Become a Conservator || 7 Steps to Become an Art Conservator / Museum Conservator / Object Doctor!
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- Опубліковано 19 чер 2024
- How do you become a conservator aka art conservator or object doctor? How do you touch and preserve the world’s heritage?
Join me, a professional conservator, as I tell you the 7 key steps to being a conservator and having a career in conservation! Conservation (also known as art conservation and museum conservation) is a mixture of science, art and history. It requires you to get professional training and continually develop your skills and knowledge.
Spoiler alert: Becoming a conservator isn’t easy, but it is an incredibly rewarding career. I hope you're ready to work hard and start your conservation journey!
Want to watch more? Check out my playlist on 'What is Conservation':
🎞 • What is conservation?
|| 🕰 TIMESTAMPS 🕰 ||
00:00 7 Steps to Become a Conservator
00:41 1. Discover conservation
01:20 2. Experience conservation
02:36 3. Choose specialisation
03:11 4. Conservation training
04:56 5. Conservation internship or fellowship
05:26 6. Get a conservation job
06:12 7. Ensure lifelong learning and professional development
06:52 A conservation career is rewarding and challenging
Conservation training can vary so much including the length of time, specialisations they offer and where they are located. Make sure you research and make the right choice for you!
|| RESOURCES & MENTIONS ||
DISCOVER CONSERVATION
🎞 Live Conservation at NGV: • Live Conservation | NG...
🎞 Conserving The Blue Boy in Public at the Huntington: • Conserving The Blue Bo...
HOW TO BECOME A CONSERVATOR
📝 AUSTRALIA Become a Conservator (Australian Institute for Conservation): aiccm.org.au/conservation/bec...
📝 CANADA Become a Conservator (Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property): www.cac-accr.ca/conservation/...
📝 EUROPE List of Conservation Courses taught in English (Institute of Conservators-Restorers in Ireland): www.icriconservation.ie/image...
📝 EUROPE Which Institutes Offer Which Specialisations (European Network for Conservation-Restoration Education): www.encore-edu.org/specialisat...
📝 UNITED KINGDOM Conservation Training (Institute of Conservation): www.icon.org.uk/training.html
📝 UNITED STATES Become a Conservator (American Institute for Conservation): www.culturalheritage.org/abou...
📝 Quick Stater Guide - A Career in Art Conservation (AIC): drive.google.com/file/d/1asmr...
📝 Getting Started in Your Career (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wik...
📝 Education and Training (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wik...
📝 Where to Study Conservation at a Postgraduate Level (Angelica Isa): angelicaisa.com/blog/where-to...
CHOOSING A CONSERVATION SPECIALTY
📝 Choosing a Specialty (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wik...
RESOURCE FOR EMERGING CONSERVATION PROFESSIONALS
💻 Emerging Conservation Professionals Network Group: / ecpnetwork
💻 AICCM Emerging Conservators Group: / aiccmemergingconservators
📝 Emerging Conservation Professionals (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wik...
📝 Changing Horizons: Observations from Emerging Conservation Professionals (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/w/i...
INTERNATIONAL & NATIONAL CONSERVATION BODIES
📜 American Institute for Conservation (AIC): www.culturalheritage.org/
📜 Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (AICCM): aiccm.org.au
📜 Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property (CAC-ACCR): www.cac-accr.ca/
📜 Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI): www.canada.ca/en/conservation...
📜 The Institute of Conservation (ICON UK): www.icon.org.uk/
📜 Institute of Conservators-Restorers in Ireland (ICRI): www.icriconservation.ie/
📜 International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM): www.iccrom.org/
📜 International Council of Museums - Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC): www.icom-cc.org/
📜 The International Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC): www.iiconservation.org/
📜 New Zealand Conservators of Cultural Materials (NZCCM): nzccm.org.nz/
#artconservation #artconservator
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🎬 / theconservationstarter
|| CONNECT ||
📸 Instagram: / lucilla.ronai
🐦 Twitter: / lucillaronai
🌍 Website: www.lucillaronai.com/
📚 Facebook: / conservation.starter
|| DISCLAIMER ||
This is not a comprehensive list! I will update where I can.
You have no idea how helpful this has been for me . As a recent Archaeology graduate who's dealing with alot of damaged artifacts and other private collections, especially after the August 4 blast in Lebanon, my country, conservation is a crucial element here and there aren't many specialists. A big part of me is passionate about pursuing a career in conservation because of this matter, and I didn't know where to begin looking! Thank you so much for the video! ♥️
If my video helped, even in a small way, I'm so glad. I'm so sorry to hear about what you've gone through. Your work with artifacts and private collections damaged by the blast is so important.
There are some resources in the video description. Otherwise you could reach out directly to conservation bodies to see if they can provide advice and help. It seems like the International Institute for Conservation is part of the 'Beirut Fine Art Heritage Rescue': www.iiconservation.org/content/beirut-fine-art-heritage-rescue-non-governmental-initiative. They could be useful to get in contact with.
I wish you all the best with your conservation journey, and even more importantly the recovery of artifacts in Lebanon. Please let me know if you need any more information.
