The Ethics Checklist - ten years on - Victoria and Albert Museum Página 1 de 2

SUMMER 2005: NUMBER 50

The Ethics Checklist - ten years on

Alison RichmondSenior Tutor RCA/V&A Conservation

Ten years ago, we could never have predicted the resounding success of the "Ethics Checklist". Drafted initially for our own
use, it was first introduced to the profession by Jonathan Ashley-Smith at a conference at The British Museum in 1994. It
has since been the subject of a number of articles and appeared alongside other decision tools in a recent textbook.1 (#ref1)
Most gratifying of all has been the continued popularity of the Checklist, recommended and widely used, within the
profession and beyond, in the UK and internationally.

It was called the Ethics Checklist because it grew out of discussions about the principles upon which the conservation staff
at the V&A were basing conservation practice at that time and an expressed desire on the part of individuals for guidelines
on decision-making. After wide consultation a working group produced a tool that provided a common set of criteria that
would help conservators feel more confident about their decisions. It was based on the assumption that good decision-
making is the first step of ethical practice.

Why is the Checklist so popular? In the answer to this lies both the perceived strength and the weakness of the Checklist: it
is "common sense" that should come naturally to a professional conservator and a convenient 'aide memoire' that contains
most of the things a conservator should consider in a single list of questions. In addition, its potential as a teaching tool for
staff and students was recognised from the outset. Although never formally adopted as Museum policy, today it is a
requirement specified in the Museum-wide documentation system. It was always intended that it would be re-assessed on a
regular basis, as things changed within the Museum, the conservation profession and in the larger world of cultural
heritage.

It troubled me that while the Checklist had stayed the same, the context in which conservators were making decisions had
changed. A preliminary survey of V&A conservators revealed that the Checklist was still considered to be of practical value
but could also be usefully updated. Respondents felt that it needed to reflect new developments. The emphasis on access to
collections in Museum funding agreements and the emergence of a project culture were making new demands on
conservators. Part of these developments was an inclusiveness in decision-making, the need to work across teams and
beyond the walls of the Museum. These, in combination with changing staff demographics and a greater reliance on
contractors, were transforming the context and nature of conservators' work. At the same time, museum codes of ethics and
decision tools, such as the Burra Charter2 (#ref2) , were being revised to reflect these developments and to give increased
prominence to the consideration of cultural values and significance, the recognition of less tangible aspects, and respect for
diversity. The concepts of risk and sustainability, considered jargon in 1994, had become familiar to conservators. All of
these were factors suggesting a need for a review.

There was also evidence that the Checklist was not used regularly and that newer members of
the Department were not aware of its existence - no one could find it! We thought its
structure could be improved and the whole made more easily accessible by creating an
electronic version.

To find out if we could develop a decision-making tool that improved on the current one, a
research group was set up in the Department. The outcome was a revised Checklist that
would be piloted in the Department to evaluate its effectiveness and then launched on the
Internet. (http://www.vam.ac.uk/imag
-popup.html)
The purpose of the Checklist was redefined. Although originally intended to be applicable to Figure 1: Mamluk Qur'an,
all conservation activities, we decided to acknowledge that in reality it deals with the Manuscript, Egypt or Syria, about
1400. Museum no. 7212-1869.
relationship between conservator and object or objects, and is most often used for treatment Photography by V&A
decisions. Although it is not a policy it should act as a filter, invoking the Department's Photographic Studio (click image
culture. It should be made available to the public and used to describe how conservators for larger version)
approach their work. It should not be used for training only; practice should compare
favourably with what we teach (and preach!). The name Ethics Checklist should be kept as it
reflects its role as a decision tool within the ethical framework of professional conservation practice.

