Preservation of Buddhist Treasures Workshop
About
This four-day workshop offers a comprehensive introduction to preservation of Buddhist art and devotional objects. Whether you would like to know how to care for your treasures at home or at your Buddhist centre, museum or gallery, this workshop will expose you to all the information, resources and practical skills you need to look after your collection with confidence and sensitivity.
The workshop will be held at the Great Stupa of Universal Compassion in Bendigo, Victoria, providing an immersive experience. It will include site visits to the Unique Tibet Museum, Atisha Centre Gompa, and Thubten Shedrup Ling Monastery to see how their holy objects are cared for. If you wish, your accommodation could be at the beautiful Atisha Centre located on the grounds of the Great Stupa (bookings can be made by clicking the ‘Book now’ button).
The workshop’s presenter Ann Shaftel, a highly qualified art conservator, will share her unique expertise through information sessions and hands-on preservation training. You will learn:
- how to display, store and safely handle Buddhist art object
- how to care for metal, wood, textile, bone, paper, and composite objects
- how to document different types of collection objects
- how to undertake risk assessment of your collection
- how to protect collections during disasters
Details
- When: 20 to 23 June 2025 (Friday to Monday)
- Where: The Great Stupa of Universal Compassion library, 25 Sandhurst Town Road, Myers Flat (Bendigo) VIC 3556
- Cost per person: $880, inclusive of opening networking event, full catering for the duration of the workshop, workshop materials and handouts
For further inquiries please email: library@stupa.org.au
Ann Shaftel
Ann Shaftel
Ann Shaftel
Meet the presenter
Ann Shaftel, MSc, MA, is a distinguished Fellow of both the American Institute for Conservation and the International Institute for Conservation. She is also a member of the Canadian Association of Professional Conservators, ICOM, and ICOMOS.
Since 1970, Ann has tirelessly worked for conservation of Buddhist art with museums, universities, monasteries and community organisation. Her work, esteemed by international scholars, has always been guided by the insights of Buddhist teachers.
Ann founded Treasure Caretaker Training, a non-profit organization dedicated to working closely with nuns and monks to preserve Buddhist treasures in monasteries and communities.
The Great Stupa is a favourite place for Ann, as she visited and advised on conservation in 2022, while teaching at University of Melbourne. In 2025 she will be working in Australia, Beijing, Shanghai, the Tibetan Plateau, Nepal, Bhutan and in North America.
