NETHERITAGE

Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities (MIBAC), Italy

Belgian Federal Science Policy (BFSP), Belgium

Ministry of Culture and Communication (MCC), France

Archaeological Heritage Agency of Iceland (MCI), Iceland

Heritage Malta (HM), Malta

Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), Italy

Ministry of Education and Science (MES), Bulgaria

Hellenic Ministry of Culture (HMC), Greece

The State Inspection for Heritage Protection (VKPAI), Latvia

Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (MKDN), Poland

Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport, Romania

Ministry of Culture (MK), Slovenia

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Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN), Spain

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), United Kingdom

German Federal Foundation for the Environment (DBU), Germany

P. O. Box 1705 · 49007 OsnabrückAn der Bornau 2 · 49090 OsnabrückPhone: ++49 5 41 | 96 33-0 Fax: ++49 5 41 | 96 33-1 90www.dbu.de

A road map for cultural heritage research in Europe

An initiative of the project NET-HERITAGE Grant Agreement no 219301 NET-HERITAGE

EditorDeutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Responsible Dr. Markus Große Ophoff (Zentrum für Umweltkommunikation, ZUK)Lutz Töpfer (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU)

TranslationAileen Sharpe, Sharpe + Arend Language Consultants

ConceptNina Schwab (DBU)

DesignHelga Kuhn/Birgit Stefan (ZUK)

PrintingSTEINBACHER DRUCK GmbH, Osnabrück

Year of publication2011

ImprintContents

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ForwordsAntonia P. Recchia, Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and ActivitiesDr. Fritz Brickwedde, German Federal Foundation for the Environment

About NET-HERITAGEWhere if not in Europe?

Research FundingThe façade is crumbling What is heritage research worth to countries?Tourism: cultural heritage as a job driverEuropean Union takes this research area seriously

Interview with conservation scientist Stefan Simon: »Competition is stiff.«

Outlook: Cultural heritage research 2.0New support schemes on the horizon

Case StudiesEarthquakesClimate ChangeInternational Cooperation

Picture credits

Imprint

Grant Agreement no 219301 NET-HERITAGE

A road map for cultural heritage research in Europe

An initiative of the project NET-HERITAGE Grant Agreement no 219301 NET-HERITAGE

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NET-HERITAGE is the first significant initiative which has set out to coordinate national programmes for research and technological develop ment of European countries, and support their programmes in research applied to the protection of tangible cultural heritage.

The ERA-NET is a partnership of ministries, funding agencies and national research and technical deve-lopment authorities from 14 Euro-pean countries. It has embarked on a monumental effort to fulfil a crucial need within EU research policy: to overcome the barriers of exchanging information on coordinated research activity applied to the protection of tangible cultural heritage. Prior to the formation of this ERA-NET, infor-mation on heritage science consisted only of exchange among researchers, as well as dissemination to policy makers, end-users and professional non-researchers. This resulted in the

Change: a new challenge for Europe« sees involving about 15 member states.

With this brochure we want to show results that partners of NET-HERITAGE have already produced. But we are also aiming to give an insight to European excellence in research projects. We have selected case studies that illustrate best the topics of tomorrow for conservation and restoration scientists. Of course, researchers have already experienced the challenges of increasing coo-peration in Europe, so we invite our readers to listen to their words.

Antonia P. RecchiaItalian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities, Coordinator of NET-HERITAGE

»Let us remove the barriersin heritage research!«

value of heritage science remaining highly invisible and the exchange among researchers fragmented.

The existing national cultural heritage programmes, which NET-HERITAGE is building upon, indicate that this field is prepared for a European cultural heritage research network. NET-HERITAGE is encouraging a gradual unfolding and penetrating of cooperation among stakeholders. This is involving three stages: information exchange, strate-gic activities and joint activities.

The impact will be vast, span-ning the coordination of national activities, education, training and knowledge transfer, the inclusion of cultural heritage protection in EU legislation, and the harmonisation and acceptability of technologies, which apply to tangible cultural heritage.

The network established by the project has facilitated the presen-tation of the proposed Joint Pro-gramming Initiative (JPI) on Cultural Heritage at the European Council. The Council in December 2009 approved the proposal. Up to now the JPI »Cultural Heritage and Global

Forewords

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With ERA-Net, a scheme aiming to step up the coordination of research activities in individual Member States of the European Union and Associated Countries, a tried and tested instrument is available for the first time for the conservation sci-ences on the European level. Like the European Commission, the German Federal Foundation for the Environ-ment (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU) sees a clear and direct link between damage to cultural heritage and the impact of environ-mental pollution. This research area, which comes under the portfolio of the European Commissioner for Research and Innovation, has gathered considerable experience in the use of natural science findings and methods since the European Year for the Protection of Historical Monuments in 1975. Nonetheless, scientific progress has been ham-pered – particularly in recent years – by increasingly dramatic under-funding.