The new Checklist is situated on the intranet, formally within a V&A procedures manual and is supported by other
documents such as codes, guidelines, standards and legislation. Together these documents will provide an ethical and legal
framework for the V&A conservator. The wording of the Checklist was altered, but in most cases only slightly. Using the
Burra Charter as a model, a commentary on each question was incorporated to assist the user. The glossary was expanded
to include new words that may be unfamiliar. Words that were dismissed in 1994 as jargon, such as "stakeholder" and
"risk", are now well-understood and were incorporated.

The pilot study gave an indication of whether the proposed changes were appropriate for the Department's needs. While
many respondents echoed the old 'crie de coeur' that it was "common sense", they admitted that it did aid decision-making
and was especially useful for projects presenting complex problems or requiring a lot of intervention. One respondent said,
'Although I would usually consider all of the things on the checklist anyway this would not necessarily be in such an ordered
way'.3 (#ref3) Another reported, 'The Checklist helped consider each repair on its individual merits'. Its usefulness in
training was reiterated. Generally people found the Checklist clear and easy to use, but recommended some specific re-
wording.

http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/journal/number_50/ethics/index.html 31/01/2011
The Ethics Checklist - ten years on - Victoria and Albert Museum Página 2 de 2

The wisdom of developing an online interactive version was considered. Current levels of
computer access and configuration within the Department prevent conservators from working on
computers near objects. 'With only one PC in the studio shared between four conservators, it
wouldn't be used'. While the research group was enthusiastic about the extra documents and
commentary of the new Checklist, the single A4 sheet of the old Checklist was preferred by some
respondents. 'The document is very clear, but a shorter "quick-reference" version should
accompany this version'. Appending the single-sheet Checklist as a front page seemed to be an
acceptable compromise.

Just as in 1994, it was recognised that the context in which conservators carry out their decisions
and do their work has an impact on those decisions and actions, so in 2004 the research group
realised that the Checklist was of limited use in addressing these issues. Under-resourced
projects resulting in few interventive treatments being carried out in the Department were felt to
have ramifications both for the care of collections and for the maintenance and development of
skills. One conservator put it this way, but it was a common feeling among respondents: 'This
treatment is fairly standard and indicative of approx. 75% of all treatments undertaken.' In
(http://www.vam.ac.uk/images/image/15516
-popup.html) answer to the question: 'Did the checklist help you in the decision-making process?', 'In all
Figure 2: Male Profile honesty, no, in this case due to external factors such as lack of time to treat the object as I would
(illustrious man), panel have wished.' Just as in 1994, conservators were concerned about their lack of influence in 'the
painting, 16th century, continuum of decision-making' - the decisions being made before the conservator encounters the
School of Mantua, Museum
object and after it leaves his or her care - leads to conservators feeling disempowered. 'Some
no. 668-1904. Photography
by V&A Photographic Studio aspects, such as preventive conservation in the galleries, are difficult for individual conservators
(click image for larger in a big museum to control … although it might be possible to consider preventive conservation
version) measures ... and to make suggestions, whether or not these are acted upon may be out of the
individual conservator's hands. It is therefore difficult to make treatment decisions which are
dependent on the implementation of preventive conservation measures.' We recommended that
consideration be given by management to concerns voiced by conservators in the current study.

During the process of this research, suggestions were made for possible future projects and
much consideration was given to developing a training version that would be visually
interesting, available on-line and interactive. By creating a non-linear, image-based diagram,
we thought we could encourage a different kind of interaction with the questions. When first
considering a diagrammatic layout the questions appeared to fall naturally into groups, but on
reflection, any attempt to impose an order was proscriptive and went against the philosophy of
the Checklist. The interactive version is still in development and, in the meantime, the
Checklist questions remain in the form of a list (please see Appendix 1
(http://www.vam.ac.uk/ima
-popup.html)
Figure 3: The War of Troy,
Tapestry, 1475-90, Tournai,
Museum no. T6:1887, detail.
Photography by V&A
Photographic Studio (click
image for larger version)

(http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/journal/number_50/appendix1/index.html) to view the first page of

the Ethics Checklist).

