Save the Textile Conservation Centre

The online petition created by Mandy-Jane Patterson has closed with over 3300 signatures and has received a response from the Prime Minister’s Office. The response posted to the site is:

We received a petition asking:Â

“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to keep the Textile Conservation Centre open.”

Details of Petition:

“The Textile Conservation Centre (TCC) was established as an independant charitable trust in 1975. Based in Hampton Court Place from 1975-1999. Merged with the University of Southampton in 1998 and moved to a custom-designed building on Winchester School of Art campus in 1999. Continue Reading »

The Vice Chairman of the Danish Society for Textile History posted a response to a post on the International Institue for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works blog. It seems to sum up the views of many in the field:

TENEN – The Danish Society for Textile History – assembled for general meeting in Odense, Denmark, on March 8, 2008, express our deepest regret at the news that the Textile Conservation Centre will be closing in 2009.

Half of all textile conservators of the entire world have been educated at the TCC, and the scientific level is second to none. Where will museums and institutions turn to for professional assistance? Continue Reading »

From Nell Hoare MBE FMA FIIC at the Textile Conservation Centre

BACKGROUND
The Textile Conservation Centre (TCC) was founded by Karen Finch OBE in 1975 and from then until 1999 it was based in premises at Hampton Court Palace.

The TCC merged with the University of Southampton in 1998 and in 1999 it relocated to a purpose-designed building on the University’s Winchester School of Art campus. Since that time the TCC has achieved considerable success, with its international reputation rising significantly as a result. The most notable success was the securing of a grant of nearly £1m over 5 years (2002-2007) to establish the AHRC Research Centre for Textile Conservation and Textile Studies. The Centre was identified by the University as one of its 14 ‘centres of special excellence’.

Continue Reading »

BBC South Today report on the Textile Conservation Centre closure posted on YouTube here

From Tehmina Goskar at Past Thinking

Conservation has been high in my thoughts recently. Largely through my current work with ICOMOS-UK (International Council on Monuments and Sites UK) I have been exposed to the vicissitudes that affect the preservation and interpretation of our heritage, whether they are the result of inappropriate development, lack of funds or lack of collective and political will to stand up for cultural heritage as a fundamental part of modern society. Continue Reading »

The online petition set up by Mandy-Jane Patterson to petition the PM to keep the Textile Conservation Centre open has received its 2800th signature. This is up from the just over 2100 announced by the Southampton Echo in December.Â

From the Guardian Unlimited Arts by Maev Kennedy

Threat of closure hangs over a world famous centre for historic textiles, where recent projects included conserving the topsail of Nelson’s HMS Victory, a unique set of Victorian painted canvas stage scenery - and Freddie Mercury’s imitation leather trousers. Continue Reading »

From the Daily Echo by Andrew Napier

A CAMPAIGN to save a threatened conservation centre in Winchester is attracting national support.

A petition on the Prime Minister’s website against the closure of the Textile Conservation Centre has garnered 2,171 names. Continue Reading »

From the Wessex Scene Online

The Textile Conservation Centre (TCC) based at Winchester School of Art (WSA) is to close its doors in 2009, the University of Southampton has recently announced.

The decision will mean the loss of all jobs and courses across the centre, and has prompted one student to petition to the government to save it. Continue Reading »

From the Costume Society

We ask for letters to be sent objecting to this closure to: Professor Nick Foskett Dean of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, with copies to Professor Bill Wakeham, Vice-Chancellor, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ. The more post they get the better.. Continue Reading »