Webinars | Image Permanence Institute

Upcoming Webinars

Implementing Seasonal Relative Humidity Set Points
April 23^rd 2026, 1:00-1:45pm ET
Cost: This webinar is provided at no cost thanks to generous support from a Getty Global Art & Sustainability Fellows grant designed to support learning and dialogue around practical, sustainable approaches to managing collection environments.

Audience: Conservators, collections care professionals, archivists, registrars, facilities and building operations staff, sustainability coordinators, and administrators who are defining, managing, or considering the adoption of seasonal relative humidity set points in exhibition or collection spaces.

Webinar details: Seasonal relative humidity (RH) set points offer a practical way to maintain established preservation conditions while responding to seasonal changes in outdoor climate. This webinar introduces the concept of seasonal RH management and will share a a case study of how the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) implemented and manages seasonal RH set points in exhibition and collection spaces. The session will focus on how seasonal RH ranges are defined, how gradual, planned adjustments to set points are managed over the course of the year, and the key factors to consider when implementing seasonal RH set points. Emphasis will be placed on the decision-making process, coordination between collections and facilities staff, and the measurable energy reductions achieved through this strategy.

Implementing Broader Annual Relative Humidity Ranges in High Density Storage Spaces
May 21st 2026, 1:00-1:45pm ET
Cost: This webinar is provided at no cost thanks to generous support from a Getty Global Art & Sustainability Fellows grant designed to support learning and dialogue around practical, sustainable approaches to managing collection environments.

Audience: Archivists, collections care professionals, and facilities and building operations staff interested in managing or implementing broader relative humidity set points in high-density storage areas. Administrators overseeing storage planning and long-term facilities operations may also find this webinar useful.

Webinar details: High-density archival storage environments present unique opportunities for managing relative humidity (RH) because large volumes of boxed and bound materials absorb and release moisture slowly over time. This webinar will focus on how the hygroscopic nature and sheer volume of organic archival collections contribute to more gradual RH behavior, even within broader set point ranges. Emphasis will be placed on why broadening RH set points can be effective and on the key factors institutions should consider when adopting this approach.

Reducing Extreme Relative Humidity Conditions in Historic Houses Through Passive Environmental Management Approaches
June 25^th 2026, 1:00-1:45pm ET
Cost: This webinar is provided at no cost thanks to generous support from a Getty Global Art & Sustainability Fellows grant designed to support learning and dialogue around practical, sustainable approaches to managing collection environments.

Audience: Collections care professionals, conservators, historic site managers, facilities staff, and sustainability coordinators working in historic houses or collection spaces with limited mechanical systems, as well as those interested in evaluating or implementing passive approaches to reduce extreme RH conditions. Administrators involved in historic building use, maintenance, or long-term environmental planning may also find this webinar useful.

Webinar details: Historic house museums often experience extreme seasonal and short-term fluctuations in relative humidity due to building characteristics, exposure, and limited mechanical control. This webinar introduces passive environmental strategies through case studies of how the Morris County Park Commission (MCPC) has reduced environmental risk across historic houses and collection spaces using low-cost, data-driven approaches. The session will focus on how environmental monitoring has been used to build an understanding of environmental patterns over time, and how this information supports testing, evaluating, and refining passive strategies. Emphasis will be placed on using environmental data to guide incremental, data-informed adjustments.

Introduction to Thermodynamics of Collection Environments and Why Thermodynamics Matter in Cultural Heritage
Three-part series: October 8th, October 22nd, and November 5th, 2026

This webinar series is aimed at preservation professionals who would like to develop a foundational understanding of the thermodynamic principles, such as heat, energy and temperature, that govern what happens in storage and display environments and why these phenomena actually matter. Upon completion of this webinar series, museum, archive and library professionals will understand the key physical concepts governing indoor collections environments and will be equipped with important knowledge that will help inform environmental management decisions in collaboration with facilities staff.

