Government House hired chief conservator to catalog antiques and artwork

The Virgin Islands government hired St. Croix cultural preservationist Julio Encarnacion III to catalog and manage the territory’s collection of antique artifacts and paintings, according to a May 3, 2018 Government House announcement.

Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp announced the appointment in a letter sent on May 1, 2018, to Senate President Myron Jackson. Government House said Encarnacion assumed the post of chief conservator on April 16, 2018.

The announcement said the position would work with the commissioner of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources, the territory’s statutory historic preservation officer, on the care and custody of cultural resources, art and artifacts held by the executive branch.

Government House said additional assistance was needed after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, when valuable items were relocated because of storm damage at Government House on St. Thomas and other facilities.

The initial work was to focus on cataloging antiques and artwork and determining long-term storage during renovations. Government House said the assessment would include QR codes for each piece and that the inventory would be made public after the assessment report was completed.

Official source: https://www.vi.gov/assessment-underway-for-government-house-antiques-and-artwork/