Modular Cleaning Programme Workshop

Fine Art Restoration Company would like to invite you to an innovative conservation workshop this September. Our Carlisle studio will host an intensive course in Chris Stavroudis’ Modular Cleaning Programme with all materials included. 

Instructor: Chris Stavroudis

Hosted by: Fine Art Restoration Company, Carlisle, Cumbria, UK

Duration: 5 days

Dates: 19th-23rd September 2022

Price: £795 (early bird price of £650 until 22nd July)

This price includes transport to the studio each day and your workshop materials.

For any additional information and enquiries please get in touch at [email protected]

About the Modular Cleaning Programme

Chris Stavroudis is a private paintings conservator in West Hollywood, California, and an authority in the field of complex cleaning systems. He developed the MCP in 2002 as an offshoot of the Gels Projects at the Getty Conservation Institute. Since then, he has held numerous MCP workshops to share his skills with other conservators. He has also worked as a co-instructor for all of the Cleaning Acrylic Painted Surfaces workshops sponsored by the GCI and continues to work with them on the cleaning of oriental lacquer and gilded wood surface projects. 

The Modular Cleaning Programme Workshop is an intensive week of lectures and hands-on practical activities. Participants will gain a solid foundation in the theory and practice of formulating aqueous cleaning solutions, solvent gels, polymer-stabilised emulsions, w/o and o/w microemulsions, and the use of silicone solvents and gelling agents. They will also learn how to use the MCP software package to effectively tailor stock solutions to formulate optimal cleaning solutions.

Participants will familiarise themselves with using the MCP on a range of painted and mock-heritage surfaces all whilst having Chris on hand to troubleshoot, guide and advise.

By the end of the workshop, all attendees should be comfortable mixing the solutions, working through aqueous, emulsion, microemulsion and solvent gel test cleanings, and understand how various changes in materials will affect the cleaning solution and how this relates to the chemistry of the surface and cleaning system.

Each participant will leave with a set of the MCP concentrates so they can start employing them, as appropriate, in their studios.

Getting to the studio

Transport to and from the Cumbria Park Hotel and a meeting point in the centre of Carlisle to the studio will be provided each day.

Visiting Carlisle

We recognise that many participants will not be local to our area and will be travelling from across the country and beyond to attend. As such we have negotiated a discount at the Cumbria Park Hotel for our participants, just quote FARCO when booking via phone or email (please be aware the code will not work for online bookings).

The hotel is also able to provide packed lunches for a small additional charge which can be organised at check-in.

Click here to visit the Cumbria Park Hotel website

There are limited rooms available for the dates so booking promptly is recommended. Information about alternative accommodation options will be provided upon securing your place and our team is always happy to help you with local recommendations and advice.

Terms & conditions

Tickets are non-refundable.

If the event is cancelled your tickets will be refunded in full. If the event is rescheduled tickets will be valid for a new event date.

If you are unable to attend your ticket can be transferred to a different name, please contact us and let us know before confirming via [email protected]

Owing to the continuing uncertainty surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, we advise that all attendees purchase travel insurance to cover their travel/accommodation in the unfortunate event that the workshop has to be rescheduled.