Art Conservation In Cultural Institutions In Puerto Rico And The Virgin Islands: Damage Prevention From Natural Disasters
Date
2022-05
Authors
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
This undergraduate thesis serves as the final requirement to complete a
Bachelor’s in Art Conservation and Art History at the University of Delaware. The
research done both through literature review and through a short survey will serve as a
resource for rising conservation professionals in the area of colonial Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands. This research strives to shed a clear understanding of the art conservation
practice in cultural institutions of not only Puerto Rico--but the Virgin Islands as well;
in hopes to cover a good portion of the Caribbean. The absence of literature on the
preservation of cultural heritage in the Caribbean has affected the understanding and
knowledge of how conservation is approached and practiced in a colonial entity that does
not count with its own funding and in a geographical location that is affected by
numerous annual natural disasters. Finally, this research may be one of the starting points
in the development of a code of ethics for the practice of conservation and preservation
of culture in the area of the Caribbean.
Cultural significance within the field of conservation is getting more recognition
with the understanding that there are different cultures all over the world. Treatment and
preservation of cultural heritage belonging to different cultures will be approached
differently depending on the country in which the practice is employed. The Mainland
United States has resources and organizations that support and empower professionals, institutions, and all those involved in preserving cultural heritage.1 The Institute of Puerto
Rican Culture and the Oficina Estatal de Conservación Histórica provide resources on
the response in case of an emergency as well as reports of the recent damages to cultural
institutions by natural disasters.
The research begins with a brief summary of the nature of art conservation and
how it is employed in the mainland United States. The topic then shifts to the history of
Art Conservation in Puerto Rico and how the history of the study of material culture
could be affected by Puerto Rico’s economic and political status as a colony as well as
other places that have the status of a colony of the United States. To understand how
institutions are able to run and maintain their collections, this research outlines the types
of funding that are offered to the institutions that are common in the United States. To
align with the topic which distinguishes all of the Caribbean from other regions in the
world, this research also touches on the geographical location of the region and how it
is affected by numerous disasters. Finally, this research concludes with the results of a
survey that was distributed among all current active institutions of Puerto Rico and the
Virgin Islands.
Description
Keywords
Puerto Rico, Damage prevention, Art conservation, Material culture, Cultural heritage