Conservator 

Conservators restore and conserve artifacts belonging to museums, galleries and owners of cultural property.  Conservators are employed in museums, art galleries and universities. Conservators may be self-employed.

Possible Titles:

assistant curator
conservator
conservator - art objects
curator

Responsibilities:

Conservators can perform some or all of the following duties:

• Examine artifacts, determine their condition, suggest methods for treating them and recommend preventive conservation techniques to their owners
• Restore and conserve paintings, photographs, sculptures, furniture, pottery and other museum and art gallery artifacts
• Provide advice on display and storage of museum and gallery artifacts to ensure proper maintenance and preservation
• Research new conservation and restoration techniques
• Provide consultation to museums, art galleries or private individuals
• Supervise conservation technicians and other museum technicians.

Conservators may specialize in a particular type of collection or material, such as furniture, weapons, books, paintings and musical instruments.

Employment Requirments:

• Conservators require a master's degree in art conservation
  or
  Completion of a three-year college program in conservation technology and several years of experience in conservation work.
• Curators require a master's or bachelor's degree in museology, art history or a field related to their specific area of work.

Additional information

• Progression to museum or art gallery management positions is possible with experience.

Courtesy of: Human Resources and Skills Development Canada

Articles and Other Information: