Hi all! I’m currently applying for several conservation degrees with a hope of becoming a qualified conservator in the future, and was wondering about whether there are jobs in the field that is mostly based on ethics and other more theory based aspects of the role? I know I will enjoy the practical work, but since taking a class in my undergraduate I have been fascinated with the ethical debates in the subject but wasn’t sure if this is just to underpin practice, or if there are exclusive jobs!

How do you know if a box is acid free or not compared to regular boxes? Do packaged products come in acid free boxes? I want to store cassettes and I also have a lot of empty boxes. Any help would be appreciated.

Edit: Not sure why I'm getting downvoted but ight.

Long story short: had to leave art school 2nd year because of cost, spent my entire 20s working 6/7 days a week in customer service to get by, clawed my way into entry level software engineering, layoffs and chaos so I had to leave software engineering lol, back to square one and missing the art world

I've come to realize I just want a private business where my partner and I can do restoration but I have no idea how to get there. I keep trying to go down "the right path" in terms of career, but at 33 clearly I need to try something different.

I interviewed for a Custom Frame store and they mentioned how this could lead to art conservation down the line and I had never thought of that. I'm still waiting to hear back on this position so I'm trying to make a backup plan in case it doesn't work out.

Are there other jobs like this? Custom framing, bookbinding? I just need somewhere to start and figure out a path from there.

I’m looking to learn as much as possible about conservation (mainly of antique oil paintings).

I understand this subreddit isn’t really for non-professionals, but I was curious if I could get some recommendations for online courses or even certifications for learning basic oil painting conservation.

Not sure if there are go-to masterclasses or similar for starting out in this field. Thanks in advance

I know that for a lot of paintings they should be professionally restored, but I was wondering if anyone here could give me so good tips on basic cleaning techniques for antique oil paintings. I have heard split on a q tip and wonder bread, but I'm not sure how serious those were. Are there any good products (like maybe Winsor & Newton Artists' Picture Cleaner) that you would recommend?

And any tips on cleaning really really dirty paintings? For example, I have a painting that came out of a barn that has smeared mouse poop on the painting itself.

Thanks!

I didn't see one, but know it's a slightly different game than paintings conservation.

Im an archivist at a public library and we have this small model of a public sculpture in front of our building. The artist made it in the 1980s as a “sketch” to plan out the full scale piece. He didn’t intent for this model to be around indefinitely, so it’s made of unfired clay and looks like it was either painted or sealed with something that is now somewhat sticky and has collected a lot of fuzz and hair. I’m specifically concerned about the structural integrity of the model, since there are many small bits of clay (heads, arms, etc) that are slowly falling off since the clay was never fired. Could a professional conservator treat this piece somehow to stabilize its structure and prevent more of the pieces from slowly detaching? Or is it inevitably going to keep deteriorating because of the material? To be clear, I’m not seeking DIY treatment advice, but wondering if any treatments even exist that might make it worthwhile to search for a conservator. Or if I’m better off just making a mount to better support it.

Hey, I’ve been dwelling on starting classes in art conservation for a while now (2-3 years) The thing is I’m a working adult in the science/medical field so I don’t really have the financial opportunity to just quit my job and start uni/ school again. i’ve been looking for evening classes. In conclusion, I just wanted to know if anyone had the same experience or has an opinion on this?

Ty! 😊

Does anyone know any (cheaper) alternatives for the Reskolux II UV 365?

Hi. I want to become a textile conservator. I have finished the bachelor's in art conservation and heritage but unfortunately could not get into any internship here because my country is small and opportunities are limited. Here is the thing though, I want to become a textile conservator, but again there is no such training in my country and there are like maybe 3 professionals currently working who are overburdened and don't take any apprentices. I was initially thinking to go to Netherlands to get my masters in textile conservation specifically because they have this program at all and also an alumni program, but there is a housing crisis and I would need some big bucks to actually afford to learn there. Our own conservation masters is mostly about museology and architecture so it won't do. Okay I can save up, but that would take me like 5 years... Being basically out of practice. So I was thinking about some alternative routes on education. First I took up a course in traditional textile making as side note to familiarise myself better with techniques, but for formal education I was looking into taking Textile technologist masters. It would be a more industrial approach to it, so education mostly centered around chemical part of things. And it would allow me to write a thesis that's still centered on preservation of fabrics, just on the more technical side of things. So my question is for those who are working, how would it look for a potential employer if I have bachelor's in conservation and masters in textile technology, would it be a viable candidate?

Hello everyone,

I am looking to shift into the Art Conservation and Preservation field and I believe one of the first steps to properly doing so is learning the art of reading an artwork, as in the materials, techniques compositions, etc.

If anyone could help me find the right consolidated online resources for this, I would really, really appreciate it.
Its been really frustrating so far trying to find accurate and verified information for these so any good and authentic resources would be very helpful to learn!!

Thank you in advance!!

Hi all, a friend of mine from my museum days (who does not Reddit) is wondering if you can give us any intel about the work culture of the Cincinnati museum of art. We both know that it all depends on the culture and weirdly neither of us know anyone there. Thank you for any feedback!

So for various reasons I unstretched a touch dry oil painting and ROLLED the piece up for storage. I have never ever done this but because of limitations in money and space I did this for storage. So the paintings obviously continued to dry/cure while rolled. I have since unrolled them and hung them up but they have some cracking through out. The paintings are not yet completely cured and won’t be for another few months. Can I restretch them and paint over the cracks and then let them cure? OR do I let them cure, then act later? Or is all lost? Please do not lead with “all is lost”, I would much rather hear solutions if you have them instead of “you’re an idiot, you deserve this!” 🤦‍♀️

hi everyone, i really want to begin approaching pre-program experience/internships before i apply to graduate schools for conservation. does anyone have any reccomendations on programs i should apply to, or just how to find programs in general? i can’t seem to find a ton of pre-program opportunities for undergrads looking to gain a bit of experience before stepping into graduate school.

they don’t have to be big internships, even if anyone reccomends emailing the conservation labs in my state to seek out any sort of experience, i will do that! lol

if anyone has any tips or tricks at all, i’m appreciative!!! thank you!!

Hi Everyone,

I am trying to make boxes of cardboard to protect old books. Can you recommend me the cheapest cardboard and the place to buy it ? I want the material to be acid free hopefully buffered !

Thanks !

You know you’ve hit peak conservation when your biggest flex is your solvent storage system, and you’re pretty sure your microscope knows more about your emotional state than your therapist. Meanwhile, the "outside world" thinks your job is just dusting off old things—bless their hearts. Anyone else got a full-time gig in "professional frustration"? 😅

You know that feeling when you’re working on a piece and you just KNOW the crack you’re repairing has a very strong opinion about your treatment plan? Meanwhile, non-conservators keep asking why you can’t “just fix it” like it’s a broken toaster. Here’s to all of us who understand that patience is the real art. Let’s raise a glass to unappreciated slow progress!

"Oh, you’re working on a 19th-century masterpiece? Cool. Enjoy scraping layers of dirt, grime, and who knows what else off of it for the next decade. It’s like archaeology, but with more patience and less chance of finding treasure. At least it's not from prehistoric times, right?"

Who else is fighting the same battle?

I have a 1558 Tudor portrait of an unknown "Burgher Man" with an attached page of provenance. The letter, dated 1959, was written by a listed artist/dealer who acted as an intermediary between the seller and buyer. In this letter, the dealer explained that his cleaning of the painting revealed a monogram "the owner had never seen." He described it as "SVAE 30" alongside the date 1558, which is how it appears today.

Unfortunately, a second page of provenance—detailing the painting’s 1913 import to New York—was lost by a careless mover, but we do know the date. It seems odd to me that, in just 46 years, the painting had become so filthy that the monogram was completely obscured. The seller, who displayed the painting for years, yet had never seen the monogram, indicates it was already obscured when she acquired it - ergo, even fewer than 46 years.

