RPM Training 2024/2025 – Risk Management in Museums – Module I – Fire
Mértola, 12-14 November 2024
The Risk Management in Museums, Module I – Fire training course was held in Mértola between 12 and 14 November, within the scope of the Portuguese Museums Network (RPM) training plan for 2024/2025. The training was attended by 34 participants from various municipalities and museums, including members of the Cláudio Torres Mértola Museum team, the Civil Protection Service of the City Council of Mértola and the Mértola Volunteer Fire Station, the team from RPM and Museus e Monumentos EPE, the Municipal Museum and Municipal Fire Station of Loulé, the City Councils of Cascais, Sesimbra, Albufeira and Vila Franca de Xira, the Air Museum, the Jerónimos Monastery (Lisbon), the National Archaeological Museum (Lisbon), the Rainha Dona Leonor Museum (Beja), the Sporting Museum (Lisbon), the Biscainhos Museum (Braga) and the Casa de Bragança Foundation – Vila Viçosa Palace.
The theoretical component was given by trainers Xavier Romão on ‘Introduction to risk management‘ and ‘The components of a risk management plan‘, Esmeralda Paupério on ‘Building inspection and maintenance actions‘, Mário Ferreira on ‘Civil Protection/Firefighters intervention in Cultural Heritage emergencies‘, Alexandre Martins on ‘Fire risk prevention and mitigation measures for cultural heritage‘, and Matthias Tissot and Joana Amaral on ‘Emergency action planning in cultural heritage‘. At the end of each day there was a practical component. On the first day they performed an analysis and diagnosis of problems/pathologies at the Main Church and Castle, and on the second day they developed a prioritisation form for different types of movable heritage in a fire scenario.
The morning of 14 November was dedicated to a drill in the Religious Art and Islamic Art museums, with the participation of the Mértola Volunteer Fire Station and the Civil Protection Service of the City Council of Mértola. In the scenarios prepared at the two sites, and guided by Trainers Esmeralda Paupério, Mário Ferreira, Matthias Tissot and Joana Amaral, the trainees rescued a number of works and faced a series of difficulties and constraints that must be analysed and which raise awareness of the need to prepare a Risk Management Plan.
This event was important for training but also for contacting, sharing, exchanging experiences and reflecting on the need for an effective and appropriate approach to each situation, with the aim of minimising damage to museological units’ collections. The Mértola Museum would like to thank RPM for organising this training in Mértola.