Combined with the absence so far on the international level of any coordination of strategic research issues, the situation seems to be

worsening at the present time as a consequence of the low priority assigned to the material and con-servation sciences in conjunction with cultural heritage protection in the Member States and Associated Countries. Young scientists do not see any future prospects in dealing with the complex and challenging issues that result from the need for the enduring conservation of our cultural heritage. Many technological innovations are not being tested for the benefits they can offer in this context.

Pressing questions receive no answers and irretrievable treasures – buildings, paintings, sculptures, wri-tings or entire landscapes – face the threat of disappearance. Despite the exemplary attention paid by Euro-pean scientists and, more particularly by small or mid-sized enterprises when it comes to the safeguarding of the European cultural heritage, we note that a new kind of European cooperation is necessary in this area in order to be able to truly tackle the challenges.

I am very pleased that DBU, the only non-governmental organisation

»The protection of cultural heritage faces pressing issues.«

in the network involved in coordi-nating the public relations activities of NET-HERITAGE, can help to draw attention to this situation. This bro-chure is another step in this direction and an invitation to both take a critical look at the questions touched on in the network activities of NET HERITAGE, and to get to know a few of the excellent partners involved.

I would like to express my thanks to the Italian partners in the network. The professional management of the project made it possible to progress substantially the interests of conser-vation sciences in Europe.

Dr.-Ing. E. h. Fritz BrickweddeSecretary General of the German Federal Foundation for the Environment

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NET-HERITAGE, the European network for research programmes to protect material cultural heritage, is the first relevant initiative that coordinates national programmes on research on the protection of mate-rial cultural heritage and supports European programmes.

NET-HERITAGE helps to find common answers to common problems. The goal of the project is to extend publicly financed research programmes to the European

support programmes? When funds are scarce, information of this kind is valuable for university staff and politicians. »Measures like this ERA-NET project make the use of funds more efficient«, praises Johanna Leissner from the Brussels office of the Fraunhofer Society.

The exchange between the vari-ous ministries and reasearch councils is pioneer work. After all, the reality in many areas in Europe is shaped by national barriers. This is documented by the results of NET-HERITAGE.

Where if not in Europe?

research area. Programme owners and managers from 14 European countries engage in an exchange.

What topics are others resear-ching? What strategies are pursued by ministries when it comes to funding research? How good or bad is the situation in the individual countries? At the outset of the project the status quo was identified and interpreted on the national level: where are the commonalities, where are the differences between the

About NET-HERITAGE

NETHERITAGE

Sufficient funds are necessary to conserve and research valuable cultural heritage like the Roman Pantheon.

Cultural heritage research is a thoroughly European topic. However, protecting cultural heritage is a complex task that can only be successfully tackled if forces are bundled and synergies created

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»What I find most interesting is the overview of all national support pro-grammes in cultural heritage research which have been compiled in our project«, says Cristina Sabbioni, Pro-fessor and Director of the Institute of Atmospheric Sciences and Climate of the Italian National Research Council, and expert from the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research.

But this is not going to stop at the mere exchange of information between the ministries. The results are also being interpreted. How can research funding be safeguarded in the individual countries in the long run? Which instruments are suitable for a European model? »We really have to get to know and understand each country’s system of funding cultural heritage science«, says Sylvie Max- Colinart who works for the French Ministry of Culture. »Only if we understand how the different funding systems work, can we construct a European model«, she adds.

But there are still national barriers in research, too. It is not unusual for two scientists to be researching the same subject and be completely ignorant of one another. Hence even the experts themselves are surprised about the information that has been drawn together from 14 European countries, »Congratulations for just how many promotion options there are in the UK«, says Johanna Leissner. »Without this project we would not have been able to map the data on cul-tural heritage science«, says her British colleague May Cassar, Professor of Sustainable Heritage at the University College London, and Director of the

UK Science and Heritage Research Programme.

NET-HERITAGE was just the beginning of a longer process, at the end of which a clear idea should emerge about how to promote science on the EU level. Before the very eyes of the research scientists, new projects are already emerging – large, integrated projects. The expectations are correspondingly high »I expect the project to show us where research is really viable and makes sense so that national research programmes can be better coordinated with each other«, says Johanna Leissner. More information is available on:www.netheritage.euwww.heritageportal.eu

The British researcher May Cassar voices the following praise, »Thanks to NET-HERITAGE important facts and figures about cultural heritage research are made public.«

Country comparison: Within the framework of NET-HERITAGE a survey was made of how much money national governments spend on the conservation sciences.