@@TheConservationStarter thank you so much, again! I am actually in contact with the conservator behind the beirut fine art rescue initiative but unfortunately they might stop due to lack of funds, but I do hope it continues! On another note, what you're doing is very inspiring and I hope you have a great day ♥️
Brilliant - I'm glad that you're already in contact with the conservator working on the project. It's a bit worrying to hear about the lack of funding. Are they planning on reaching out to conservators and conservation bodies? I hope it continues too!
Thank you - it means so much to hear that what I'm doing is useful. All the best and I hope you have a great day too!
Just got accepted into my ma Art Conservation program for this fall 😁😁😁
Congratulations!!!! You’re going to learn so much. Good luck with your studies ☺️
Hi! I'm a high school senior looking to become an art conservator in the future and this video was so helpful! Thank you for all the great information and resources!
Hello! I’m so glad the video and resources were useful - you’re very welcome. Good luck on your conservation journey!
I'm getting a history degree and I've always planned on being a museum curator or archivist, but lately being a conservator is looking very interesting
Being a conservator is an amazing career - but so is being a curator and archivist. Luckily all your options work in the heritage sector. I really recommend trying to find out more about each role and getting some hands on experience if you can. Conservation is a lot more hands on with collections, and you need to have good manual dexterity as well as understanding of history, art AND science. All the best!
@@TheConservationStarter Thanks for the response!
You’re very welcome!
I am young, oddly anough I want to work in a museum, I find history very interesting, in fact it is my special interest, quite odd at my age but who cares. Anyway, this has been very helpful video and I’m probably going to research for a long while, so, this was a great video and I’m happy to have seen it 🙂
And to anyone that has even bothered to read this,
you are a beautiful person and I hope that you get good luck. Have a wonderful day.
I just found you're channel and I am completely amazed by it!!!!!! Thank you so much for sharing you're knowledge and experience, It has helped me so much to understand what I really wanna do with my life. Love this channel, keep it up!! ;)
Thank you so much! I'm glad you found my channel :)
Fantastic, you summarized the conservators life professionally and perfectly in 7 minutes. Really I love what you present on your channel. Keep it up. Best wishes.
Thank you very much - I really appreciate that, especially because you’re a conservator and make videos too. All the best!
Congratulations for your job! Your videos are a fantastic and unique way to talk about conservation!! You are Very prepared and it is a pleasure hearing you! Thank you
Thank you very much - I'm so glad you enjoy my videos. It means a lot!
Love this and all your videos! Fully agree with the first step! I'm finishing my Chemical Engineering degree soon. I studied this because it was the most accessible degree when I thought of the paper industry and going into possible research for its conservation. I had no idea this field existed with a research and practice specialization for books and paper. When I found it, I felt like I'd been missing out on opportunities simply due to a lack of knowledge of the profession. I've been volunteering at my university museum ever since, helping with archiving and general collections care.
Much love from Puerto Rico!
Thank you very much Sofia! Hello from Australia!
It sounds like you're getting fantastic experience and knowledge already. I hope you're learning a lot while volunteering at the university museum. All the best with your conservation journey!
This video is just so helpful for me! I'm in Grade 12 deciding which universities I should apply to study Art conservation. I'm living in Canada, and there is not a Bachelor's degree program for Art conservation alone, so I'm planning on studying Art history for 4 years, and then entering a MA program for Art conservation at Queen's University. Though, I'm considering some other programs outside of Canada (specifically in the U.S.) since it seems like there are more diverse opportunities and education out there. Do you think studying art conservation programs in the US would be a more effective and certain way than studying in Canada?
I'm glad the video was useful! I think researching courses overseas as well as locally is a good idea. Look at what specialisations they offer, the duration of the course and importantly the costs. These are all factors on deciding where to study.
Also, where you want to work when you graduate is a factor. If you want to work as a conservator in Canada, studying there and interning at Canadian institutions is a good way to meet the local conservators and learn Canadian approaches to conservation. If you want to work as a conservator in the US, studying there is a good idea. That's not to say if you study in one country you can't get a job in another. However, when you are starting out as a recent graduate it might make getting a job easier for you. Good luck with your conservation journey!
have you decided yet?
Hi thanks so much for your video. It was super helpful.
I actually graduated from college last spring having studied sociology which I enjoyed but recently I've realized from the few art history classes I've taken that I actually enjoyed them far more. I found out about art conservation a couple of months ago and have done research on the field and realized that that may possibly be the career for me. I'm a very hands-on person and art has been a constant in my life so now I'm in the process of learning more about art conservation before jumping into it.
I'm actually in touch with a paper conservator and she has been really helpful. She's even letting me visit her lab which I'm excited about.
Your page is exactly what I needed and I'm glad I discovered it!
I'm so glad the video was helpful for you. Thank you for sharing your conservation journey so far. It's so exciting that you're thinking about a career in conservation and are already taking steps. I hope you enjoy your visit to the paper conservator's lab. They are such interesting places to visit.
All the best with the rest of your conservation journey!
