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History of MCK
Beginnings of the conservation at TMB
The history of conservation and restoration at the Technical Museum in Brno (TMB) dates from the 1970s, being the decade when the conservation and restoring workrooms and laboratories was first established at TMB. These workplaces were actively involved in organization of conservation courses for post-graduation students.
Delocalization of the Museum
The year 1996 became an important turning point in the history of the museum. The buildings in the city centre of Brno where the institution had resided (former St Voršila’s Convent, Orlí - Josefská street) were restored to the system. At that time TMB was forced to relocate all its belongings to the newly reconstructed building in Královo Pole. The Department of Administration and Protection of Collections gave rise to the educational centre, which nowadays organizes the practical tuition of conservation for some subject fields of Masaryk University.
Genesis of the MCK project
The decision to elaborate the project of MCK in co-operation with the Faculty of Science of Masaryk University and a few other universities in Brno dates back to 1996. It was supposed to become the foundation for the development of conservation and restoration in the Czech Republic.
Three years later, in 1999, the program of “Preservation and Restoration of TMB” came into existence. This program included a suggestion to build a new poly-functional museum centre.
Another project prepared in partnership with Universities in Brno in 2000 was called “The national Centre for research and Conservation of Material Cultural Heritage using Scientific Methods”. This however did not come to fruition. In the same year the foregoing project of Preservation and Restoration of TMB was completed due to the government project called “Cultural politics”. A brand new project- “A long-term program of the development of museum conservation at TMB” contained a conception of the Methodical Centre of Conservation.
The project to build the MCK, providing research, application and education, came into being in November 2002. It was elaborated by TMB, Masaryk University and VUT (Brno University of Technology) according to the Government Decree No. 40 of 10th January 2001 which updated “The Strategy of Efficient National Assistance in Culture”.
The decision to build the MCK at TMB was made pursuant to the Government decree No 216 on 3rd March 2003, which dealt with the solution to the flood- stricken documents of state organizations. Thawing, drying and sterilization of the stricken documents were intended as tasks between 2004 and 2008. Furthermore, it was intended restoration and preservation of some of the flood-stricken documents of the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic.
Another document dealing with the operation of MCK is “The Conception of Efficient Care for Cultural Property in the Czech Republic for 2003-2008" (the conception of development of museum science), which was taken into consideration by the Government Decree No 87 of 22nd January 2003. This document ensured the construction of the “Educational and Methodological Centre of Conservation at TMB”. Its operation was intended to be interconnected with Universities, which would ensure research, application and education in the area of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage.
The project TMB-MCK and endeavours to obtain financial support from structural EU funds was included in the indicative list of projects within the framework of the Integrated Operational Program. The outcome is intended to create suitable conditions for adequate development of the project with MCK.
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