Salvaging Art Collections in the Face of Natural Disasters: Challenges and Outcomes

A case study describes the impact on a collection of the extreme floods in eastern Australia in February 2022, and the salvaging of the Lismore Regional Art Gallery art collection. Despite predetermined protocols and preparedness efforts, the gallery suffered unprecedented flooding, requiring coordinated solutions to support emergency recovery. The project included relocating and stabilising around 1400 artworks, divided between the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Coordinated collaboration with stakeholders was needed to determine which artworks were salvageable; initial assessments indicated 60%. However, after further assessment this was reduced to 40% of all artworks able to be returned to a condition suitable for storage and display. The paper focuses on the assessment criteria used to prioritise artworks for salvage and conservation: insurance value, condition post-flooding, the views of living artists on display of treated works, and sentimental and community importance. It also outlines the conservation processes for flood-damaged paintings on canvas, works on paper, and photographgraphs, highlighting challenges and outcomes.