The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers Constitution
1. Introduction
This is the Constitution of The British Association of Paintings Conservator-Restorers (the ‘Association’)
2. Aims
The aims of the Association are:
1. To endorse and promote high standards in the training and practice of the profession with the goal of protecting and conserving our cultural heritage.
2. To consider and discuss within the Association matters relating to the profession and its work; to disseminate ideas and information within the profession; to help exchange ideas and share experiences between paintings conservator-restorers, and to encourage the investigation of new ideas, methods and materials that might be of benefit to the profession.
3. To advance the education of the public as to the restoration and conservation of paintings.
4. To promote a high standard of professional and ethical conduct by Members as outlined in our Code of Practice.
5. To support the Members of the Association and safeguard the interests of the profession.
3. Membership
1. There shall be four categories of membership:
i) Associate Membership: open to practitioners in the field of restoration and conservation who undertake to support the aims of the Association. Candidates for Associate Membership shall be practitioners or students in this field, academics or educators concerned with research or training relevant to restoration and conservation.
ii) Fellowship: a category for existing Fellows. The Association will no longer assess Associate Members for Fellowship.
iii) Honorary Membership: awarded at the discretion of the Council.
iv) Student Membership: available for a maximum of three years, at the discretion of the Council.
2. Existing Fellows may add the letters ‘FBAPCR’ after their names and use the statement ‘Fellow of the British Association of Picture Conservator/Restorers’, and its logo, provided that such use does not discredit the Association. Fellowships were awarded on an individual basis and the distinction does not apply to a studio or organisation. Associate Members may state that they are ‘Associate Members of the British Association of Picture Conservator/Restorers’, provided it is not implied that such membership is a qualification; Associate Members may not use the Association’s logo.
3. The annual subscriptions to be paid by Members shall be decided by the Association at a General Meeting; annual subscriptions shall be due on June 24 of each year. A Member whose subscription is in arrears shall not be eligible to vote at any meeting of the Association or to receive the Association’s publications.
4. At the discretion of the Council, and on terms it shall decide, non-members may attend General Meetings and receive publications.
4. The Council
1. There shall be a Council of up to nine members, but with a minimum of six, four of whom should be accredited by a professionally recognised conservation body. Only Members with two years continuous membership of the BAPCR can be elected to the Council. It shall be responsible for the affairs of the Association and shall maintain a programme of activities to further the Aims of the Association; this may include but is not limited to, the authorisation and oversight of a journal and other publications, the arrangement of talks, conferences and study visits, the publication of a Code of Practice with amendments allowed from time to time, and the establishment of a benevolent fund.
2. Members of the Council shall be elected by the Association at Annual General Meetings. Two members of the Council shall retire each year, in rotation. No member of the Council shall serve for more than three consecutive years; members shall be eligible for re-election to the Council after a further year.
3. The Council may co-opt one Associate Member and also a Member practicing in the museum sector; co-optees shall retire at each Annual General Meeting, but shall be eligible for re-appointment by the Council for a maximum of three years. The Council may invite members or non-members to provide advice or expertise. Vacancies on the Council occurring between Annual General Meetings may be filled by the Council by temporary co-option. Co-optees shall retire at each Annual General Meeting. Co-optees will perform the same functions and have the same voting rights as elected members of the Council.
4. The Council shall appoint a Chairperson and a Vice-Chairperson, and such other officers as it may decide.
5. The Council shall appoint a Secretary and such other staff as it may decide, at a salary and with such responsibilities and conditions of service as it may decide, and at its discretion may terminate such appointments.
6. The Council may set up committees and decide their terms of reference, their membership and their duration.
7. The quorum necessary for the Council to take decisions shall be four.
8. The Council shall meet at intervals of not more than eight weeks.
9. The Secretary, in consultation with the Chairman, shall make arrangements for meetings of the Council. When a meeting of the Council has not settled the date of its next meeting the Secretary, in consultation with the Chairperson, shall arrange a date and notify members of the Council at least a week in advance. At the first meeting after the Annual General Meeting, the Secretary shall take the chair for the election of a Chairman by the Council from amongst its members; the Chairman shall then take the chair and proceed to the election of a Vice-Chairman.
When a vote is necessary, motions shall be carried by a simple majority of votes of the members of the Council present; if the votes are equal the Chairman shall have an additional casting vote.
10. In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman shall take the chair.
11. No member of the Council shall take part in any discussion or vote on a matter in which they have a financial interest.
12. Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary.
5. Committees
1. Membership of committees shall not be restricted to members of the Council, but, where possible, each committee shall include at least one member of the Council; each chairperson shall report on the progress of the committee at meetings of the Council; if the chairperson is not a member of the Council then he shall delegate that duty to a member who is on the Council.
2. The arrangements for the meetings of a committee shall be made by its chairperson, in consultation with the committee secretary if one has been appointed.
3. Brief minutes shall be kept, including decisions taken; expenditure proposed and the accounts of expenditure incurred. These minutes to be sent to the Secretary for submission to the Council.
4. Each committee shall decide its own quorum and inform the Secretary of this.
6. Meetings
1. An Annual General Meeting shall be held each year during June or July, as decided by the Council. The Chairperson shall present an annual report; the Secretary shall present the accounts of the Association and of the Benevolent Fund; members of the Council shall be elected as required.