In the end, I have to admit, very few changes were made to the Checklist. I like to think that this was due in part to its
enduring value as a tool for conservation decision-making. The V&A Conservation Department "Ethics Checklist 2004" can
be found at: www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/advice/policies/index.html
(http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/advice/policies/index.html)

References
1. Caple, C., 'Conservation Skills: Judgement, Method and Decision Making'. Routledge, (2000)
2. The Burra Charter for the conservation of places of cultural significance, revised version, Australian ICOMOS (1999)
www.icomos.org/australia/burra.html (http://www.icomos.org/australia/burra.html)
3. Ethics Checklist Pilot Study Questionnaire - anonymous respondents (October 2004)

http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/journal/number_50/ethics/index.html 31/01/2011
Appendix 1: - Victoria and Albert Museum Página 1 de 1

SUMMER 2005: NUMBER 50

Appendix 1:
Victoria & Albert Museum Conservation Department
Ethics Checklist
2nd Edition December 2004

A. Why is action needed?

B. Have I consulted records?

C. Have I consulted stakeholders, peers, other specialists?

D. Have I considered and weighted the factors contributing to the identity and significance of the
object(s)?

E. What are my options for action which will produce an appropriate result with minimum
intervention?

F. What effect will my action(s) have on the evidence of the factors contributing to the identity and
significance of the object(s)?

G. Do I have sufficient information and skill to assess and implement action(s)?

H. What are the benefits/risks of each course of action and how will I continue to assess these
throughout the course of action?

I. Can the use or environment be adapted instead of intervening on the object(s)?

J. Is my intended action(s) the best use of resources and is it sustainable?

K. Do established courses of action need to be adapted or new ones developed?

L. How will my action(s) affect subsequent action(s)?

M. Have I taken into account the future use and location of the object(s), and have I made
recommendations accordingly?

N. Will my actions be fully documented to a known and accepted standard?

O. Will the information resulting from my actions be accessible?

P. How will I assess the success of the action(s), and how will I get feedback from stakeholders and
peers?

This is the first page of the Ethics Checklist.

For the Background Document, and also the full document in printer-friendly format(s), please go to
www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/advice/policies/index.html
(http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/advice/policies/index.html)

http://www.vam.ac.uk/res_cons/conservation/journal/number_50/appendix1/index.html 31/01/2011
Victoria & Albert Museum Conservation Department Ethics Checklist
2nd Edition December 2004

A. Why is action needed?

B. Have I consulted records?

C. Have I consulted stakeholders, peers, other specialists?

D. Have I considered and weighted the factors contributing to the identity and significance of the
object(s)?

E. What are my options for action which will produce an appropriate result with minimum
intervention?

F. What effect will my action(s) have on the evidence of the factors contributing to the identity
and significance of the object(s)?

G. Do I have sufficient information and skill to assess and implement action(s)?

H. What are the benefits/risks of each course of action and how will I continue to assess these
throughout the course of action?

I. Can the use or environment be adapted instead of intervening on the object(s)?

J. Is my intended action(s) the best use of resources and is it sustainable?

K. Do established courses of action need to be adapted or new ones developed?

L. How will my action(s) affect subsequent action(s)?

M. Have I taken into account the future use and location of the object(s), and have I made
recommendations accordingly?

N. Will my actions be fully documented to a known and accepted standard?

O. Will the information resulting from my actions be accessible?

P. How will I assess the success of the action(s), and how will I get feedback from stakeholders and
peers?
Using the Ethics Checklist
This checklist of ethical considerations is intended to act as the “conscience” of the conservator-restorer.
It raises questions, but will not necessarily provide straightforward answers. Thinking about ethics is
not a separate activity and throughout any conservation action the list should prompt the basic
question, “Am I doing the right thing?”. The checklist does not tell you what to do; nor does it ensure
that you do it: it only asks you to go through a process of asking yourself certain questions. It is based on
the premise that going through the process of good decision-making is fundamental to an ethical
approach. The conservator-restorer is expected to exercise the judgement gained through education,
training and experience in deciding what is reasonable and acceptable to the profession. Thereafter the
aim is to reach consensus and arrive at an outcome that will be acceptable to stakeholders.

