What do you do if a disaster occurs in your depot, archive, or collection setup? During this course, you’ll learn to recognise, prevent, and respond to risks when things go wrong. With clear theory, practical tips, and a realistic disaster drill, your confidence and preparedness will grow.
Why this course?
Fire, water, mould, or collapse? These are scenarios every collection manager dreads. In this in-depth course, you’ll learn how to respond effectively during emergencies. You’ll learn what to do, but also what to avoid. The final practical exam prepares you for real-life situations.
For whom?
This course is intended for anyone who is (jointly) responsible for the daily management of a collection, depot, or storage facility. For example, depot staff, museum staff, archivists, or collection managers. Helicon will host a maximum of 12 participants in Zoeterwoude. (Dutch proficiency needed.)
Program
The course consists of two intensive days, structured as follows:
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Day 1
- 09:00: reception with coffee and tea
- Introduction & explanation of the KEEP!-concept
- Break
- Risk analysis & agents of deterioration
- Quick scan: recognising risks
- Object construction and practical exercise
- Lunch
- Role of the team member
- Registration & deployment of CHV materials
- Break
- Practical exercise
- Homework assignment
- ±16:00: end of day 1
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Day 2
- 09:00: Reception with coffee and tea
- Discussion of homework and practical examples
- Break
- Case: course of a rescue operation
- Registration during a calamity
- Lunch
- Practical test: rescuing objects
- Debriefing of practical test
- Discussion of practical cases
- ±16:00: End of day 2
Certificate
On day 2, you’ll take a theoretical and practical test. During the exercise, you and your team will rescue objects from a simulated disaster. Your score and active participation will determine whether you receive the certificate. If you achieve a satisfactory result, you’ll receive it by mail.
The teacher
The course is taught by Meike van Gemeren. After studying marketing and communication, she completed her Bachelor’s degree in Cultural Heritage at the Reinwardt Academy. She worked at Artis, among other places, where, as a member of the Education Team, she was responsible for the use of collection items in a variety of activities: from exhibitions and lectures to audio tours and scavenger hunts. Since 2023, Meike has been a lecturer at Helicon. With her broad knowledge of management and conservation, CHV (emergency collection assistance), and art handling, and her enthusiastic teaching style, she knows how to connect theory and practice in an inspiring way.
