Programme

21 November

From 9:00 to 15:00

Emergency Actions in Photographic Archives in the Event of a Flood

In the current context of climate change, and given the forecast of increasingly intense extreme weather events, knowing the risks and being prepared to respond to an emergency situation becomes especially necessary. Recent and nearby experiences, such as the DANA that affected the Valencian Country in October 2024, remind us of how vulnerable photographic heritage can be when faced with flooding.
When photographs come into accidental and uncontrolled contact with water, knowing how to act from the very first moment is essential. It is necessary to assess the situation, establish priorities, and make decisions that help minimize damage and support the recovery of the affected materials. In this context, the first actions can be decisive for their preservation.
This theoretical and practical workshop will provide tools and criteria to anticipate such situations and to know how to act when they occur. It will address aspects related to prevention, the organization of emergency response, and the establishment of priorities, as well as guidelines for handling, treating, and managing photographic materials affected by water. The training will combine theory and practice based on real cases and experiences.

Esther Llorca

Trained in photography at the IEFC (Institut d’Estudis Fotogràfics de Catalunya), where she specialized in the study and practice of historical photographic techniques, she holds a degree in Fine Arts, a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage from the University of Barcelona (UB), and a Master’s degree in Conservation and Restoration of Photographic Heritage from ESCRBCC. She develops her professional activity in the fields of conservation and restoration of graphic and photographic heritage, as well as in teaching.
Throughout her professional career, she has worked and collaborated with various institutions, including the National Archive of Catalonia, the Centre for the Restoration of Movable Cultural Property of Catalonia, INSPAI – Image Centre of the Girona Provincial Council, the General Archive of the Barcelona Provincial Council, the Toni Catany Foundation, the Maritime Museum of Barcelona, the Olympic and Sports Museum, the Museum of Lleida, the Parliament of Catalonia, and the University of Barcelona, among others.
She is currently a lecturer at ESCRBCC (Escola Superior de Conservació i Restauració de Béns Culturals de Catalunya), where she teaches in the Higher Artistic Education Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage and in the Master’s Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Photographic Heritage.