2. Arrangements for General Meetings shall be made by the Council and the Secretary. General
Meetings shall be chaired by the Chairperson or their nominee. In addition to planned programmes of speakers, Association business may be conducted.
3. Voting at General Meetings shall be decided by a simple majority of Members present. The
quorum shall be twenty Members. If the votes are equal the chairperson of the meeting shall have an additional casting vote. Any objections as to the validity of a vote must be made at the meeting; the chairperson shall be the sole judge of the validity of any vote. Minutes shall be kept by the Secretary, who shall also inform Members of decisions taken.
4. The Council may call an Extraordinary General Meeting at any time. Further, the Secretary shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting on receiving a written request signed by not less than twelve Members, stating the object of the meeting and including the text of any resolutions to be proposed at the meeting. Voting at an Extraordinary General Meeting shall follow the same procedure as at General Meetings, except that no resolution may be considered except those included in the notice of the meeting, and that any changes to the Constitution shall require a vote of two-thirds of the Members present to be in favour of the changes at an Extraordinary General Meeting called for that purpose. An amendment to the published resolution may be discussed during the EGM if agreed by a majority of the members present.
5. Members shall be given at least three weeks’ notice of meetings. Accidental omission to give such notice or its non-receipt by any Member shall not invalidate the proceedings of a meeting.
7. Benevolent Fund
A Benevolent Fund shall be formed by voluntary subscriptions and donations from Members of the Association and others. A Board of Trustees consisting of a least three Fellows of the Association shall be established. Grants may be made at the discretion of the Trustees for the relief of Members of the Association. A review of the preceding year’s activities of the Fund (preserving anonymity for the recipients) shall be presented through the Secretary at the first meeting of each new Council.
8. Finance
Except where expenditure has been specifically approved by the Council, neither Members nor committees may spend money on behalf of the Association without authorisation by the Secretary, who shall also prepare a balance sheet and statement of income and expenditure for the previous year for each Annual General Meeting, incorporating those of any committee, and also the accounts of the Benevolent Fund. The accounts shall be examined and certified by the Association’s auditors.
9. Communications
No Member may issue any statement on behalf of the Association without prior authorisation by the Council.
10. Expulsion
A majority of not less than two-thirds of the Members of the Council present at a special meeting summoned for the purpose may decide to expel a Member of the Association. The expelled Member shall be eligible to re-apply for membership after three years.
11. Dissolution
The Association shall be dissolved if a resolution in favour of dissolution has been passed by a majority of not less than three-quarters of the Members present at an Extraordinary General
Meeting called for that purpose. In the case of a dissolution being approved all the assets of the
Association shall be realised, and all debts and liabilities settled; any residual money shall then be given to a registered charity or charities of the Council’s choice.
12. Code of Practice
The Code of Practice applies to all Members of the Association. By becoming a member of the Association or renewing membership all Members are agreeing to the Code of Practice. The Code of Practice can be amended from time to time by the Council.
Note: Neither the Association nor the Council is responsible for the actions of its members. However, there is the expectation that members should adhere to the Association’s Code of Practice and the Council reserves the right to suspend or revoke the membership of individuals who are deemed to have breached the Code.
- The obligations of the conservator-restorer
- The actions of the conservator-restorer should be dictated by concern for the historic, aesthetic and physical integrity of the work of art, within the parameters of the intended conservation work.
- Professional standards
- The conservator-restorer should strive to attain high standards in all aspects of conservation; including examination, treatment, documentation, advice, training and research.
- Documentation of conservation work should include recording in written form and with photographs the condition of the work of art before treatment and keeping a concurrent record of any and all treatment measures undertaken to the painting.
- Records of treatments undertaken should be kept by the conservator responsible. The records should also be made accessible or available to the owner/custodian of the work. All work undertaken should be disclosed and records should be complete, accurate, and not misleading.
- The conservator-restorer should inform the artwork’s owner/custodian of the conservator-restorer’s intended treatment as well as any unforeseen issues which arise during the course of treatment and which may entail a significant change in treatment approach and/or expected outcome.
- The conservator-restorer must also observe legal requirements and obligations, including those relating to health and safety, environment, equal opportunity, finance, employment, contract and criminal law.
- The conservator-restorer should only recommend conservation measures or carry out procedures they are willing and able to discuss openly with clients, custodians, and colleagues.
- Limitations
- The conservator-restorer should acknowledge when work is beyond the limitations of his or her training, experience, professional competence or workshop facilities and should seek the advice of other professionals of standing in the field.
- Responsibility to the profession
- The conservator-restorer should strive to contribute to the profession by sharing knowledge and skills, and where possible, help to maintain and raise the status of the profession.
- The conservator-restorer should ensure that they themselves are prepared and appropriately equipped to carry out conservation tasks, with appropriate support where needed and working to health and safety regulations.
- The conservator-restorer should ensure that those whose training or activities he/she supervises or is responsible for, are prepared and appropriately equipped to carry out conservation tasks, including ensuring that they have adequate support, supervision and health and safety controls. The conservator-restorer should also abide by the government policies on pay in remunerating employees.
- The conservator-restorer should treat colleagues, employees, students, and interns with integrity, respect and dignity. There should be no harassment in the workplace.
Failure to comply with the Code of Practice could lead to suspension or revocation of the individual’s BAPCR membership.