Membership
Treat yourself or a loved one with the gift of Membership: enjoy free access to all exhibitions, access to our Members’ Room, priority booking to evening talks, and much more.
Join today
Numbering Museum Objects: Making Your Mark (Online)
Professional development course
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
The V&A holds over 1.7 million objects, and every single one is assigned a number to identify it on the collections management system. But what of physically marking and labelling an object with its accession number? How do you ensure that your marking method is durable but reversible, and doesn’t damage the object?
This online course will outline the guiding principles, best practice and the practical skills for physically numbering or labelling museum objects. You will discover how object marking has evolved at the V&A, learn which materials are recommended for numbering museum objects, and why each method of marking is dependent upon each object or group of objects, their condition and materials, whether stone, metals, plastic, wood, textiles or other.
Course Leader
Neil Carleton
Neil is Senior Documentation Officer at the V&A. In his 30 years at the museum, Neil has worked across all Collection Departments on a wide variety of inventory, cataloguing, display, decant and storage projects. As the V&A's lead on object marking, he has numbered over 75,000 objects and parts, and delivers collections management training.
It was a privilege and an absolute pleasure to go behind the scenes of a fantastic museum ! Previous Professional Development course attendee
Course overview
Using the V&A’s practical expertise, this course offers a rare opportunity to acquire the latest knowledge in sound collections management. In this online course, Neil will outline the theory, best practice and key considerations in numbering and labelling museum objects with the appropriate techniques. By the end of the course, you will have the necessary resources, and knowledge of object-safe materials, marking methods and thinking processes to equip you to confidently and safely mark objects in your collections.
V&A Academy Online. A learning environment you can trust.
Our courses are built using the latest Microsoft software. Tune in to expert lectures live or catch up on demand. Join discussions and continue your learning with downloadable handouts and presentations.
See FAQs to learn more about joining online.
See FAQs to learn more about joining online.
Enrol now
Professional development course: Numbering Museum Objects: Making Your Mark (Online)
2 December 2024 - 3 December 2024
£45.00
Call to book +44 (0)20 7942 2000
Need help enrolling? Talk to the admissions team:
+44 (0)20 7942 2000
Open 10.00 - 13.00, Monday to Sunday (closed 24-26 December)
