and actions. As such conservation is inherently interdisciplinary and we learn from many different disciplines and fields. An important part of what you learn on the programme is how to approach conservation decisions and to think critically about the assumptions that underpin our field. 

The programme suits applicants from a broad range of backgrounds including arts, humanities, and social sciences as well as physical sciences, computer science and engineering. Some of our students have some conservation training but wish to specialise in the conservation of contemporary art. Typically our students are highly engaged with contemporary art, materials and culture and art’s role in society. They are curious, innovative, thoughtful and creative people who are committed to rigorous practice and are engaged in the larger debates and challenges impacting collections and their care today.  

The programme welcomes those who have been out of formal education for a while but have a wealth of relevant experience to apply. For example, you may currently be working in a related field and wish to develop your career or switch track by gaining a qualification in conservation. 

Tell us more about the course structure and modules 

This is a hands-on programme mixing theory and practice, designed for students from varied backgrounds to develop their skills to become a conservator of contemporary art.

Students will learn through a mix of lectures, seminars, and tutorials and problem based learning, in addition to practical sessions, studio practice and lab work that will provide them with the hands-on skills and theoretical basis needed to address a range of conservation challenges. All students will complete a work placement and either a dissertation or project paper during the second year. The programme is available both full and part time. 

What are some of the possible career opportunities for graduates? 

The MSc is designed to provide specialised training in the conservation of contemporary art and media and hands-on sector experience. Students can build their portfolio throughout the programme and develop industry connections through the second-year placement. 

The MSc will prepare students for careers in the conservation of contemporary art, design and media, including: 

• museums 
• cultural heritage institutions 
• arts non-profit organisations 
• artist’s studios  
• private conservation practice 
• collection or gallery management 
• digital preservation 
• heritage management 

Some students may also go on to conduct doctoral research, all students can take advantage of UCL's dynamic research culture.  

Tell us more about studying at UCL East 

Based in London at UCL East, you’ll be studying at UCL’s new campus at East Bank: the UK’s newest Cultural Quarter at the heart of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford, East London. The campus has collaboration at the heart of its design with world-class laboratories, media facilities, object-based learning and maker spaces. Conservation is inherently interdisciplinary and extraordinarily well-placed to thrive in an environment that combines arts and sciences. You will also have access to the Bloomsbury campus, which offers unrivalled access to a wide range of public events and shared seminars. 

Among the brand new facilities designed for the programme is the Media Conservation Studio, which is one of two unique spaces at UCL East supporting teaching and world class research in the Conservation of Contemporary Art and Media. Spanning both analogue and digital media the studio houses specialist equipment to support the analysis and digitisation of legacy tape-based video such as VHS, U-Matic, Betacam, and DVCAM, and optical media such as LaserDisc and DVD, as well as enabling the examination and transcoding of contemporary file-based video formats. It also supports advanced research in the conservation of software-based artworks, meeting the needs of artworks incorporating new technologies such as game engines and artificial intelligence. The progamme also has a dedicated 7th floor conservation laboratory and access to state-of-the-art facilities.  

What is one piece of advice you would give students when they start the course? 

These two years will provide you with extraordinary range of opportunities for learning within a small and highly committed cohort from around the world – together you will go on to shape the future of contemporary art conservation. 

Further information

• Find out more about the programme on the UCL prospectus