Webinar Archive

Introduction to 3D Printing for Cultural Heritage

This webinar will provide an introduction to 3D printing for preservation professionals. Information covered will include an overview of 3D printing processes, terminology, commonly printed materials, and application areas within a cultural heritage setting.

August 24, 2023 Watch the Recording

Sustainability on Display: Preservation-Friendly Ways of Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Museum Exhibits

In this webinar, three cultural heritage professionals will share their work related to preservation-friendly ways of reducing the carbon footprint of museum exhibits.

February 3, 2022 Watch the Recording

Introduction to HVAC Systems

This webinar will explain the operation of how these mechanical systems create environmental conditions for collecting institutions.

October 14, 2021 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

Sustainable Preservation: Quick Tips and Approaches for Museums, Libraries, and Archives

Three cultural heritage professionals that represent a cross section of the field are joining the Image Permanence Institute to present quick tips and actionable approaches to environmentally sustainable preservation practices.

May 6, 2021 Watch the Recording

Energy Monitoring for Cultural Heritage Institutions

This webinar explains why institutions should consider energy monitoring, different strategies for doing so, and how the data collected can inform decision-making.

February 19, 2021 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

Responding to Issues

This webinar discusses how to make basic environmental changes or adjustments to improve preservation environments, and provide guidelines for avoiding responses that may have negative consequences.

July 9, 2020 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

Setting Appropriate Parameters

The webinar summarizes the broader field of research and standards, and discuss factors to consider when setting environmental parameters.

June 11, 2020 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

Understanding Fluctuations and Equilibrations

The webinar begins by expanding upon foundational research and theory by reviewing objects’ responses to environmental fluctuations and factors affecting the rate of object equilibration.

May 14, 2020 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

Evaluating Collection Spaces

This webinar addresses how to implement an environmental management program, from identifying the key features of a mechanical system that create indoor environmental conditions, to where problematic microclimates may exist in a collection space, to how to begin an environmental monitoring program.

August 16, 2019 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

Preventive Conservation and the Role of Environment

The webinar begins by covering how the environment fits into the larger frameworks of preventive conservation and risk analysis, and focusing on the environment’s impact on preservation, including how to identify what materials within a collection are most vulnerable to these factors.

July 25, 2019 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

Using Identification to Improve Collection Preservation and Access

The webinar series culminates with a discussion of preservation and access for photographic collections. This presentation draws from recent research to include an overview of collections care for prints and photographs, such as proper storage, handling and display methods, and guidelines for a preservation storage environment.

February 14, 2018 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

A Methodology for Process Identification, Part 2

This webinar showcases IPI’s web resource, www.GraphicsAtlas.org. It highlights the new process identification pages launched in December 2016 as well as the new filtered search and controlled vocabulary. IPI staff demonstrate how these new features can be used toward accurate process ID.

January 10, 2018 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

A Methodology for Process Identification, Part 1

Process identification can be overwhelming and daunting. IPI has developed several tools in order to make this task easier. This includes a step-by-step methodology and a controlled vocabulary specific to photograph characteristics for identification. This webinar presents the methodology and controlled vocabulary.

December 13, 2017 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

21st Century Materials and Technologies

This webinar provides an overview of 21st century digital printing processes. It includes a description of the three most common printing technologies as well as the range of materials available.

November 8, 2017 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

20th Century Materials and Technologies

This webinar begins with an overview of 20th century materials and technologies. It focuses on the diversity of silver gelatin developed out prints. It also includes a discussion of color photographic processes and technologies.

October 11, 2017 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)

19th Century Materials and Technologies

This webinar discusses the diverse range of photographic materials and technologies used during the 19th century. It begins with a brief introduction to basic photographic technologies including the camera and printing methods. An overview of photographic printing processes and materials based on the light sensitivity of silver, iron, and chromium are given.

September 13, 2017 Watch the Recording Download (PDF)