Hi Leah, great video and fantastic resource list! Another thing I’ve found potential pre-program internships ask for are portfolios or at least images of conservation related projects or studio art pieces! So many great tips, thanks for posting 👍👍
How do you find classes in college to take for this field? What classes should we look for? Opportunities? How can we prepare ourselves before and during college, to go into this career? I'm in highschool and really want to go into conservation and restoration, but can't seem to find information on pre-graduation.
Hi, Gretchen! Amazing questions. North American graduate degree programs have very specific science, art history/cultural heritage, and studio art coursework prerequisites for entrance to their programs. The particular topics of these classes may vary (eg, various eras in art history, or various art media classes), but the coursework requirements are quite narrow, and you can definitely craft your undergraduate degree around them! Here are links to their requirement pages! www.artcons.udel.edu/masters/graduate-admissions/admissions-requirements artconservation.buffalostate.edu/requirements www.queensu.ca/art/art-conservation/prospective-students ifa.nyu.edu/conservation/program.htm conservation.ucla.edu/ma-program/admissions/#top I found the PDF I linked (www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/resources/career/preparing-for-graduate-study-while-sheltering-in-place.pdf?sfvrsn=7e3d0a20_8) very helpful in thinking about what kinds of activities mentally, physically, and academically prepare me for this career, and these are almost all things one can do while in high school and college!
hey, ive been wanting to go into conservation and im starting volunteering in it at a local heritage site soon but i just wanna know, if its necessary to have a background in art/be good at art to pursue conservation (im most interested in archaeological or pottery + ceramic conservation)
Such a great question! I'm glad you're able to dip your toe into the world of conservation! I would say that it's NOT necessary or expected to be a fine art master to become a conservator. I would say that taking care of heritage items DOES require a strong understanding of how heritage items were constructed, as well as fine motor skills and dexterity-- both of which are really grown when we create art objects! Graduate programs in conservation do require a certain number of studio art courses, so you will need to take some art classes eventually, if you end up pursuing conservation. But in the meantime- I would reccommend enagaging in the type of artwork you're hoping to conserve: if you want to work with archeological objects, then try to take a few ceramics classes, or put together mosaics, or carve stones/wood! This art-making practice is so helpful in understanding the construction of various piece, which in turn really informs your treatment of an object. I hope this helps!
@@leah____palmer thank you so much for your advice! i have been working on my fine motor skills since i am notoriously heavy handed (trying not to stress myself out about it TOO MUCH because im way off applying for conservation programmes rn anyways) but art/ceramics classes are def a great idea that i will look into (probably for next summer before i go off to uni). in the mean time im hoping to learn as much i can about conservation science! ive found a work experience placement at one of the uk's top unis for museum work which has hands on experience in conservation for students my age so i desperately hope i get into that :)
Hi Leah, great video and fantastic resource list! Another thing I’ve found potential pre-program internships ask for are portfolios or at least images of conservation related projects or studio art pieces! So many great tips, thanks for posting 👍👍
I just saw you posted this! Thank you so much, it was really helpful.
thank you for the video. It was very informative. 😊 and congrats on moving to the Field museum and your fall internship!
Me, a nurse who has no plans of being a conservationist, watching this entire video
How do you find classes in college to take for this field? What classes should we look for? Opportunities? How can we prepare ourselves before and during college, to go into this career? I'm in highschool and really want to go into conservation and restoration, but can't seem to find information on pre-graduation.
Hi, Gretchen! Amazing questions. North American graduate degree programs have very specific science, art history/cultural heritage, and studio art coursework prerequisites for entrance to their programs. The particular topics of these classes may vary (eg, various eras in art history, or various art media classes), but the coursework requirements are quite narrow, and you can definitely craft your undergraduate degree around them!
Here are links to their requirement pages!
www.artcons.udel.edu/masters/graduate-admissions/admissions-requirements
artconservation.buffalostate.edu/requirements
www.queensu.ca/art/art-conservation/prospective-students
ifa.nyu.edu/conservation/program.htm
conservation.ucla.edu/ma-program/admissions/#top
I found the PDF I linked (www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/resources/career/preparing-for-graduate-study-while-sheltering-in-place.pdf?sfvrsn=7e3d0a20_8) very helpful in thinking about what kinds of activities mentally, physically, and academically prepare me for this career, and these are almost all things one can do while in high school and college!
hey, ive been wanting to go into conservation and im starting volunteering in it at a local heritage site soon but i just wanna know, if its necessary to have a background in art/be good at art to pursue conservation (im most interested in archaeological or pottery + ceramic conservation)
Such a great question! I'm glad you're able to dip your toe into the world of conservation! I would say that it's NOT necessary or expected to be a fine art master to become a conservator. I would say that taking care of heritage items DOES require a strong understanding of how heritage items were constructed, as well as fine motor skills and dexterity-- both of which are really grown when we create art objects! Graduate programs in conservation do require a certain number of studio art courses, so you will need to take some art classes eventually, if you end up pursuing conservation. But in the meantime- I would reccommend enagaging in the type of artwork you're hoping to conserve: if you want to work with archeological objects, then try to take a few ceramics classes, or put together mosaics, or carve stones/wood! This art-making practice is so helpful in understanding the construction of various piece, which in turn really informs your treatment of an object.
I hope this helps!
@@leah____palmer thank you so much for your advice! i have been working on my fine motor skills since i am notoriously heavy handed (trying not to stress myself out about it TOO MUCH because im way off applying for conservation programmes rn anyways) but art/ceramics classes are def a great idea that i will look into (probably for next summer before i go off to uni). in the mean time im hoping to learn as much i can about conservation science! ive found a work experience placement at one of the uk's top unis for museum work which has hands on experience in conservation for students my age so i desperately hope i get into that :)