I'm glad I found this video, I was looking around for information on art conservation. Decided to check out this path when a professor mentioned it to me last semester. An this was helpful, I do plan to check out your other videos; I'm back in college again to officially get a degree, as of now I'm Pre-Studio Art concentrating in Printmaking. :)
Thank you- I'm really happy you found it useful. Before I studied conservation, I also studied printmedia. It's a really foundation for conservation - builds hand skills and also is a great transition to specialise in paper conservation. Good luck with your conservation journey!
@@TheConservationStarter Thank you, I will do my best. :)
thank you! I applied for college next year for Art Restoration and I haven't been able to figure out what I'm supposed to do to get to the point of being able to be one. I learned about art restoration from Ghostbusters, Dana being an art conservator (highlighted in Ghostbusters 2)
Good luck with your application! Studying to become a conservator is a really important step. Then getting a job as a conservator, or in an associated profession, is really important to continue your learning and to get real world experience.
It is amazing to hear you found out about art conservation from Ghost Busters! I do a 'conservator reacts' series and will pop that movie on my list to do - thank you!
Good luck with your conservation journey!
Very informative video. Thank you!💕
You're very welcome! I'm so glad you found it useful :)
This is really helpful thank you so much!!!
I’m glad you found it useful. Good luck with your conservation journey!
Thanks so much for making this great summary. Really well done and informative. I'm a chemist considering a career change
I'm glad it was useful! Chemistry is such a good background to enter conservation with. If you are wanting to find out more there are heaps of resources in the video description that might help you decide. All the best with your conservation journey!
Thank god I found this. I'm currently in college as a visual art major but I really want to be an art conservator. I'm not sure if I should just finish my degree or not.
Hello, I hope my video was useful!
For my first degree I did visual arts too! I then went on to do my degree in conservation.
I can't say whether you should finish your degree or not - that's a decision you have to make. But I can recommend you research what art conservation degrees you can do - find out where are they located, what specialisations they offer, what they cost, how long they go for and, most importantly, what are the requirements for you to get accepted in to the course. This might help you make your decision.
Here are some resources you might find helpful:
📝 AUSTRALIA Become a Conservator (by the Australian Institute for Conservation): aiccm.org.au/conservation/become-a-conservator/
📝 CANADA Become a Conservator (by the Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property): www.cac-accr.ca/conservation/#become-a-conservator
📝 EUROPE List of Conservation Courses taught in English (by the Institute of Conservators-Restorers in Ireland): www.icriconservation.ie/images/documents/Conservation_Courses_2017.pdf
📝 EUROPE Which Institutes Offer Which Specialisations (by the European Network for Conservation-Restoration Education): www.encore-edu.org/specialisations.htm
📝 UNITED KINGDOM Conservation Training (by the Institute of Conservation): www.icon.org.uk/training.html
📝 UNITED STATES Become a Conservator (by the American Institute for Conservation): www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/become-a-conservator
📝 Quick Stater Guide - A Career in Art Conservation (by the American Institute for Conservation): drive.google.com/file/d/1asmrkymE-t8unBnVj3W7KxyuSQx_SF49/view
📝 Getting Started in Your Career (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Getting_Started_in_Your_Career
📝 Education and Training (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Education_and_Training
All the best with your conservation journey!
I am korean high school student who wants to be conservator. Actually I didn't have lots of information about conservation, everyday I was searching. One day, I saw your video and Your video is really helpful to me. Although I am not good at English, I always wanted to say thank you.
Hello, I am very glad you found my conservation videos and they are helpful. Your english is great. Good luck on your conservation journey!
Thank you! Iam working in conservation and restoration for ten years (stucco, murals in clue and affresco, tempera al ovo, gold covers on wood and metals) but i have still graduated only as a muralist painter, not a conservator. I want to learn more and once graduate some of courses you told us)
It sounds like you do incredible work. Everyone's journey to become a conservator is different. All the best with your work!
@@TheConservationStarter thanks!
Thank you for this video, this is so helpful!! I got really happy because you have Australian resources too! Do you have any advice on how to gain some volunteer or internship experiences in museums and galleries?
I have no idea where to start before starting to think about studying Conservation formally. I’m completing a Bachelor of Archaeology but working with objects and conservation is starting to sound really good to me.
Hello! I think it's really important to share Australian resources cause that's where I am! It sounds like you're already doing an incredible course closely related to conservation. A lot of conservators have an archaeological background or are specifically archaeological conservators.
Disclaimer: getting volunteer and internship experiences anywhere before you study is difficult, especially Australia. Most conservation courses have internships built in to the course and organise it with the institutions (galleries, libraries, archives and museums). Contacting institutions directly can be tricky.
Tip 1: Go on different institutions website (maybe ones close to you) and check out their job vacancies. Most have an option to sign up to a talent register or a volunteer register. It will take some time to do and each institution will have a different application method. It's very worth it though as most people don't know to do it. Make sure to specify your archaeology experience and your interest in pursuing conservation. That might help!
