CRBMC
The CRBMC mission
T
HE FIRST OFFICIAL RESTORATION STUDIOS were created during the first quarter of the twentieth century in what are now the National Museum of Art of Catalonia and the Archaeology Museum of Catalonia. In 1932, at the Museum of Art of Catalonia, the foundations were laid for the modern methods of conservation and restoration proposed by Manel Grau, who had trained in Italy as an intern with the Catalan Board of Museums (Junta de Museus de Catalunya). The process initiated during the Second Spanish Republic continued through the post-war period in the restoration studios of several museums. In 1980, at the beginning of Spain’s transition to democracy, the Government of Catalonia created the Centre for the Restoration of Artefacts of Catalonia (CRBMC), led by Josep M. Xarrié for more than two decades, which was located at the Monastery of Sant Cugat del Vallès. The new headquarters of the CRBMC was inaugurated on 19 May 2003, in a new 4,000-square-metre building in Valldoreix.
Centre for the Restoration of Artefacts of Catalonia
The Centre for the Restoration of Artefacts of Catalonia’s mission is to define and carry out policies for the protection, conservation, research and restoration of Catalonia’s movable cultural heritage and the decorative elements that make up its immovable counterpart (mural paintings, sgraffiti, façades, mosaics, stone sculptures, etc.). The CRBMC’s objectives Ensure an adequate state of conservation for cultural assets of national interest and catalogued artefacts. Promote quality and rigour in conservation and restoration interventions. Foster innovation and research in conservation and restoration by taking advantage of advances in technology and encouraging interdisciplinary studies. Advise on preventive conservation and restoration and offer technical and scientific services to conservation and restoration professionals, heritage researchers and collection curators. Offer access to the documentary and photographic archive of Catalan cultural heritage assets that have undergone conservation treatment. Promote knowledge of the discipline by putting together courses, seminars and workshops for professionals, and through scholarship and work experience programmes for university students. Shed light on the importance of cultural heritage conservation and restoration within the community by advertising and carrying out educational programmes and guided tours. Promote the conservation and restoration profession and collaborate with specialist training centres and the CRAC (Associated Conservators-Restorers of Catalonia). https://www.cracpatrimoni.com
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The artefacts worked on are mainly public heritage pieces: artefacts belonging to the Government of Catalonia, local institutions, museums and archaeological sites throughout the territory. Private heritage, including ecclesiastical artefacts, is also restored. In the case of privately-owned artistic pieces, the CRBMC only intervenes in those works of great artistic value. Finally, in order to guarantee the rigour and quality of the conservation and restoration interventions, the CRBMC relies solely on professionals and companies specialising in this field.
Carretera Vallvidrera
CRBMC C/ Arnau Cadell, 30 08197 Valldoreix Tel.: +34 93 590 29 70 Fax: +34 93 590 29 71 crbmc.cultura@gencat.cat http://centrederestauracio.gencat.cat/en www.facebook.com/RestauraCat www.instagram.com/restaura.cat
D.L: B 18286-2019
Scope
E-9 C-16
= Generalitat de Catalunya = Departament de Cultura
Specialisations Especialitats Services The CRBMC offers technical and scientific services to institutions, researchers, conservation professionals and interested members of the public, at prices established by the Ministry of Culture, which can be found on its website.
Archaeological and palaeontological material
Mural painting
Sculpture and painting on wood
Painting on canvas
Anoxic chamber: The centre is home to an anoxic chamber, in which artefacts are disinfested prior to any treatment or analysis. Anoxia is achieved through the absence of oxygen. In anoxic chambers, disinfestation is reached by creating an inert atmosphere from inactive gases present in the air we breathe. For this reason, these rooms are environmentally friendly and do not damage the artefacts.
Sculpture and painting on stone
Preventive conservation
Documents, graphic work and photography
Contemporary art
Ceramics, glass and metal
Ethnological material
Textile
Photography and X-ray: The various stages of the conservation and restoration processes that the artefacts undergo are documented photographically, whether in the CRBMC itself or on site. Various lighting systems are applied to the photography, as well as photographic techniques based on different radiations (infrared and UV) which, together with X-rays, offer a plethora of ways to learn more about the artefacts’ material nature. These are the most advanced X-ray facilities of their kind in Catalonia.
Documentation, dissemination and photography archive: In this area, the artefacts are identified and all the information gathered during conservation and restoration interventions on cultural heritage pieces is documented, recorded and archived. A consultation service, as well as a photographic reproduction of the collection of artefacts, is available to researchers. Physical-chemical laboratory: This is a local laboratory for conservators and restorers, who can carry out analyses designed to respond to various questions raised by different interventions: determining the nature of the materials that constitute the works of art; characterising products added during previous interventions; characterising alteration and/or ageing products; studying the interaction between artefacts and the new materials incorporated during the various restoration processes, etc. The laboratory is equipped with optical microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, gas chromatography (GC-MS) and colourimetry instruments, and collaborates with university research groups specialising in the analysis of cultural heritage materials.
Educational activities and training Periodically, the CRBMC organises and hosts seminars, congresses, conferences and training cycles to keep professionals' knowledge updated. It also awards scholarships on an annual basis and hosts internship students. Finally, it offers schools the chance to visit the CRBMC, where students’ dynamic experience will help them to understand what cultural heritage is and what is involved in preserving it. Publications Rescat: A bi-annual gazette with a focus on science. Currently in digital format. Catalogue of activities: compendium of the most important restorations that have been carried out in a certain number of years. These publications can be found on the CRBMC’s website at http://centrederestauracio.gencat.cat.
Metalsmithing
Furniture
Industrial heritage and scientific-technical artefacts