OCÊrâmica: um “recurso educativo” para o estudo da conservação preventiva do acervo cerâmico do Vale do Jequitinhonha do Museu de História Natural e Jardim Botânico da UFMG

Abstract

This research aims to share preventive conservation actions in university museums. An educational resource was developed, a booklet for museum educators, on the preservation of the ceramics from Jequitinhonha Valley, which is part of the Folk Art Collection of the Natural History Museum and Botanical Garden of UFMG (MHNJB/UFMG). The booklet is entitled: “OCÊrâmica: The ceramic of the Folk Art Collection of the Natural History Museum and Botanical garden of UFMG and Preventive Conservation”. The main contributions to structure the theoretical support of this educational resource are in line with the dissemination of the ceramic collection, the risk factors that affect museum cultural assetsin museums, the main types of deterioration of ceramic artifacts affected by the fire, and preventive conservation actions in museums. Most of the objects show deteriorations caused by the fire that occurred on June 15, 2020, which affected the room of Technical Reserve (RT1), the former storagge location for this collection. The artifacts reflect the talento, knowledge and regional traditions of ceramic artists from Jequitinhonha Valley, passed down through the generations through maternal lineage. The new definition of museums (ICOM, 2022) adds important changes in relation to the previous version, incorporating terms and concepts related to contemporary challenges, such as sustainability, diversity, community and inclusion. A good preservation policy is necessary to provide accessibility to cultural assets and minimize their deterioration. This paper seeks aims to address a set of underlying themes, such as the value of cultural heritage, the relevance of preventive conservation in Museums, and the importance of professionals in conservation-restoration area in the preservation of cultural assets. The educational resource focuses on preventive conservation actions for the ceramic collection of the MHNJB/UFMG, wichi is characterized by female work and importante rites of passage in the universe of women from the Jequitinhonha Valley, mediating tacit and academic knowledge in museum’s narrative constructions. The artifacts reaffirm the diversity and cultural richness of Minas Gerais and Brazil.