Tip 2: Approach the university's gallery, museum and/or library (most have one). Chat with them about volunteer opportunities or suggestions. Even getting experience in things like visitor services at museums is great - you will learn a lot. Many of my colleagues started out working in museums in front facing roles then got qualified and moved to working with the collection instead.
Tip 3: Approach your archaeology lecturers/tutors and see what they can suggest. They might have contacts or study suggestions.
Tip 4: Choose subjects in your course that are closely aligned with conservation. For example I did a subject in my undergraduate about scientific analysis of archaeological materials and that definitely tied in to conservation!
All the best with your conservation journey!
@@TheConservationStarter Thank you for the advice!
You’re very welcome!
Hello so I have been looking at your video and I feel that it is full of amazing information. I am very interested in being able to get into the field but I was wondering what the prospects on opening a business of my own to repair books after might be. I don’t see anything really listed in my area but I feel like that would be my passion as I am in love with literature and want to know if this is a route others have taken.
I'm so glad my video was helpful!
Conservators that have their own business, or work for other private businesses, are in what we call 'private practice' or 'private conservation practice'. There are a lot of conservators that choose to start their own business and work with the public, private collectors and galleries/libraries/archives and museums to conserve their treasures. It is definitely a viable career option for a conservator. They often have very specialised skills working on a bench doing treatments, but also can provide services like workshops to educate people on conservation, provide advice, and conduct conservation surveys and condition reports. There are a lot of options out there depending on what you area of interest is.
In terms of the prospects of opening your business it is very dependent on where you are based and the demand for such work. Often a struggle for conservators is that not many people know who we are and what services we provide. I think your success could depend a lot on you being able to share the benefits of conservation with everyone.
For example, in Australia there is a lot of demand for book conservators but not many conservators (there is no training program here for that area of specialisation). The book conservators I know in private practice have work coming out of their ears. Sometimes bookbinders also do book repair but they have very different approaches.
I recommend researching if there are bookbinders or book conservators in your area and starting a conversation with them about it. If you're not sure who is in your area, most national conservation bodies have a way to 'find a conservator'.
For example the American Institute for Conservation: www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/find-a-conservator
Also the Institute for Conservation (UK): www.conservationregister.com/
Other resources include:
- a Facebook Group called 'FREELANCE: Conservators in Private Practice' - you could join and read the posts and see what they discuss there facebook.com/groups/1679578638848189
- Webinar from the Institute for Conservation (UK) 'Private Practice - Business Development and Management | Icon Book & Paper Group' ua-cam.com/video/7vlkSP3dctY/v-deo.html
- Conservators in Private Practice network part of the American Institute for Conservation. You might not be able to access all the information if you aren't a member but it is a good starting place. www.culturalheritage.org/membership/groups-and-networks/conservators-in-private-practice
Additionally, conservators in private practice require business skills or access to people that can assist with that side of things. It is worthwhile looking at conservation training programs that will include the business skills you will need, or finding other ways to supplement the conservation training.
Good luck with your conservation journey!
I can only see priceless works of art in need of care udderly disfigured by a random person who doesn't know what they are doing so many times.
As a high school senior, what college undergraduate majors would be best for this? My first thought was art history but I have absolutely no background in art and would most likely not get into an art history program, so maybe archaeology or anthropology?
Hello,
I think the undergraduate you choose to do before conservation depends on your interests, what conservation course you want to get into, and what area of conservation you would like to specialise in.
For example:
- If your interest in in paintings, becoming a painting conservator would be ideal. I'd therefore recommend doing art history or art making as an undergraduate and applying to courses that offer a specialisation in paintings.
- If your interest is in archaeology or objects, becoming an archaeological of objects conservator would be ideal. Archaeology would be the perfect undergraduate for you.
- If your interest is in science, you could become a conservation scientist. Doing science with a focus on chemistry in your undergraduate would work.
All the undergraduates you have mentioned would work. A focus on material culture, history and/or science is a safe bet. In my course we had people with diverse undergraduates including art history, art making, chemistry, and architecture.
I hope that answers your question. All the best!
Can you please make a video on how to clean pictures that got greasy from being on the side of the fridge. I haven't found a single video on this and I really need to clean some pictures. :)
Hello, I'm sorry to hear about your pictures getting greasy. I don't make 'how to' videos for conservation treatment - only 'how to' videos on great ways to preserve your items. But I can give you some tips here!
Some information on grease on paper (I’m a paper conservator!):
Grease is oil-based and can sit on the surface or can sink in to the paper fibres. The grease has likely gotten on to your pictures due to the fridge’s proximity to where you cook with heat and oil. Grease can be sticky and attracts dirt and particulates so you’ll end up with dirty grease. Grease/oil can cause paper to chemically deteriorate leading to discolouration and staining, brittleness and sometimes even cause the paper to become more transparent. It can also disfigure images and media.
The tricky thing with recommending anything is I don't know what substrate the pictures are on (I'm guessing paper), I don't know what the images are made from (a photographic gelatine image, acrylic paint, graphite, pencil, felt tip pen, ball point ink, charcoal etc.) and I don't know what exactly has caused the grease and its chemical composition is. Therefore giving you very specific instructions is tricky! Tips that are relevant for a charcoal drawing on paper are very different to an acrylic painting on paper, or a photograph. I can only give you general tips.