The checklist is applicable to a broad range of conservation activities, not just interventive treatment of
individual objects. The list can be used before, during and after any action(s). Apart from question A,
which is the single most important question, each question is equally valid.

The final wording of each question was chosen to leave the possible factors for consideration very open.
The checklist questions are supported by a commentary. In addition a Background Document records
the process by which the checklist was arrived at. The checklist is supported by a raft of other relevant
documents available through links on the Internet.

Glossary
Action
An action is any process which the conservator-restorer may employ and which affects the objects
under consideration. These include interventive treatment, preventive conservation measures,
examination and study, sampling, analysis, and doing nothing.

Communities
Communities can be religious, indigenous, collectors, donors and other groups.

Conservator-restorer
Conservator-restorer is the term used by the UK conservation profession.

Peers
Peers are other conservation professionals (conservator-restorers, conservation scientists, conservation
managers and trainers), other museum and academic professionals (e.g. curators, art historians,
scientists) both internal and external to the V&A.

Stakeholders
A stakeholder is anyone who has a valid interest in the outcome of the decision. Stakeholders can
include the conservator-restorer, clients (curators, other museum departments including Conservation,
the public, students, private owners), peers, artists and artists’ estates, other specialists, representatives
of communities.
Other relevant documents
It is understood that the minimum requirement of a conservator-restorer is to obey international and
national law. In addition, the conservator-restorer, as an employee of the V&A, is guided by codes of
ethics for museums (international and national) as well as codes of ethics for the conservation-
restoration profession (international and national). Unless otherwise specified the relevant document
can be found on the linked website.

ICOM International Council of Museums Code of Ethics for Museums (2002) http://icom.museum
(also available in V&A Staff Handbook)

MA Museums Association Code of Ethics for Museums (2002) www.museumsassociation.org

ECCO European Confederation of Conservator-Restorers' Organisations Professional Guidelines (1993)

http://www.ecco-eu.info/

Icon Institute of Conservation www.icon.org.uk

NCCR National Council for Conservation-Restoration. www.nccr.org.uk

DACS Design and Artists Copyright Society www.dacs.org.uk

V&A Victoria and Albert Museum Staff Handbook http://intranet.int.vam.ac.uk/

V&A Victoria and Albert Museum Collections Management Policy (procedures)

http://intranet.int.vam.ac.uk/

V&A Victoria and Albert Museum Emergency Response Procedures http://intranet.int.vam.ac.uk/

V&A Victoria and Albert Museum Conservation Department Ethics Checklist (2004)
http://www.vam.ac.uk/files/file_upload/15826_file.pdf

V&A Victoria and Albert Museum Conservation Department Background to the Ethics Checklist (2004)
http://www.vam.ac.uk/files/file_upload/15824_file.pdf
Commentary

A. Why is action needed? This question appears first because this is the single most
important question. If a user gets no further than this, the
Checklist will still have been useful.

B. Have I consulted records? The conservator-restorer should be able to judge what is

necessary/relevant, but only after thinking about everything
that might be available. Records can include written, image-
based, derived from maker, owner, collector/collection,
conservator.

C. Have I consulted stakeholders, Recent codes put focus on public service and social inclusion, on
peers, other specialists? the museum’s obligation to promote access and in so doing
consult and involve communities, users and supporters, among
others.

D. Have I considered and weighted The conservator-restorer has a significant and distinctive role in
the factors contributing to the interpreting the past. It is important to keep in mind that
identity and significance of the decision making occurs within a cultural context and the
object(s)? conservator-restorer should acknowledge the subjectivity
inherent in conservation. Values shift over time and there are a
range of values for different individuals and groups. Factors –
tangible and intangible - include historical, aesthetic, technical,
associations, sacred, and maker’s intentions.

