TWO LINCOLN STUDENTS WIN FUNDING FOR WORLD-CLASS EXPERTISE
The English-Speaking Union’s Lincolnshire Branch and local benefactors support students’ overseas learning
Lincolnshire’s branch will help two University of Lincoln Conservation of Cultural Heritage students gain valuable international expertise: first-year Adela Hawley gets £1,900 for a specialist Medieval art conservation course in Florence, Italy, thanks to The ESU John Roberts Award, and final-year paper specialist Cato van Breugel is to receive £2,000 for a four-month internship in Gothenburg, Sweden, with the help of the ESU John Roberts and Carbolm Travel awards. Continuing to fulfil one of the ESU’s founding ambitions, Lincolnshire Chairman Sir Michael Graydon CBE said: “It’s inspiring to see these students seize the opportunity to gain world-class skills and knowledge and exchange new ideas.”
Passionate about protecting the deteriorating works of art in British stately properties, Adela plans to boost her BA course with hands-on experience of Medieval artworks at the Accademia Riaci, a school which specialises in historic art and artisan methods. Adela hopes to bring these specialist skills back to help conserve art in stately properties. “Restoration is a specialist art but there are not enough people who have the skills or knowledge necessary even to evaluate what is required for basic cleaning and maintenance,” Adela explained.
Huge paper fan, Cato van Breugel (from the Netherlands) will spend a four-month internship at Studio Vastsvensk Konservering (SVK), part of Sweden’s largest regional nature and cultural heritage organization. With Conservation undergraduate degrees a rarity, Cato travelled to the UK to study at the University of Lincoln nearly three years ago: “Conservation is all about preserving cultural heritage objects for the future, such as cleaning objects or mending tears. I really enjoy working with my hands as well as doing research, and so this course combines that perfectly. To improve my skills and prepare for a master’s course in paper conservation, I am using my gap year to do an internship to gain more hands-on experience alongside experienced conservators.”
Professor Matthew Cragoe, Pro Vice Chancellor for the College of Arts at the University of Lincoln, said: “We’re delighted that two of our students have won these prestigious travel grants from the English-Speaking Union to undertake overseas study this summer, and are grateful for the ESU’s continued support. Opportunities to study abroad can both enrich the student experience and enhance graduate prospects, and we aim to support and encourage our students to embrace activities that can introduce them to new cultures, practices and perspectives.”