First off, if the pictures are significant to you I recommend getting it treated by a professional conservator. This is the safest way to not only safely remove the grease using specialised equipment and solvents, but also ensure the pictures long term preservation. Each country has a professional body and register where you can find a conservator. If you're in the US you can find one here: www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/find-a-conservator
If you're in the UK you can find one here: www.conservationregister.com/
That is costly though so I understand if this is not an option/the pictures are special but not hugely significant.
MY TIPS
1. Remove the pictures from where they are likely to get more grease on them.
2. Digitise them as they currently are (before you try anything to improve the grease stains!).
3. Absorb as much grease out of the pictures as possible using a material like paper towels. If the picture is stable (not charcoal or pastel, not cracking etc.) you can interleave with paper towels and place a light weight on top. For example a book.
4. Clean off any dirt, dust or particles that might have been attracted to the grease by gently brushing it with a very soft brush (for example a Japanese hake brush).
5. Store in a conservation grade material (such as a polyester sleeve) to prevent any additional dirt or dust being attracted to the grease.
If you're feeling brave you can try general housekeeping tricks to remove grease stains but I will warn you that these are not conservation approaches and can be risky. You might damage the image and substrate (that's why digitising before trying anything is important)! As a conservator I do not recommend trying this but it is your item so you can try whatever you like!
Good luck!
I would like to repair some very old theatre and circus posters from the 1890's can it be done by the amateur and if so where would I find out how?
Gerry
I'm too old to go to a university and shift careers, I just want to know and be confident on how to properly repair and preserve old stuff like photos and paintings my family owns. What should I do?
Hello! Not everyone wants to go to University and become a professional conservator. If you want to look after your treasures at home there are wonderful resources out there on how to handle, store, display, digitise and preserve your treasures. Most galleries, libraries, archives or museums have information on their websites on how to do this. Sometimes they also run short courses with the basics of preservation. I know the Northeast Document Conservation Center in the US has great resources and short courses: www.nedcc.org/
Also in Australia the State Library of NSW used to run preservation workshops.
My recommendations are to research if there are any opportunities in your local area. All the best preserving your treasures!
Hi L!!! Hope you're.... I don't know if I have the patience..... Hang-on I worked there for 2+ years... Anything is possible!!!!
Patience is definitely a good quality to have as a conservator, especially during conservation treatments. It does take time and effort to become a conservator but it is a career most people stick with for life.
Good luck with your conservation journey!
hi thank you for the video it was very helpful!! I aspire to become an art conservator but unfortunately have no background in chemistry and very bad at art. Do I need chemistry for any time of conservation and do I need to be good at art to become and art conservator?
I'm glad the video was helpful. That is a good question. Chemistry is really important as a conservator. You don't need to have it as prior knowledge though. I wanted to study conservation with no chemistry knowledge or experience. I was able to pick up what I needed to know by doing a Chemistry Bridging Course and through my degree. Chemistry is important as ageing (otherwise known as deterioration or change) is ultimately a chemical process. Knowing how things are made and how they deteriorate is essential as a conservator.
As for not being good at art, most conservators I know aren't! You don't need to be able to make art, and not all conservators work with art. What you do need to have is good manual dexterity and excellent fine motor skills (basically working with your hands).
The Institute for Conservation in the UK has written a great article on traits you need to have as a conservator: www.icon.org.uk/resource/so-you-want-to-be-a-conservator-10-traits-you-need-to-succeed.html
Good luck on your conservation journey!
@@TheConservationStarter thank you so much !!
There’s a specific conservation masters degree that I’ve been wanting to apply to for awhile now (once I finish high school of course). The requirements say that you have to graduate either with an engineering or science bachelor degree first. If I plan on specializing in the restoration of paintings which bachelors degree would I benefit from the most???? Please someone help me with this!!
Paintings conservation uses a lot of chemistry. This is to understand the chemical deterioration of the ground layers, paint layers and varnish layers (if any) and their interactions with each other. Scientific analysis with powerful analytical equipment is often used for testing and analysis of the materials to ascertain what they are, what condition they are in and what treatment is possible. Also the treatments often involve solvent mixtures to consolidate paint layers, clean and do varnish removals.
Doing a chemistry degree would definitely help. But also a doing degrees in art history with a focus on paintings or doing a fine arts degree where you are in a studio learning about and creating paintings would also be good. People in conservation usually come from a variety of backgrounds with different prior degrees. All of them are useful.
If you want to know which one you should do to get into this specific masters degree, reach out to the course coordinator and get their advice.
All the best with your conservation journey!
@@TheConservationStarter thank you so much! This was so helpful!
I’m glad to hear. Good luck!
It is a VERY difficult field to break into. Almost without exception, you be expected to do unpaid work. This is not a guarantee of a job.
Institutions can be tricky places.
Hi Deborah, it definitely is a difficult field! Are you a conservator too?
