Project Marta: New Startup for Contemporary Art Conservation

Project Marta – Monitoring Art Archive, a startup for contemporary art conservation, was founded in Turin and launched at Arte Fiera in Bologna on January 29. The initiative was developed by Benedetta Bodo di Albaretto, a 33-year-old conservator and diagnostician for cultural heritage, with support from the Association You and Partners. Bodo, currently a collaborator at the Centro di Conservazione e Restauro La Venaria Reale, spent nearly a decade in the field before building the project, starting in 2016. The service targets collectors and involves contacting the artist who created the work for a direct interview on technical conservation issues. This information is compiled into a professional technical sheet, signed by both the project manager and the artist, which accompanies the artwork throughout its life. An abstract without sensitive data is published online from January 29. The startup aims to offer a versatile, cost-effective tool to prevent deterioration, especially given the complexity of contemporary materials and frequent loans. It is accessible to small collectors and has an educational goal to raise awareness about conservation.