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Around 6 million people visited Cologne cathedral last year and about 15 million visited Notre Dame in the French capital. These numbers clearly indicate that experts are needed for the conservation and maintenance of cultural heritage sites. And yet – whether it’s Athens or Berlin, Madrid or Warsaw – for young people the pathway to the cultural heritage sciences often leads to a dead end.

It is already difficult for many potential sponsors to recognise heri-tage research as a separate discipline. This is hardly surprising. After all, physicists, chemists or geologists often work together in conserving cultural heritage sites. It is this very inter-disciplinarity that makes it difficult to estab lish a clear profile for this pro-fession. »The domain lives a life in the shadows and that’s not what it deser-ves«, comments the British academic May Cassar. »We need researchers who can provide us with knowledge that will inform our management of cultural heritage sites.«

The façade is crumbling

This is because national govern-ments, at the present time, are only engaging in very reticent funding initiatives for this research area. The funding packages are mostly restricted to a few hundred thousand euros – it is rare for the threshold of EUR 1 million to be exceeded. These are the results of an analysis of natio-nal research funding programmes for NET-HERITAGE.

Research Funding

Cologne Cathedral is a magnet for tourists. However, environmental factors are placing a strain on the World Heritage Site. Scientists are currently exploring the reasons for the weathering of the facades.

Excellent research is needed in order to conserve architectural masterpieces like Notre Dame in Paris.

The challenges for heritage researchers are on the increase. The decay is threatening not only historical walls but materials from the 20th century like photographic paper and tapes can also become worthless, turn yellow or become scratched. Where are the scientists needed the most urgently? Given the limited funds available, many ministries are confronted with this difficult question.

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What is heritage research worth to countries?An analysis of the funding pro-grammes revealed crass differences. In Germany, for instance, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research cut the national funding programme for research on cultural heritage in the 1990s. In contrast, the United Kingdom deserves recognition for its five year »Science and Heritage Programme« which has been up and running since 2008 and for which GBP 8.1 million (EUR 9.5 million) have been committed. The ambition of programme director May Cassar, »We want to create the foundations for successful scientific work«.

The British are praised above all for their promotion of young talent. 10 PhD grants and 9 three-year post doctoral fellowships have been awarded by this programme. »That creates class instead of mass«, says physicist Lukasz Bratasz, who engages in research at the Polish Academy of Sciences on conservation questions.

Together with colleagues he analysed for NET-HERITAGE what the optimum framework conditions would be for young scientists. »No country is suitable as a model when it comes to providing further employment for university gradu-ates«, he says. Research institutes or museums often only offer positions tied to a specific project. »In the final instance natural scientists trained to protect our heritage frequently end up opting for a career in banking«, says Bratasz. What annoys him about this is that, »expert knowledge which would have been of benefit to the conservation sciences is lost.«

Cities and regions, however, are all too happy to draw on the technical knowledge of experts in cultural heritage. For instance, when it comes to promoting historical town centres, fortresses, frescoes or church windows. Europe is still the

number one destination on the inter-national tourism stage. However, Asian countries are catching up fast. »Cultural heritage has become an important point of reference around the world«, says the Italian conser-vation scientist Christina Sabbioni.

The field of the conservation sciences is very diverse – it also encompasses the preservation of valuable man-made landscapes like here in the East German Altdöbern.

Built environment students examine the stonework at Gloucester Cathedral, Great Britain. »Class, not mass!« is the warning issued to

research funding agencies by Lukasz Bratasz from the Polish Academy of Sciences so as not to lose qualified young talents along the way.

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Market researchers have confirmed, »With the advance of globalisation and mass production leading to greater uniformity worldwide, the value of authenticity (…) will become increasingly important for cultural tourists.« This comment was made by the trend researchers from LAgroup & Interarts in their study, »City Tourism & Culture« from 2005.

Tourism: cultural heritage as a job driverThe example of Italy shows that strong heritage research goes hand in hand with major tourism demand. The home country of Michelangelo is seen today as one of the leading countries in cultural heritage research. One in ten people in the working population is employed in the tourism

cultural heritage. For instance in the case of the Charles Bridge in Prague, construction workers were used instead of restorers from the very outset. The damage to the city’s landmark architectural site is already obvious. Italy, by contrast, intends to increasingly involve private investors in historical buildings and monu-ments for instance in the refurbish-ment of the palace of Emperor Nero on Palatine Hill, the Domus Aurea.

European Union takes this research area seriouslyThe scientific community is upset about this attitude towards public buildings. It warns, »only appropriate research funding from public sources can sustainably ensure the future of cultural heritage sites«.

industry. This is confirmed by the OECD Tourism Trends and Policies 2010. Across Europe, the Cologne Cathedral and similar sites act as job drivers, says Terje Nypan, a cultural heritage expert from Norway. In fact, a study from 2006 of the Brussels-based research and advisory company KEA European Affairs revealed the exceptional economic importance of cultural heritage for Europe´s tourism industry. According to the study, the branch generates an annual revenue of EUR 335 billion and many of the 9 million jobs in the tourism sector are linked to it.

However the beautiful facades are crumbling. The obligation to make cuts means that many governments forget the ambitious challenges involved in the maintenance of

Research Funding

Cost reductions at the expense of this world heritage site: For the restoration of the Charles Bridge in Prague, that has been ongoing since 2007, construction workers were hired instead of qualified staff.

Traces of culture tourism: young couples leave padlocks behind on many bridges across Europe.

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Interview

»Competition is stiff.«

The German conservation scientist Stefan Simon on the daily challenges in European Research

When did you last pick up the phone and call a colleague abroad?I do that almost every day. The last call was about switching from halogen to LED lights in Berlin museums. The energy savings regulation prescribes them in future. For us it is important to know whether the new lights may cause damage to the exhibits. We also want to test whether the LEDs can depict the objects in a lasting manner with true colour fidelity. Not just our German colleagues from the Technical University Berlin but also research scientists from the Centre de recherche sur la conservation des collections in Paris and the Getty Conservation Institute in Los Angeles have advised us on this.

You have been involved in conservation projects in Europe, America, the Middle East and China. Where do you see important common features?The standardisation of the measurement methods used to describe the con-dition of artwork and cultural heritage must be continued. In medicine the results of a blood test are comparable around the globe. In the conservation sciences we are still far away from that.

What is your experience with research applications in the European Union?Competition for the best ideas is stiff and that’s a good thing. As both an expert and an applicant I have experienced the evaluation criteria of the EU in an objective and transparent manner. Nonetheless, it is often frustrating for applicants that only very few projects receive support; for some calls for tender less than 10% of all applications for financing are accepted. The quota is too low.

Will the EU be able to solve the problem of supporting young talents in the conservation sciences?No, I think it is first and foremost up to the national governments. Above all in Germany I think that the situation is disheartening.

Personal details

Stefan Simon, born in 1962, is the director of the tradition-steeped Rathgen Research Laboratory of the Berlin State Museums. With a PhD in chemi-stry he specialises, amongst other things, in material deteri-oration diagnostics, micro-ana-lytics, non-destructive testing and climatology. Between 2001 and 2005 Stefan Simon was the head of the Material Section at the Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles. Currently he is Vice-President of the International Centre for the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property Council and President of the International Scientific Committee for Stone of the International Council on Monuments and Sites.

Conservation scientist Stefan Simon

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Research Funding

They are placing their hopes in the European Union. »Better than some national governments, the EU has long since recognised the social importance of cultural heritage research«, says Johanna Leissner from the Fraun hofer Society.

Since 1986 the EU has given heritage researchers their own budget. Within the Environment Theme of the 7th Framework Research Programme that runs from 2007 till 2013, it is expected that the overall EC finding for this item may reach EUR 70 million. The reason why Brussels backs research on cultural heritage is clear. Europe’s research scientists are to find common ans- wers to common questions and thus improve competitiveness on the

over statues and paintings as well as historical walls in the future and, at the same time, to provide information about their condition. In second place for the experts is the promotion of minimum invasive measurement methods. They should help to increase understanding of corrosion and damage processes. The third priority: multi-media archives are to be established to ensure that, in future, a wide spectrum of people will have an opportunity to enjoy the cultural treasures.

Furthermore, the NET-HERITAGE partners call on the researchers to develop substances for curators and restorers, which have as little an impact as possible on the historic material. In addition, more and better research is to be done on modern materials like plastics, ceramics or concrete.

international stage. A critical evalua-tion of cultural heritage sites is also in the interests of the EU. After all it promotes the growing together of Europe better than some politicians’ speeches. »Our cultural heritage sites show us what it means to be both European and international«, says the British academic May Cassar.

Outlook: Cultural heritage research 2.0The results of a survey conducted by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research on behalf of NET-HERITAGE is seen as a pointer for the allocation of future EU funds to conservation and restoration re- search. Ministries and scientific insti-tutions have established European priorities for research in this area. The main focus: chips, sensors and radio systems are to stand guard

The top research priority, agreed on by countries participating in NET-HERITAGE is the measure-ment of the environmental influences that affect historical objects using sensors or chips.

There are always new materials for conservation scientists: for instance the »Nana«-figures made of plaster of Paris, polyester and wire mesh by the artist Niki de Saint Phalle.

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New support schemes on the horizonThis priority list can be implemented directly within the Joint Program-ming Initiative »Cultural Heritage and Global Change«: a new challenge for Europe. The European Commis-sion offers the initiative as a helping hand to member states, intending to facilitate a harmonization of national research policies or even common calls. Like NET-HERITAGE this initiative brings together national research funding agencies and ministries from across Europe. The participation in the process is »à la carte«, based on voluntary commitments leading to partner-ships composed of variable groups of countries.

Things are now beginning to take shape: the Member States are

planning joint calls for tender in which scientific institutions from the EU may participate, »The results of NET-HERITAGE are very useful for the JPI«, states the French conservation scientist Sylvie Max-Colinart, who works for the French Ministry of Culture. At the same time, she sees a need to continue the dynamic of NET-HERITAGE – by launching a ERA-NET+ in the future. »It is also necessary to consider cultural heritage research with an increase of funding within the 8th Framework Research Programme«, says Colinart. One thing is already clear today: heritage research has successfully stepped out of the shadows.

»The results regarding the research priorities of NET-HERITAGE can be used for other joint bids«, comments the French conservation scientist Sylvie Max-Colinart positively.

What will conservation researchers work on tomorrow? The goal of NET-HERITAGE is also to enable Europe’s researchers to hold their own in international competition.

Science and Heritage PhD student Lucy Martin x-raying a painting at the National Conservation Centre, Liverpool.

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Scientists are often prone to moa-ning when it comes to research cooperation: »difficult to coordinate, mountains of red tape!« are the disadvantages that are frequently mentioned when it comes to EU projects. All the same, outstanding projects in the conservation sciences should no longer reside in ivory

discipline benefits from an exchange of experience. It is expected that the EC funding for cultural heritage may reach 70 million within the Environ-ment Theme of the 7th Framework Research Programme.

When the big museums in Europe open up their laboratories, this is a unique opportunity for young scientists to show what they are capable of. This is demon-strated by the large-scale EU project CHARISMA that is presented here by way of example.

When it comes to the con- servation of cultural heritage, however, the EU gives priority first and foremost to environmental technologies. Hence, it is currently funding around 15 projects in this area. Scientific institutes from all over Europe are to endeavour to protect cultural heritage sites from climate change and natural disasters. In this context technologies – which NET-HERITAGE also relies on – are used, such as minimally invasive measurement methods, remote monitoring and computer chips. Selected research projects demonstrate in a concrete manner what can already be achieved with these technologies today.

towers – that is the declared objective of the European Union.

Furthermore, increased net-working amongst scientists is the essential prerequisite to the effective, economically viable conservation of cultural heritage. Whether mate-rial scientists, physicists, chemists or geologists – each and every

Case Studies

Drawing Europe togetherNET-HERITAGE endeavours to dismantle national barriers that impede the Europeanisation of cultural heritage research. Although the advantages of cooperation between scientists are self-evident, they have at times been ignored in the past. The European Union likewise supports greater cooperation.

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Ruins, loose stones, rubble, cracked facades. The landscape of the destro-yed town of L’Aquila looks desolate. Nonetheless, for research scientists it is a valuable terrain. »The force of the earthquake can still be felt there. You can move your hand along the cracks in the walls«, says Sergio Lagomar-sino, the coordinator of the research project Perpetuate, that has received

funding from the EU to the tune of EUR 2.2 million.

L’Aquila is an excellent site for him to take samples. In his opinion it’s logical for one building to suffer more damage than another. »Each building runs its own specific risk of collapsing – the same applies to historical buildings«, says Lago-marsino, a professor in the Depart-ment of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering of Genoa University.

Memories of the quake on Rhodes in the summer of 2008 are likewise very much alive. It struck to the south of the island and reached 6.3 on the Richter scale. If earthquake warnings are issued in the future, then the Perpetuate team wants to be in a position to draw up a map of the town centre of Rhodes that depicts the risk for each building.

The actual goal is even more ambitious. By 2013 this classification method should be so finely tuned

Countering earth tremors

The church »Chiesa della Concezione« on the edge of the medieval town L’Aquila was badly hit by the earthquake. Initial estimates indicate that the damage to the building dating back to 1776 amounts to around EUR 1.3 million.

How safe are historical buildings from earthquakes? Sergio Lagomarsino, Professor for Engineering at Genoa University, is working on a standardised classification.

The quake that hit the Italian town L’Aquila in April 2009 demonstrated the scale of damage that can be caused to cultural heritage sites. Other historical town centres are at threat – like on the Greek island of Rhodes. How safe are historical buildings? How can we protect them? That’s what the scientists in the EU project »Perpetuate« are looking into.