Yes, and out of work since covid. 😪
I'm so sorry to hear. I really hope you find work soon and things get easier.
@@TheConservationStarter Thanks. I'm not holding my breath.
hello! im currently a college student thing about becoming a conservator but I have a question. For Undergraduate class you should take before entering a pre-program, what type of chem class did you take? did you take archaeology? please let me know
Hello! I’m glad you’re interested in becoming a conservator.
It depends what country you’re in as to what classes you should take beforehand. I did archaeology electives during my undergraduate and that is how I discovered conservation. Then I was accepted in to the conservation Masters course in Australia (without a chemistry background) and did the Chemistry Bridging Course run by them to get all the knowledge I needed. It was a very specific applied conservation materials chemistry subject.
If you’re in the US, the American Institute for Conservation has great information about Pre-Program requirements here: www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/become-a-conservator/pre-program
There is also a lot of useful resources I included in the video description - definitely check them out.
Good luck with your conservation journey!
@@TheConservationStarter Thank you so much 😊!
You’re very welcome :)
Thank you for this work
I need help
You’re very welcome! All the best for your conservation journey :)
@@TheConservationStarter Ii studied property culture Heritage ,I have experience in one year in the national museum ,I want to know if I can work or should I study at the institute.
Regards 🙏 Thanks for this work 🙂
Your advice is important to me.
It's a bit tricky to give specific advice. My recommendation is to look at the places you would like to work/the roles you would like and see what they require in terms of education and experience. You can check this through jobs they have advertised. If you don't have the qualifications they require, that could mean that studying further is a good idea (if that is an option for you). If you have the right qualifications, working (which means getting experience and earning money) is the best thing! If you want to be a conservator, formal training specifically in conservation is required. However I do know conservators that have followed different paths.
I hope that helps. Good luck!
@@TheConservationStarter Vocational training how?
To become a conservator you usually need formal training at a university. It varies depending on which country you are in. Below are some resources that might help.
Resources on how to become a conservator:
- Australian Institute for Conservation: aiccm.org.au/conservation/become-a-conservator/
- Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property: www.cac-accr.ca/conservation/#become-a-conservator
- List of Conservation Courses taught in English (Institute of Conservators-Restorers in Ireland): www.icriconservation.ie/images/documents/Conservation_Courses_2017.pdf
- Which Institutes Offer Which Specialisations by the European Network for Conservation-Restoration Education: www.encore-edu.org/specialisations.htm
Conservation Training by the Institute of Conservation (UK): www.icon.org.uk/training.html
- American Institute for Conservation: www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/become-a-conservator
Quick Stater Guide - A Career in Art Conservation (by the American Institute for Conservation): drive.google.com/file/d/1asmrkymE-t8unBnVj3W7KxyuSQx_SF49/view
Getting Started in Your Career (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Getting_Started_in_Your_Career
Education and Training (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Education_and_Training
- Choosing a Specialty (AIC): www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Choosing_a_Specialty
International and national conservation bodies:
- American Institute for Conservation (AIC): www.culturalheritage.org/
- Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Material (AICCM): aiccm.org.au
- Canadian Association for Conservation of Cultural Property (CAC-ACCR): www.cac-accr.ca/
- Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI): www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute.html
- The Institute of Conservation (ICON UK): www.icon.org.uk/
- Institute of Conservators-Restorers in Ireland (ICRI): www.icriconservation.ie/
- International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM): www.iccrom.org/
- International Council of Museums - Committee for Conservation (ICOM-CC): www.icom-cc.org/
- The International Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (IIC): www.iiconservation.org/
- New Zealand Conservators of Cultural Materials (NZCCM): nzccm.org.nz/
I hope that helps!
Hey, I live in QLD. Is finding a conservation job in Australia difficult? You mentioned it was competitive.
Hello, finding conservation jobs in Australia can be really competitive. Around 40 people graduate each year with post-graduate conservation qualifications. There are definitely not 40 new jobs created each year.
Getting a job in conservation does vary depending on when you are looking, your area of specialisation, whether you want to work in an institution or private practice, and how willing you are to relocate for work. Many conservation jobs advertised are short term contracts rather than permanent/ongoing roles.
Timing does seem to matter a lot - recently there have been quite a few institutions advertising conservation roles as they do big collection moves.
Other ways that conservators find jobs is by looking at allied industries, or getting broader heritage roles where conservation/preservation is an aspect
I think it is important to be aware of the job climate, but also keep in mind that most state or nationals galleries, libraries, archives and museums have a conservator, if not a whole conservation team. There are jobs out there!
Omg your video give me motivate!!! And i want to know that if im study on community college for two year and then transfer to university ( i want tostudy about painting conservation ) which major is the best to study in? And i have to study in Master degree too? How much time it take to get a job? Thankyou !
Thank you! I'm so glad you like my video.
If you know where you want to study painting conservation, they will have information on their website on the prerequisites or requirements to enter the course. That should let you know what majors are a good idea! I think for paintings conservation having a background in art history, practicing fine arts, or chemistry would be the best.
