Save the Textile Conservation Centre

From the Southampton University Bulletin

Following a detailed review of the viability of the Textile Conservation Centre (TCC), the University’s Council proposes, with profound regret, that the Centre, which has been part of the University since June 1999, will close in late 2009.

The decision to close the TCC, which is based at the Winchester campus, has not been taken lightly. However, Council has concluded, with great reluctance, that the cross subsidy from other academic areas can no longer be justifed.

As part of the review, the University investigated several possibilities for the future of the TCC, including fnding an external source of income to bridge the TCC’s funding gap; transferring the TCC to an alternative university; and developing a new business plan within the University fnancial model which would create a viable long-term future for the TCC.

Professor Nick Foskett, Dean of Law, Arts and Social Sciences, said: Despite much work by the TCC and University staff, as well as the TCC Foundation (the Centre’s supporting Trust), no solution has yet been found that would still protect the high quality of the TCC’s work.

‘However, throughout the closure process, the University and the Trustees will continue to seek other options including external unding or transfer to another institution.
‘A top priority during this period will be to sustain he quality of programme and experience for all tudents studying t the TCC, and hey will all be able o complete their programmes at he Centre. I have lready had several meetings with students at TCC to brief them on he situation and discuss any concerns they may have.
‘We fully acknowledge the international excellence of the TCC nd the signifcant achievements of its staff and students before nd since becoming part of the University. However, postgraduate onservation education is a resource-intensive activity. The onservation sector has been discussing this for some months, as onservation programmes elsewhere face similar pressures as the TCC. In order to raise awareness of this nationally signifcant issue nd to seek some solutions, the University and the TCC Foundation re working together on an international summit on conservation education in the UK in 2008

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