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Case Studies

that it can be used throughout the EU. And there is considerable interest in the results. Greece and Italy, which are home to innumerable cultural heritage sites, are particularly at risk from earthquakes.

Forecasting each building’s responseLagomarsino, together with geolo-gists and engineers from seven EU Member States, simulates in models how masonry buildings will shake. To this end, they accurately analyse the materials. Using endoscopy they examine cavities. Cracks can be depicted using imaging techniques like thermography. Tests provide the mechanical characteristics of the masonry.

Once the weak points in a buil-ding have been identified, steps can be taken to increase its stability. Using minimally invasive methods engi-neers can increase building resistance. »This might entail the construction of an intermediate wall or the strengthe-ning of the roof«, reports the project coordinator.

Ideally, during an earthquake, a building will not collapse but will retain its flexibility and ability to sway.

The scientists wish to carry over these findings to concrete case stu-dies of historical buildings. How can they afford the Palace of the Grand Master of the Knights of Rhodes or the mighty medieval walls of Rhodes better protection? The research scientists want to be in a position to

give the municipal authorities concrete suggestions. Of course, they can’t banish earthquakes but they can help to reduce the danger of the historical walls crumbling.

More information is available onwww.perpetuate.eu

The medieval lanes of the town of Rhodes on the Greek island of the same name are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and are threatened by earthquakes.

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Frescoes, books and oil paintings like a constant climatic environment. 20 degrees room temperature and an air humidity of 50% suit them fine. It’s no wonder that climate change is stressful for them. After all, when the external conditions vary, this has an impact on the indoor climate. When the level of humidity increases, wood swells and the canvasses soak up the damp. If the material dries, it contracts and this can lead to layers cracking and paint particles being lost.

But not every building can offer stable conditions. Castles, fortresses and churches often have to do without heating or air conditioning but are nonetheless crammed with valuable cultural treasures. Climate

Climate chamber simulates the year 2100The fairytale castle Neuschwanstein is probably the most well-known of the selected buildings and it is exposed to very varied climatic conditions. At the end of the project the scientists wish to be able to predict how the indoor climate will develop in the buildings up to the year 2100.

Building simulation models show that the greatest risks are faced by cultural heritage sites. The scientists use different measurement instru-ments: small glass sensors register the strain placed on the art treasures from changes in humidity and temperature.

With a 3-D microscope and a laser speckle interferometer, the surface of the art object is examined for damage.

change thus has a direct impact on the treasures stored there.

»Historical buildings are less standardised than modern houses. They differ more in respect of their indoor climate«, says Johanna Leissner. The scientific representative of the Fraunhofer Society in Brussels, who has a PhD in chemistry, coordi-nates the research project »Climate for Culture«. Around 90 people all over Europe are currently working on the analysis of the indoor climate of historical buildings. The project has been given financial backing from the European Commission to the amount of EUR 5 million.

Protect art treasures from climate change

Different types of building that are exposed to different climatic conditions are examined within the framework of »Climate for Culture«. The research project includes the Bavarian fairytale castle Neuschwanstein, the archbishopric in Zaragoza, Spain, the Black Church in Brasov, Romania and Skokloster Castle in south-west Sweden.

Heat waves, tornadoes, floods: on what scale will climate change affect Europe’s historical buildings and their indoor climate? Researchers are using innovative technologies to examine this question in the EU project »Climate for Culture«.

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In order to make prognoses for the next decade, the research scientists simulate the projected climatic changes in a so-called »climate chamber«. Instead of real treasures they use »painting dummies«. Do the dummies swell up? Do they dry out? Does the surface crack?

Using software the projected changes can be simulated in buildings as can the impact on the materials. Leissner is looking forward to the results, »For the very first time economists will then be able to calculate the impact of climate change on the maintenance costs of cultural heritage sites.«

Owners of historical buildings will certainly benefit from these

Case Studies

How do historical buildings react to climate change? Johanna Leissner from the Fraun-hofer Society in Brussels wants to find this out.

data. They can serve as the basis for the establishment of concrete preventive measures. A better gutter, for instance, can protect a building at threat from heavy rainfall. »Climate for Culture« aims to show in a concrete way how listed buildings can, in future, be afforded the right kind of protection.

More information is available on:www.climateforculture.eu

Is the precious interior of Linderhof Palace in Bavaria threatened by climate change?

