I’m trying to make up a batch of 20% Paraloid B67 in white spirits and it’s been 5 days and it’s not dissolved. I’ve followed as much of the infomation I could find about it online but it doesn’t seem to be working.

I put the beads of Paraloid into a sealable glass jar added the white spirit on top and stirred frequently.

I’ve also made up plenty of successful batches of B72 in acetone and it doesn’t prove nearly this difficult.

Any tips?

I have a Yaacov Agam Polymorph that is in need of restoration. In its simplest terms, the artwork is a piece of "paper" folded like an accordion/bellows and valleys of that "paper" is glued to a substrate creating a 3D artwork. I believe that the folded "paper" artwork is separating from the glue.

I live in the NYC area and am looking for a specialist to repair the artwork. Any recommendations?

I made this 3 years ago and I've had this on my wall ever since. It's gotten smudged quite a bit because the medium is so soft, any recommendations of a spray or something?

Hello! I am a conservator currently pursuing a Master's in tourism. For my thesis, I am studying the relationship between tourism and heritage conservation, its impacts, and how to find a balance between the two.
For the research, I need to conduct a survey among professionals in the fields involved. If you have time, could you answer it? Your answers would help a lot in the study. It takes less than 10 minutes to complete the survey; you can find the link below:

https://forms.office.com/e/mPyisajQH7

You can also share the survey if you know someone that might be interested in answering it.

Thank you for your help! Have a great week!

Hi all,

I collect vintage sheet music (mostly Scott Joplin sheets) from the early 1900s.

I'm aware of the need to conserve them and common advice says store the sheets in an appropriately sized polypropylene slip (usually 11" x 14") which is currently what I do. However, once intered in their plastic sleeves, these sheets end up stacked in a cardboard box and occasionally shuffled around....

I like the idea of being able to conserve them in a way that also allows me to view them more easily, such as in a binder. Having said that, it seems hard (in my country at least) finding appropriately sized sleeves that are made for this purpose. I.e. with holes for a binder.

Surely the King of Ragtime deserves better than a cardboard box. What more elegant solutions are a available to me?

How do you, American conservators, feel about how the next four years will impact your work?

I’m just wondering if pursuing a bachelors degree in art conservation is worth it. I know to have a career in this you need a masters and most places accept science, art history or art studio bachelors, but I wasn’t sure if a bachelor in conservation would be more beneficial. I also don’t know what school would be good, I’d be looking for a program preferably in Europe and either in English or French

Hi everybody, I am a high schooler and have 2 more years left 'till college. I am extremely interested in art restauration and need some advice and if you'd be so kind to help a new-comer out I would be really grateful.
Some info about me: I live in Europe and I speak English (B2 level), French (A2 level) and some Italian (been learning it about a year or so) and some Slavic languages; I love art, I am great at languages, history and biology, not so great in chemistry and physics but find them incredibly interesting.
What should I be learning, doing, researching...? Do you have any recommendations for universities in Europe? Are there any common misconceptions about this field I should know about? How are the job opportunities? Anything you think someone getting into this should know. I would appreciate some perspective from someone who has been thru this.
Any advice is welcome!

Hello everyone! My name is Dudu, and I am a Visual Arts student in Brazil with a strong interest in art conservation and restoration. I’m currently doing an internship at a studio that specializes in this field. However, there is limited formal education on this subject in Brazil, so I’m considering studying abroad to improve my skills and knowledge.

I’ve heard that Italy and Poland are good options for this field, but I would love to know more about other countries that offer strong programs in art conservation and restoration.

Could you recommend any countries, universities, or scholarships that would help me pursue my undergraduate and master’s degrees in this area?

Thank you so much for your help!

Hi. So I've been reading up on some of the "help" posts here when it comes to getting into the field. I've been skimming online but I can't quite find anything, though I'm not sure if it's the time of year means there's no positions or I'm looking in the wrong places.

As noted in the title im a NM resident (central NM) and the best bachelor's degree i could find that would help me at my current stage is the NMSU Bachelor's in art (museum conservation). Its a big choice if i decide to go there because id have to live on campus since there's no train or bus directly i could take and the shortest comute would be like 12 hours. I've taken the slow approach to my degree thus far due to family responsibilities and finances. I got some credits going from a local community college and transferring to the local university though I was only going part time/slightly above the part time base amount. Ive just about finished my sophomore year credit wise, though the focus was mostly on Studio Art before so my credits don't fit the chemistry requirements needed for grad school even if I just complete my studio art degree.

I was wondering if anyone here had done work or is a practicing conservator in the NM state that could give some realistic figures on how many opportunities are available in the state (either via Bench learning after the BFA degree and/or positions, fellowships, etc after completing a Masters) and where to start looking pre-emptively as I have commitments to family that would make moving out of state for extended periods (without being able to come back and visit/help over the weekends) within the next 5 years extremely difficult to impossible. Because of that I'm figuring I'll have to do the majority of the minimum 400 hours of experience/internships in the NM state.

Also, what is considered common for internships length/timeframe wise here? Because calculating the base 400 hours at full time (40 hours a week) is only 10 weeks which isn't too bad but I assume that it's rare for a full time internships that's 10 weeks long to slam out the minimum hours in 1 go.

