PMG Photograph Conservation Workshop and Re-housing Project in Mali

Shoemaker, Heida Q. S. 2013. Almost All the Way to Timbuktu: A Photograph Conservation Workshop and Re-housing Project in Mali.

This article documents a photograph conservation workshop and rehousing initiative conducted in Mali, focused on the preservation of locally held photographic collections with access to limited resources and infrastructure. The project combined training, preventive conservation, and rehousing strategies tailored to the specific environmental, material, and institutional context.

The workshop emphasized practical, low-cost approaches to stabilization, including handling protocols, basic surface cleaning, and the fabrication of protective enclosures using locally available materials. Particular attention was given to adapting established conservation methodologies to contexts where standard supplies, environmental controls, and specialized equipment are not readily accessible.

The rehousing component addressed common risks observed in the collections, including dust accumulation, physical distortion, and inappropriate storage. Solutions prioritized durability, scalability, and local sustainability rather than reliance on imported archival materials. The collection addressed and treated was from Malick Sidibé's private collection of medium-format black-and-white negatives. Sidibé is a Malian photographer (1935-2016) known for his studio portraits and scenes of popular culture in 1960's Bamako, the capital of Mali.

Beyond the immediate treatment outcomes, the project foregrounds a training model centered on knowledge transfer, capacity building, and long-term stewardship. It contributes to ongoing discussions in the field regarding sustainable conservation practice, the ethics of intervention in resource-limited settings, and the role of workshops as both educational and preservation tools.
Download full text here

Back to Photographic Materials Main Page