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Taking a look behind the scenes of the Musée du Louvre – Claire Pacheco turns this dream of many scientists into reality. Whether rubies, ceramics, gildings, metals or pigments: resear-chers bring the most varied objects from museums across Europe to her laboratory. It is part of the Centre

for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France and is called »AGLAE«. The researchers like to come here. Not every research facility is as well equipped as the »Grand Louvre Accelerator for Elemental Analysis«. This particle accelerator uses ion beams to examine cultural heritage objects. Since completing her PhD in physics, Pacheco has been engaged in post-doctoral research at AGLAE.

She obtained the position through the EU project »Cultural Heritage Advanced Research Structures« (CHARISMA). Her task: she helps guest scientists analyse art objects. »We examine the materials and techniques used to produce cultural heritage objects«, explains Pacheco. »The greater our understanding, the easier it is for us to find ways of conserving these objects.«

Door openers

Magical place: What are the scientists at the Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France in the Louvre working on right now?

Staff from museums across Europe can examine art treasures using the »Grand Louvre Accelerator for Elemental Analysis«.

Save money! For researchers this initially means doing without expensive, new equipment. And, in the final instance, a farewell to top-level research. The EU project CHARISMA makes state-of-the-art laboratory technology available to conservation scientists but also keeps an eye on economic viability. This means that researchers and laboratories have to be mobile and even precious cultural heritage objects sometimes have to embark on a long journey.

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Case Studies

Project sets researchers in motionAlongside the Budapest Neutron Centre at the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, AGLAE is one of the four facilities that regularly open its doors to guest scientists from Europe. This is made possible by the CHARISMA project which receives funding amounting to EUR 7.6 million from the 7th EU Framework Programme. »Besides access to fixed laboratory facilities, the project also envisages open archives and the use of mobile research units. This is organized by Italian conservation scientists«, explains Michel Menu, director of the laboratory of the Centre for Research

and Restoration of the Museums of France. 20 Institutes from 11 Euro-pean countries – including the Museo Nacional del Prado and the British Museum – make their infrastructure available for this project.

All-inclusive offer for guest scientists In Paris Claire Pacheco welcomes two researchers one week every month. She attends to the insurance of the valuable objects and their storage. The most important aspect is, however, beam time. This is the time assigned to the scientists for their measurements. Something very special happens during these

hours. Together with her colleagues, Pacheco uses ion beams to examine precious stones, vases or metals. The analysis using ion beams is described as »non-invasive« as no damage is done to the cultural heritage object. »The Staffordshire Hoard was analysed during the winter of 2010 under the CHARISMA programme. We hosted two researchers from British museums. The aim of their study was to determine the origins of the garnets, the gold composition and the manufacturing technique. The objective is to draw conclusions about where they were made«, says Pacheco.

The Staffordshire Hoard was discovered in England in 2009 and encompasses some 1,500 individual items, some of which date back to the Early Middle Ages. Material experts wish to research the origins of the treasure.

First to the researcher then on to the exhibition: »The statue of the Archer King that was displayed in our Meroe exhibition has been analysed by PIXE and RBS to identify the materials used for the eyes and to study the gilding technique«, explains Claire Pacheco, Post-Doc at the Centre for Research and Restoration of the Museums of France.

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In the suitcase: Microfragments of paintingsLoïc Bertrand likewise opens the doors of a laboratory to scientists from all over Europe. Here, too, the magical expression is beam time. But in contrast to the Louvre which receives deliveries of entire art objects, microsamples suffice for the staff in the French national synchro-tron facility (SOLEIL). »For instance, a pigment is taken from a painting for this purpose – tenths of micro-metres are enough for us«, explains Bertrand«, who is Director of the European ancient materials platform at the SOLEIL.

The scientists here are specia-lists in examining cultural heritage objects with x-ray beams. They can get right to the heart of the objects and are then able to make state-ments about the condition of the

material. Paintings, metals, ceramics but also stones can be examined in this way. Exploring the objects, the researchers often find a new story behind them. »We identified the technique used by the Italian violin maker, Antonio Stradivari, to varnish his instruments«, says Bertrand.

Only the best come throughThe CHARISMA project gives Bertrand and his colleague Pacheco the opportunity to work with the very best of the best. This is because beam time is only assigned to out-standing proposals. An expert body decides twice a year on the descrip-tions of the research proposals. Scientists from everywhere in Europe

can submit their applications on the homepage of the EU project. But what comes after CHARISMA? »For young researchers like us the project creates the framework conditions for future cooperation«, says Pacheco. What does she mean? »Perhaps, we will make a research application to the EU together with some guest scientists«, says Pacheco.

More information is available on:www.charismaproject.euClaire Pacheco at work. She analyses a silver

jewel from Patagonia dating from the 19th century from the French ethnological museum »Musée du Quai Branly«.