(I don't know if it matters for tips but ideally after getting my masters I would like to work with paintings &/or books as my main focus.)

as the title states i’m writing a short story about someone who does art conservation for work. it’s a huge plot point so i was wondering if anyone would be open to me asking some questions about day to day work activities and other things of that matter. if you’re open to it, please comment and i will message you :) thanks everyone

hi everyone - i’m graduating with my bachelors degree in art history in the spring, summa cum lade, with a concentration in classical studies. i’ve been looking forward to pursuing conservation for grad school and onwards, specifically objects conservation, and as i’m getting closer to wrapping up my undergrad everything feels very real and very scary.

i have all of my art history credits and studio art credits, and i’ll be taking organic chemistry in the spring with already completely general chemistry. i’ll also be starting a conservation internship in the spring as well, and i have experience working on an archaeological site in sicily with very minor experience working in a conservation lab on site (which i will be working at this upcoming summer as well).

i know how competitive conservation graduate programs are, especially in the states. i live in the united states, with my degree from a state university in florida, and would ideally attend a grad program in the states but i’d just as readily move overseas for a grad program, as well. for anyone who has graduated with their higher degree in conservation, or has been accepted to any programs, i’m curious as to what your undergrad experience looked like and if you have any advice to give me that could possibly make me a better candidate.

there’s genuinely nothing else i can imagine myself doing in the future. im twenty-five, and have worked a handful of odd jobs, but everything comes back to ancient history and art conservation for me. it’s just that my acceptance into a grad program can’t be ensured, and i want to make sure im the best version of myself to apply for such programs. any and all advice is truly appreciated!!!!

Hi! this is the first time i've ever posted on reddit, plz be kind x

I'm(27F) living in Paris, and from Ireland. I currently work in a massive machine of a chain bar and have worked my way up from waitress to assistant stock manager and HR assistant. Long story short, I'm miserable, and this job and my managers create a very old anxiety in me that i am already trying to work on in my personal life. I do not want to handle this level of anxiety, and the feeling of walking on eggshells, especially in my daily life at work. I have always been a practical based person, drawing, painting, object restoration such as clocks and street signs, me and my dad restored a very old wardrobe once, he taught me to weld when i was younger too, I've loved woodworking since i was around 17, and did art history in school. Basically almost anything creative i adore, and feel fulfilled in. I always thought i would never pursue something in these kinds of fields because there was no money/jobs, especially in Ireland, but now i feel that my mental health is more important, and i want to be happy, and make a comfortable wage, that i can live off and make some savings, buy a house somewhere with my partner when we're older. That sort of thing. Wholesome.

Now, does anyone have any advice? I am only just starting this journey, and I don't know what i don't even know, so aaaany help is greatly apreciated. I'm open to going back into education, or to do apprenticships or just work my way through while i learn more, I have just had enough. I've had enough of taking whatever job will take me, usually service and retail, and working my ass off, when it doesn't fulfil me or benefit me, if anything it does the opposite. I'm just letting my life happen to me, and I have decided that i should put the hard work i do at work, into myself now. I deserve to be happy too.

What do you do? How did you get there? Generally how do you get there and what might I need? What's the money like? Does it fulfil you? Do you enjoy it? Where are you based? Do you know anyone who could help out a friendly but anxious, hardworking and passionate girl in Paris? (now it feels like an ad huh)

If you read all the way thank you, and if you leave advice, please know i really appreciate it. Conversation and research are the first steps.

Thanks xxx

Based in the UK. I am looking into Textile Conservation as a possible career. I do understand it is a competitive field and difficult to get into.

I currently sew and make my own clothes, and also started doing some hand embroidery this year. I plan on taking some courses/classes in hand embroidery in the new year.

I would like to know what relevant courses there are out there (Non-University), short courses, classes etc. Or where I can find them? I can travel, so courses in other Countries within Europe are welcome

Hello, I'm posting on behalf of my boyfriend who doesn't use reddit. We are currently in community college in California and looking at UCs to transfer to that can accommodate both of our majors.

His goal is to get the degrees he needs to work in conservation of cultural heritage objects with a specialty in textiles. He already has a lot of personal experience from the collecting/antiques community he has been a part of his whole life, he's worked for auction houses identifying objects and verifying their authenticity, etc... but has no degree.

Every time I Google "conservation of cultural heritage objects degree" I get pretty vague information about what the Master's programs require for a prerequisite.

The conservation bachelor's at UC Berkeley seems more focused on nature. We are mostly looking at UCB and UCLA. Would this still be viable? Or should he focus on art history?

He thinks he's going to need chemistry and things to learn about the preserving process, which makes a lot of sense, but isn't part of this program.

What bachelor's degree is best to get a Master's in Conservation of Cultural Heritage Objects, specializing in textiles? What lower division classes can you recommend that would fulfill the requirements for the major?

Any other advice from people who have this Master's degree?

Thank you!

Hi! I'm a conservation scientist with a degree and a thesis in chemistry (synthesis of quantum dots).

Does anyone know of research centers or universities (in the UK or USA) that offer internships to deepen my knowledge in chemistry, particularly in nanomaterials?

Hi everyone!

I just want to post and see if there is anywhere I need to round out my background/experience for an art conservation grad program.

I'm currently taking chemistry classes to fill in the chem requirements.

I have two undergrad degrees. One in Studio Art with a cross disciplinary concentration in printmaking and painting. The other is in Art Education with a minor in Art History.

I've been a picture framer for 6 years now so I have solid experience in how to handle various pieces of art and best practices for framing them.

I interned with a museum in my undergrad where I helped manage and organize their collection. I'm also working on an independent inventory project for a local artist's collection (about 5000 pieces)

I know some of these things aren't directly art conservation related but I feel like they are tangential. Mostly in how to properly handle and store art.

Does anyone have recommendations on other things I can use to beef up my background/resume? I still have a few more chemistry classes to take so I'm not applying immediately. Thank you!!

Is there anyway to glue the loose flaking pieces down? I’ve desalinated it. I’m wondering if there’s some kind of thin adhesive that will work its way into the little cracks.