This makes me wonder:

• Could a painting on display become so dirty in 40-45 years that a monogram would be entirely obscured?
• Or is it more likely that the monogram was intentionally covered by paint—perhaps to conceal a misattribution?

In 2014, a Tudor art expert determined the artist listed on the 1913 import manifest (and on a brass plaque) was patently incorrect. This leads me to question if what the dealer described as "dirt" may have actually been paint used to obscure the original monogram and date.

With other paintings in my collection over 150 years old that weren’t meticulously cared for, yet with clearly visible signatures, I find this very strange.

What are your thoughts? Could dirt alone obscure a monogram like this in just a few decades, or does intentional concealment seem more likely?

hi everyone! first, just want to say i am so glad this sub exists!

i’m currently an undergrad majoring in art history with a minor in museum studies, and i’m just starting my 4th semester. i’ve always been interested in art conservation, and ive done a little bit of research looking into what it takes/pre-program requirements for different programs in the U.S., and while the field definitely aligns with most of my interests, i am still not 100% sure art conservation is the route i ultimately want to go, especially since it is a very difficult field to break into. i think most of my insecurity comes from how hard of a field it is—chem scares the hell out of me, and i don’t have any sort of art or conservation portfolio. additionally, i’m studying abroad in italy for six weeks this coming summer, so i don’t think ill be able to get a pre-program internship.

to get right into my question, i’m struggling a bit to figure out how i should use the rest of my undergrad experience in terms of completing pre reqs. i haven’t completed any hands-on studio art courses, and am currently enrolled for gen chem 1 this semester (but haven’t started). (i’ll admit, i have taken quite a few courses that aren’t relevant to my major requirements, haha.)

would you all say it is worth it to complete as many pre reqs as possible while i’m in undergrad (specifically talking about chem here, since those courses are the only ones not required for my art history degree), even though i’m not totally sure art conservation is where i’ll ultimately want to go? or, should i focus on art history for now and complete my chem requirements at a community college later once i’m totally sure? for more context, my undergrad tuition is completely covered up to 120 credits, and i pay almost nothing to go to school.

any advice at all is appreciated!! i am also happy to clarify if anything doesn’t make sense, and give more details about internships and jobs i’ve held/my general experiences. thank you guys so much!!

edit: i’d also really appreciate any specific details about any of your pre req completion timelines!!

Hello! I’m starting what I know will be a super long journey to become a conservator and really need to talk to people with experience in the field.

I’ve been searching around online which I will continue to do but frankly it’s been a maze with not a lot of tangible answers.

FYI—I’m in the US, based in NYC, and hoping one day, when I get some more chemistry classes behind me, to apply to the Institute of Fine Arts NYU. I work full-time so getting that extra class time will be challenging but I’m ready.

I finished my undergrad almost a decade ago. Have a ton of archaeological experience from my BA there. I have studio art experience and completed a residency recently, and I have a strong interest/experience in science at my day job (not in a lab) and try to take some community classes as well (at a lab).

My most relevant experience in conservation was a decade ago, though I’ve kept up with my artistic and scientific interests.

I don’t want to be stuck in the job I have now for the rest of my life, even though it’s high-paying (which is why I’ve stuck it out so many years and saved). It’s time to go down the path I’ve always really wanted to go down… conservation. Specifically objects conservation would likely suit me best.

I’m seeing some conflicting info online. AIC mentions needing to do a preprogram. Institute of Fine Arts NYU says you don’t need an internship to apply, you just need to have certain art history/chem classes under your belt so I was rolling with that…. But in trying to look up “preprogram” classes anyway, I couldn’t find anything for anyone that wasn’t already enrolled in a degree…. So I guess true “preprogram” experiences don’t really exist?

One of the questions I have is… with my academic and extracurricular experiences plus taking classes at community college on Saturdays… is that enough to get into grad school potentially? Or do I need to be trying to get a part-time job in an antiques shop?

I almost need to call someone and say “hey.. this is my specific scenario… could that theoretically work for admission?”

Tackling this alone feels daunting so wanted to throw my questions out here!