SOLEIL has currently around 350 staff members, 6 of them are specialised in ancient materials.

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Cover: Infrared spectrometer: K. Dobberke/Fraunhofer ISCCover: Tower Bridge: Robin T. Backes/pixelio.de

P. 4 Antonia P. Recchia: DBUP. 5 Dr. Fritz Brickwedde: DBUP. 6 Pantheon: Rainer Sturm/pixelio.deP. 7 Flags: DBUP. 7 May Cassar: Tony Slade/UCL Media ServicesP. 8 Cologne Cathedral: Dombauhütte KölnP. 8 Notre Dame: Fabio Sommaruga/pixelio.deP. 9 Gloucester Cathedral: Centre for Sustainable HeritageP. 9 Lukasz Bratasz: DBUP. 9 Group of young students in Altdöbern: Internationale JugendgemeinschaftsdiensteP. 10 Charles Bridge: Ursula Münch/pixelio.deP. 10 Bridge: Friedrich Frühling/pixelio.deP. 11 Stefan Simon: Staatliche Museen zu Berlin – Preußischer KulturbesitzP. 12 Church window: K. Dobberke/Fraunhofer ISCP. 12 »Nana«-figure: Thomas Max Müller/pixelio.deP. 13 Kids: Stephanie HoyerP. 13 Sylvie Max-Colinart: Sylvie Max-ColinartP. 13 Lucy Martin: David Crombie and Lucy MartinP. 14, 17 Neuschwanstein Castle: Joerg Sommer/pixelio.deP. 14, 16 Rhodes: DICATP. 14, 19 Louvre: Konstantinos Dafalias/pixelio.deP. 14, 17 Archbishopric in Zaragoza: Angela Ruiz LazaroP. 15 Chiesa della Concezione: Vincenzo Tersigni/EIDONP. 15 Sergio Lagomarsino: DICATP. 17 Church in Romania: Peter SimonP. 17 Skokloster Castle: Bengt KylsbergP. 18 Linderhof Palace: Bayerische Schlösserverwaltung, www.schloesser.bayern.deP. 18 Johanna Leissner: Fraunhofer-GesellschaftP. 19 AGLAE facility: D. Vigears/C2RMFP. 20 Statue of the Archer King: L. Beck/C2RMFP. 20 Staffordshire Hoard: Birmingham Museum and Art GalleryP. 21 Claire Pacheco: D. Bagault/C2RMFP. 21 The SOLEIL: C. Kermarrec/SOLEIL

Picture credits

EditorDeutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt

Responsible Dr. Markus Große Ophoff (Zentrum für Umweltkommunikation, ZUK)Lutz Töpfer (Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, DBU)

TranslationAileen Sharpe, Sharpe + Arend Language Consultants

ConceptNina Schwab (DBU)

DesignHelga Kuhn/Birgit Stefan (ZUK)

PrintingSTEINBACHER DRUCK GmbH, Osnabrück

Year of publication2011

ImprintContents

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ForwordsAntonia P. Recchia, Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage and ActivitiesDr. Fritz Brickwedde, German Federal Foundation for the Environment

About NET-HERITAGEWhere if not in Europe?

Research FundingThe façade is crumbling What is heritage research worth to countries?Tourism: cultural heritage as a job driverEuropean Union takes this research area seriously

Interview with conservation scientist Stefan Simon: »Competition is stiff.«

Outlook: Cultural heritage research 2.0New support schemes on the horizon

Case StudiesEarthquakesClimate ChangeInternational Cooperation

Picture credits

Imprint

Grant Agreement no 219301 NET-HERITAGE

NETHERITAGE

Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities (MIBAC), Italy

Belgian Federal Science Policy (BFSP), Belgium

Ministry of Culture and Communication (MCC), France

Archaeological Heritage Agency of Iceland (MCI), Iceland

Heritage Malta (HM), Malta

Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), Italy

Ministry of Education and Science (MES), Bulgaria

Hellenic Ministry of Culture (HMC), Greece

The State Inspection for Heritage Protection (VKPAI), Latvia

Ministry of Culture and National Heritage (MKDN), Poland

Ministry of Education, Research, Youth and Sport, Romania

Ministry of Culture (MK), Slovenia

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Ministry of Science and Innovation (MICINN), Spain

Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC), United Kingdom

German Federal Foundation for the Environment (DBU), Germany

P. O. Box 1705 · 49007 OsnabrückAn der Bornau 2 · 49090 OsnabrückPhone: ++49 5 41 | 96 33-0 Fax: ++49 5 41 | 96 33-1 90www.dbu.de

A road map for cultural heritage research in Europe

An initiative of the project NET-HERITAGE Grant Agreement no 219301 NET-HERITAGE