Materia is co-edited by a group of conservators and art historians based in Europe and North America, and is supported by a specialist international advisory board consisting of academics, conservators and museum curators. The core members of our team are colleagues of long standing, having either studied or worked together within the fields of conservation and technical art history.

While our careers have taken us to different parts of the world, we were collectively frustrated by the unprecedented lack of access to research materials as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Widespread library and university campus closures meant restricted access to non-digitized and non-open source publications, making it difficult for many to pursue any kind of detailed study outside of academic spheres.

Through its digital format as well as dedication to free readership and no submission fees, Materia hopes to address the increased need for accessibility and flexibility when it comes to the ways in which we consult our research material. The digital format will allow Materia to better showcase technical studies and discussions of digital art and cultural heritage, such as audio, video, and web-based mediums. The journal has been founded with the goal of bringing together scholars of varying backgrounds, while also seeking the widest possible engagement with our readership.