Willard Conservation has donated a conservation suction table to conservators in Ukraine

Willard Conservation Equipment Engineers of Chichester have donated a conservation suction table worth over £50,000 to The National Centre for Restoration in Kyiv, Ukraine to assist with the protection and conservation of priceless heritage objects in the war-torn country.

Rescuing priceless works of art and items of cultural significance is anything but easy at the best of times, but in countries like Ukraine suffering conflict, the brave work undertaken by conservators still in Ukraine demonstrates selfless commitment to their country’s heritage.

This will be the first table of its kind in the country, and measuring 3.5 meters x 2.5 meters, it is one of the largest in the world.

Icon member and Painting Conservator Katya Belaia-Selzer has been a vital link to fellow conservators in Ukraine and has been instrumental in the organisation of this donation. Katya recently commented on the awful news of museums in occupied regions in Ukraine being looted and completely emptied.

The table is going to make a big difference and will undoubtedly be a huge morale boost for our Ukrainian colleagues. I keep this image in my head of visiting Kyiv soon when the war is won and seeing their wonderful conservation department all beautifully equipped.

Icon members Katya Belaia-Selzer and Donatella Banti are the co-founders of the UA-UK Cultural Heritage Initiative.

Paul Willard, CEO at Willard Conservation said:

We feel compelled to help the conservation community in Ukraine in their time of extreme adversity. Preservation of the world's priceless works of art and historic media is of paramount importance and we're pleased to be able to help in this small but nevertheless, important way.

On the 6th December, Willards Conservation welcomed two Ukrainian Conservators to their workshops to see the table in action before it was packed and shipped.