E. What are my options for action The conservator-restorer is expected to exercise the judgement
which will produce an appropriate gained through education and experience in deciding what is
result with minimum intervention? reasonable and acceptable to the profession. Thereafter the
aim is to reach consensus with stakeholders. Reaching
consensus is a valid aim, although not necessary or achievable
in every case. Alternatively, it is up to the conservator to have
the judgement to know what would be acceptable to others. If
there are conflicting views it is up to the conservator to use
their judgement. Minimum intervention is assumed to be a
guiding principle. Preventive conservation measures should be
considered first. In the case of modern or contemporary works,
conservation treatment may have ramifications in terms of
copyright and for the artist’s moral rights.

F. What effect will my action(s) have It is important to identify the implications of any potential
on the evidence of the factors conservation-restoration measures. Risk assessment
contributing to the identity and methodologies can be used to assess the impact on factors.
significance of the object(s)?
G. Do I have sufficient information This question can help to identify development needs of the
and skill to assess and implement individual or lead to a transfer of responsibility to another with
action(s)? the required skills, knowledge and understanding to do the job.

H. What are the benefits/risks of each Risk assessment aids decision-making and prioritisation of
course of action and how will I conservation-restoration measures. Continuous assessment of
continue to assess these throughout actions helps the conservator keep options open for changing
each course of action? approach or abandoning action altogether. Equally, the
Checklist can be used to check the decision against the
consequences afterwards, and to give insight into the
justification at a later date.

I. Can the use or environment be Alternatives to intervention should be considered as early on in

adapted instead of intervening on the the process as possible, and should be selected in favour of
object(s)? intervention, if this will produce an appropriate result.

J. Is my intended action(s) the best Resources are only among ethical considerations in so far as
use of resources and is it sustainable? they affect the object; but they are a realistic constraint on the
amount of work that can be done. In the ethical context a
balance between the actions which should be done and actions
which can be done within the available resources is sought. In
general, optimum use of resources results in economically and
environmentally sustainable action. Resources include time,
people, money, equipment, space and materials.

K. Do established courses of action The profession can only advance through research and
need to be adapted or new ones innovation, and every practitioner has some responsibility to
developed? contribute towards this. In addition, the conservator should be
asking whether he/she needs to develop skills, knowledge or
understanding.

L. How will my action(s) affect It is important to identify the implications of any potential
subsequent action(s)? conservation-restoration measures. Risk assessment
methodologies can be used to assess the impact on potential
future actions.

M. Have I taken into account the Risk assessment methodologies can be used to assess the
future use and location of the impact of the environment on the object or collection. Objects
object(s), and have I made may require different action if being sent on a lengthy touring
recommendations accordingly? exhibition than if being placed in storage; both courses of
action should be equally ethical.

N. Will all my actions be fully The future tense has been used to encourage the conservator-
documented to a known and restorer to decide on the type and standard of documentation
accepted standard? before action is taken. Standards have not yet been developed
for all documentation. Standards are both national and
international, and include those of the profession, institution,
material specialism.

O. Will the information resulting from Legislation regarding freedom of information and issues of
my actions be accessible? confidentiality need to be considered. Conservator-restorers
have an obligation to disseminate their knowledge.

P. How will I assess the success of the It is always advisable to review performance in order to
action(s), and how will I get feedback innovate and improve and conservator-restorers should be pro-
from stakeholders and peers? active in seeking feedback that will influence future
developments. Feedback may be elicited through discussion,
publication or presentation.

This version of the Checklist is recognised by the Victoria and Albert Museum as the current version. It is
the outcome of a review process involving the Conservation Department and documented in the 2004
Background Document. The Ethics Checklist and Background Document of 1994 are archived in the
Conservation Department of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

For more information please contact:

Alison Richmond, RCA/V&A Conservation, Conservation Department, Victoria and Albert Museum,
London SW7 2RL GB email [email protected]