One of the tasks of Museus e Monumentos de Portugal is the implementation of the policy of safeguard, research and conservation of movable and integrated cultural assets, owned by the State, other entities and private individuals. This program materialises in the special responsibilities assigned to Museus e Monumentos de Portugal through José de Figueiredo Laboratory – a benchmark institution established in 1965 – on the following work fronts:

• To issue an opinion on proposals for conservation and restoration of cultural assets both classified or undergoing classification, and to engage in conservation and restoration interventions on movable cultural assets of national interest and of public interest, or, exceptionally, on unclassified assets, but of acknowledged historical, artistic, technical or scientific value and which may become a reference as regards safeguard and preservation of the movable cultural heritage;

• Carry out or promote, through its services or in collaboration with other national or foreign entities, research projects in the field of conservation and restoration, artistic production techniques and materials science; develop studies on the causes of degradation of cultural assets materials and establish methodologies and methods to safeguard them;

• Propose measures within the context of preventive conservation and risk assessment and management, and design and disseminate technical standards and guidelines for the conservation and restoration of mobile and integrated cultural heritage;

• Develop technical expert studies applied to cultural assets. Promote training through curricular internships (masters, doctorates and post-doctorates) and integrated professionals in several areas of specialization;

• Encourage preventive conservation actions and to raise awareness of good practices in the conservation and restoration of cultural assets;

• Credit the qualification of public or private entities, collective or individual, performing conservation and restoration activities of mobile and integrated cultural heritage;

• Promote the necessary partnerships to achieve its objectives, namely with higher education institutions, research centres and public and private laboratories, national or foreign, and provide technical and scientific assistance to other entities and professionals in their relevant areas of expertise.
 

Preservation and Restoration Archive
The Preservation and Restoration Archive started in the Laboratory of Analysis of Works of Art, established in the first decades of the twentieth century at the National Museum of Ancient Art (MNAA), promoted by José de Figueiredo and João Couto, first directors of the MNAA. This work continued and was formally integrated into the José de Figueiredo Institute after it was formally established in 1965. Each item analysed or worked out in their studios, as well as the works of art analysed or treated in situ in all regions of the country, were the subject of a written report.

Conservation and Restoration Library
The bibliographic acquis that led to the creation of the Conservation and Museums Library is closely linked to the legacy of restorers Fernando Mardel and Abel de Moura, from the 1930s to the 1960s. In 1967, the Library and the Documentation and Consultation Office were officially created. The initial collection included the different areas of expertise of this Laboratory: laboratory research and conservation and restoration of paintings, mural painting, sculpture, textiles, graphic documents/paper, furniture, carving and jewellery/metal.