Restorers without Frontiers is a charity project initiated by The London School of Picture & Frame Conservation in 2015. The focus of the project is three fold –

1) Restore heritage artifacts in countries where there is a need.
2) Work with and train local conservators
3) Leave a legacy in place so that the work may continue.

We want to pay tribute not only to the local students in Goa for all their hard work and effort, but to the many volunteers who came out from around the world at their own expense to help make the project a success. We have had volunteers so far from the UK, Italy, Denmark, Portugal, Canada, USA and China. None of this could have happened without the help and support of the Cardinal Archbishop of Goa and Daman, His Eminence Filipe Neri Ferrão and the whole team in the Archbishop’s House, in particular Father Joaquim Loiola Pereira. We must also mention the Rector of the Seminary in Rachol, Father Aleixo Menezes.

We were very pleased to be visited by students and staff from the  National School of Journalism in Bangalore who produced two short films of the work we are doing in Goa – a Mini Feature and the Main Report. Our thanks to Dipti Kumar, Head for Broadcast Journalism as well as students Ipsita Kabiraj and Stephen Gershom.

We are delighted that all of the first cohort of students have completed the three year course, and that they have formed a team to carry on  conservation work up to the level of their training. This has included surface cleaning of paintings, and also work on polychrome statues.

They have carried out some complex and challenging conservation tasks, including relining paintings as well as patching and retouching.

The great news in 2023 is that we now have a new cohort of students embarking on the programme, and that they are being taught both locally in Goa as well as online from London.

We are always happy to hear from experienced painting conservators who would like to be involved – either to join us or to support us in some other way. Please do get in touch.