It depends which country you're in as to whether it will be a Master degree or not. In Australia, UK and US it usually is. In Europe and Asia it varies.
Getting a job in conservation can be really tricky. There are a lot of factors at play including your area of specialisation, where you are located, if you're happy to relocate, and lots of other conservators looking for work. It is definitely something to consider before you embark on a career in conservation. I also recommend researching the pay - look at current jobs advertised in your area and see if the salary is what you expect/need.
Good luck with your conservation journey!
@@TheConservationStarter Thankyou every muchh
I'm currently in grade 11 studying biology but I'm striving to become a conservator. do I need chemistry in order to study conservation at university? I'm worried it's too late for me to change
It is never too late! Chemistry is often required to study conservation but I didn't study chemistry at all. Instead I did a chemistry bridging course to learn what I needed. First thing - work out where you would like to study conservation. Find out the course requirements and what are the pre-requisites (such as chemistry). Next - find out all the different ways you an fulfil the chemistry requirements. Good luck in you conservation journey!
Hello. I buy and sell various types of vintage paper and would like to learn how to do repairs on paper that have been crunched, torn, cracked, folded and otherwise damaged. I am wondering whether there is some type of basic online course or resource I can access so I can train myself in the art of stopping further damage to paper. I'm not looking to become a conservator - just looking to be responsible with historical paper. Thanks from the US!
That sounds incredibly interesting and I'm glad you want to know how to care for your papers. Instead of planning to do treatments, my recommendation is to mainly use preventive conservation practices if you want your item/collection to be in good condition to sell, and for them to last.
Conservation as a profession has moved more and more to preservation conservation activities rather than just conservation treatment. Preventive conservation measures include safe: handling, display, transport and storage (including controlled temperature, humidity and light, preventing pests, correct conservation grade housing, good maintenance to limit dirt and dust etc.). Also digitising your collection is a great way to preserve it to limit handling of the originals.
The American Institute for Conservation has some great resources: www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/caring-for-your-treasures
Here are some great videos by the State Library of Queensland on some of these topics:
How to safely handle your collection: ua-cam.com/video/t_8RNYVz6X0/v-deo.html
How to house your collection: ua-cam.com/video/2VSAARio8BA/v-deo.html
How to store your collection safely: ua-cam.com/video/ONaGQDi6sUY/v-deo.html
How to digitise your collection: ua-cam.com/video/-v5dRwTav40/v-deo.html
Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts have great resources on their UA-cam channel including recordings of past webinars:
ua-cam.com/channels/dv19rjrblgl_cn4WocvHIQ.htmlvideos
In terms of short courses, there are a few in the US to learn basic paper conservation techniques.
The Northeast Document Conservation Center has a range of courses, majority online that include cleaning, dealing with mould etc.: www.nedcc.org/preservation-training/training-currentlist
Northern States Conservation Center: www.collectioncare.org/care-paper-artifacts-line-course
I'm sure you could find more.
All the best!
I don't have any degree to enter in a MA unfortunately. it's possible to be an art conservation just to do short courses and Good portfolio?
This is a tricky question. It does depend what country you're in as to your options for becoming a conservator. You can become a conservator by other ways than an MA. A few short courses is a good start but won't be enough to prepare you for the examination, documentation, treatment options, risk management, chemistry and dexterity required day to day by a conservator. Other options include:
- doing short courses AND finding a conservator who is willing to train you up on the job (this can be tricky for conservators in private practice who need to prioritise business)
- doing a skill exchange with a conservator (for example when I wanted to learn bookbinding I worked with a bookbinder doing paper conservation work for her, then learning bookbinding in return)
Another option is to see if there are any Bachelor courses in conservation that are feasible for you to do - this level of degree will be enough for some workplaces especially if you are applying for graduate or emerging roles in the future.
Good luck with your conservation journey!
am I too old to start going to school for conservation at 23??
You are never too old to study conservation. I did my conservation degree in my 20s and other students of conservation where in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s. A lot of people have a career in another industry first then find conservation. You are definitely not too old at 23.
All the best with your conservation journey!
Just do it ! LoL
What’s the difference between a conservator and curator ?
Very good question! I have been thinking about making a video on this with a curator to discuss the differences.
Definitions do vary and the roles of conservators and curators depend on whether they work in a gallery, library, archive or museum.
The way I define a conservator is - a professional who is involved with the care and preservation of material. This can include using direct methods (treatment) and indirect methods (controlling the environment and other preventive measures) to slow down or prevent the physical or chemical deterioration of material. Conservators know the materials and techniques of how an item is made, how it will change over time and how we can intervene.
Whereas I define a curator as - a professional who is involved with the interpretation, development and sharing of material. This can include having in depth knowledge of the value, significance and history (provenance). Using this they are able to develop the collection (they help decide what to acquire), generate information about the collection (so we know what is is and where it came from) and share the collection (select material for display and choose exhibitions).
Really simply - a conservator makes sure an object lasts and is safe to be shared, while a curator says that THIS object has value, needs to be collected, and should last and be shared.
