Madam, - The articles in your edition of August 2nd describing the shortcomings in storage at the Irish Museum of Modern Art in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham were very disturbing to all involved in preserving heritage. Conservators believe that the provision of proper storage is the key to preserving not only paintings, but all artefacts.
Obviously we consider the appointment of an experienced conservator to Imma is a priority. A risk assessment survey of the collection is an urgent first step. This should document not only the condition of each individual painting, but also the damage it is likely to sustain if stored in fluctuating environmental conditions. Equipped with this knowledge, the conservator would then be in a position to liaise with all of the other parties involved in Imma, the OPW, the curatorial staff, architects and engineers, to agree and implement a storage strategy that would ensure, in so far as it is possible to do so, the safety of these irreplaceable works of art, and also encourage future donors. - Yours, etc,
MAIGHREAD McPARLAND,
Honorary Secretary,
Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works in Ireland,
Lower Grand Canal Street,
Dublin 2.