There are more official definitions:
The American Institute for Conservation has a good definition of a conservator: www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/what-is-conservation
The Australian Museums and Galleries Association has a definition of a curator (I don't agree completely with this definition but it should give you more information): www.amaga.org.au/curator
I hope that helps!
@@TheConservationStarter Thanks for such an in depth reply. I actually in the past used to do work in an herbarium , a very big collection of dried plants.,
There was a professor that I would say was the curator and the rest of us that took care of and added new collections to the herbarium.
I would think we were the conservators.
Today I make art, curate and take care of it , no money to hire anyone lol
But no one else knows the art like I do.
I will keep an eye on your videos. Very interesting.
You’re very welcome! What an incredible place to work. I’m sure you have your own definitions then.
I really like that - everyone who works with collections helps to care for them and anyone who cares for the collection is a conservator!
I’m glad you find my videos interesting. All the best!
is this a good job for autistic ppl? im autistic and it looks promising since theres a lot of hands-on work but im sorta worried about schools and the other social parts of this
This is a really good question and a bit tricky to answer.
First of all, different conservation roles have different levels of social interaction. For example some conservators run workshops and do lots of public speaking and train others. That might not be something you would want to do. But there are conservators that spend most of their time working on a bench with objects. You will still need to be able to communicate and work in a team, but there is less social interaction. Maybe that is something you're interested in and would work for you.
In terms of the conservation training/schools, it can be quite full on, but you could make it work for you and they do vary depending on where you study. You could reach out specifically to different training programmes to see what they think and how they can make the training more accessible for you. You can find training through the below links:
Australia: aiccm.org.au/conservation/become-a-conservator/
Europe: www.encore-edu.org/specialisations.htm
Ireland: www.icriconservation.ie/training-to-become-a-conservator
United Kingdom: icon.org.uk/training
United States of America: www.culturalheritage.org/about-conservation/become-a-conservator
The Institute for Conservation has a great article on 'So you want to be a conservator? 10 traits you need to succeed':
www.icon.org.uk/resource/so-you-want-to-be-a-conservator-10-traits-you-need-to-succeed.html
I also recommend finding out more about what being a conservator involves so you can make the decision on whether to pursue conservation.
I hope this helps and good luck on your conservation journey!
@@TheConservationStarter thank you so much! i wasnt expecting to get an answer but this is super helpful :D
So my most recent question has been 'my cat peed on my photos - what do I do??'. The things conservators have to know! Do you have any questions on becoming a conservator? Let me know in the comments below!
Hello! There are lots of great resources out there for preparing for interviews, particularly for studying. I recommend practicing mock interviews as much as possible with friends and family to get used to it.
Now advising on manual dexterity I can definitely do. Anything that you have done that shows those skills is relevant. This includes art and craft, being a musician, it could even be design, nail art or making your own clothes. Anything that shows you can create or adapt things with your hands, and utilise tools is relevant.
The way to 'prove' this is to create a portfolio of your work with key examples you are most proud of. Document it mostly through images and a little text to contextualise it. Don't bring the actual examples with you (you'd be surprised but some people lug giant paintings to interviews, much to the interviewers horror).
If you don't think you already have examples of this there are a lot of free and paid courses online to do all number of crafts. You can find things like this on UA-cam even. I recommend doing ones where you have the required materials and work at it till you're producing something your proud of. Also choose something relevant. For example, if you want to look in to paper conservation try to do a watercolours class. If you're interested in book conservation look in to bookbinding.
All the best!
@@TheConservationStarter thank you so much! :)
You’re very welcome!
Hi, me again! Do you think small models, such as the airfix models, could be a good example of relevant skills?
Hello again! I definitely think that is relevant to prove manual. Focus on the skills you need to put them together - patience, working with certain materials, adhesives and very small parts, fitting things together, utilising tools, following a set sequence of actions with active and passive time (eg: drying time). This corresponds to when you're doing active conservation treatments and passive treatments (waiting for things to dry and flatten). Also if you do any painting, colour matching or repairs to the models that definitely counts!
In terms of documenting - I recommend showing an image of the models before (when they are all disassembled), after (showing the dramatic difference and all the work you've done) AND show during - the model construction in progress showing a tricky stage with ideally your hands or yourself in the image. I hope that helps!
I graduated with chemistry degree, can I be an art conservator? I think I am too old to start an art degree
You can definitely train to become a conservator, no matter your age. A lot of people I studied with had previous degrees and decided to become conservators later on in life.
Having a chemistry background is very valuable in conservation. You might find many of the science subjects easier. If you want to be a conservator my advice is to look around at different courses you can do in your area and look at their chemistry requirements and subjects. Check out to see if it is something you want to do. There are also roles for 'Conservation Scientists' or 'Heritage Scientists' where those with scientific focus specialise in analysis and identification. Good luck!
@@TheConservationStarter thank you on your advice, it is very helpful. It is my dream career since I was a kid, I hope my dream will come true.
@@kazumisuzuki7771 I hope your dream comes true too!
Help out?
How can I help? Please let me know.
@@TheConservationStarter l am quoting you!
Well I'm always happy to help!