Internships for People Entering the Feild of Art Restoration

Interested in condign a conservator? Fine art conservation is a rewarding career which brings you lot upwards shut and personal with the history of art. Although it is attributed with the arts sector, conservation is also very much led by science and an understanding of chemical science. Conservators not only work to restore damage, but to forbid the deterioration of historically and sentimentally important pieces, this is accomplished through the careful application of knowledge about dissimilar materials and their chemical compositions.

How do I get into conservation?

Many of our conservators accept a background in fine art itself, whilst others specifically combined scientific discipline and fine art subjects during their studies in pursuit of this career path. Conservation is a multi-faceted occupation which requires a mixture of scientific problem solving, historical knowledge, creative skill, and above all a passion for preservation.

Above: our administrative and conservation team discussing projects in our studio

Which areas of conservation are in that location?

There are numerous different conservation disciplines and types of conservator – all with their own unique skill sets. Dissimilar genres of artwork and antiques volition have different requirements for preservation and approaches to cleaning or restoration work.

Listed below are some of the most common conservation disciplines you may encounter:

Easel Painting Conservation
Wall Painting Conservation
Volume & Newspaper Conservation
Furniture Conservation
Cloth Conservation
Ceramics & Objects Conservation
Stained Glass Conservation
Stone Conservation
Built Heritage Conservation
Preventive Conservation

To a higher place: our conservator working on a large oil painting in our studio, midway through a varnish removal

In that location are also careers tangentially related to conservation which can incorporate a lot of conservation procedures and rationale:

Conservation Technician
Conservation Scientist
Collections Care
Pest Management
Archaeologist
Disaster Direction
Client Liaison

Above: our conservator working on a Banksy mural in central London

How can I become into Conservation?

There are ii main routes into becoming a conservator: Apprenticeships and College Education

Conservation apprenticeships

There is no set program for offer conservation apprenticeships as this is the more traditional route into conservation, which is steadily being replaced with college educational activity requirements for certain disciplines.

However, some sole practitioners exercise all the same railroad train apprentices to work in their studios depending on their workload. Undertaking an apprenticeship is a more than vocational way into the profession, learning the manual hands-on skills required by the different disciplines.

Above: our conservators, all with different levels of feel, working together on modern and historic paintings

Public bodies such every bit the National Trust offer positions such as Conservation Assistant (sometimes as trainee positions) which are more hands-on roles working with simple conservation treatments and preventive care; these oftentimes do non take a specific higher education requirement.

In that location are more formal apprenticeships that are offered past the Institute of Conservation (ICON) in collaboration with UK universities, however these are offered as part of degree programs.

Above: one of our interns working on a torn oil painting canvass in our studio

Conservation in higher education

There are a couple of undergraduate degree programs in more full general conservation offered by the University of Lincoln, Cardiff University and Metropolis & Guilds, Academy of London. All of these courses prepare their students with a strong knowledge of conservation principles earlier they can then continue to specialise in their called bailiwick.

Above: our ICON accredited paper conservator working on a miniature watercolour portrait

The most common route into conservation in the UK is completing a Master's Degree or graduate diploma relevant to your chosen discipline.

Conservators have a broad range of backgrounds, from artists to historians to scientists, all of whom bring valuable insight to the field. Before applying to degree programs, many people talk to conservators, visit conservation studios or, if able, get a voluntary placement within a studio.

In a higher place: our conservator retouching a painting (left) and photographing for professional person documentation (right)

There are numerous unlike MA and graduate diploma programs available in the Great britain to suit everyone. Since conservation is such a easily-on career, many conservators undertake piece of work placements and internships during their preparation to improve and develop their skills. These piece of work placements tin can exist in private studios, museums, galleries, public trusts or with conservators who are sole practitioners.

Information nigh all the different bachelor courses can be found on the ICON website by clicking here

Above: our interns working on conservation projects in our studio

Exercise you offer conservation internships?

At Fine Art Restoration Company nosotros pride ourselves on passing on the cognition and feel of our experts to the side by side generation of conservators. Every summer nosotros run an internship programme for those on courses pursuing conservation, besides as anyone with relevant experience or enthusiasm.

Sophie is one of our contempo interns, she would like to share her experience with yous to give an thought of what you might expect from such a placement in a restoration studio with individual clients.

Sophie'due south Conservation Internship Experience

My name is Sophie and from September-December 2020 I was a conservation intern at Fine Art Restoration Visitor.

Having finished my MA in easel painting conservation from Northumbria University at the start of the COVID-nineteen Pandemic, I was nifty to gain practical, easily-on experience in a studio environment.

Above: Sophie retouching a large oil painting in our studio during her internship

I had previously undertaken placements with the National Trust and local museums, but existence offered the adventure to piece of work in a private studio for an extended flow of fourth dimension actually helped me put my skills into practice and I feel very lucky to have been given the opportunity.

I did my internship alongside 2 other graduate painting conservators, who I shared our provided accommodation with. Non simply did this foster a pleasant, collegiate environment in the studio but also made the prospect of moving to a new city for a few months a lot less daunting!

In a higher place: Sophie performing a estrus handling to stabilise a paint layer on an oil painting

My Responsibilities

As an intern, under supervision of the paintings conservators, my primary responsibleness was conveying out a variety of treatments on paintings ranging from 17 th Century works to gimmicky pieces. Having the supervision of more experienced conservators actually helped to build my confidence as I developed my practical skills and feel working with unlike sorts of paintings and problems. As well as carrying out treatments, I was likewise involved with the solar day to day activities of the studio which included:

Updating the office team with treatment progress for them to then communicate with the client
Professionally wrapping paintings, as well as other artworks and antiques
Remedial frame conservation treatments
Preparing adhesives, solvents, gels and varnishes for use during treatments
Maintaining an orderly studio with an understanding of best practices

To a higher place: Sophie working on an oil painting in our studio during her internship

My favourite restoration

My favourite restoration treatment was that of an 18 th Century portrait of a young male child and a domestic dog, which required several different interventions. Having spent a lot of fourth dimension researching 18 th Century British painting whilst at Academy, it was great to get hands-on feel with this painting and to exist able to confidently carry out all aspects of handling myself.

To a higher place: Sophie's restoration of an 18th century portrait, including varnish removal (seen halfway on the left), earlier and after (middle) and a detail of the original damaged canvas (right)

Treatments I carried out included: consolidation, verso-cleaning, surface cleaning, thread-to-thread tear mending, correcting planar deformations, varnish removal, aged retouching removal, retouching and varnishing.

What I gained from the internship

The principal thing which I gained from my internship is confidence. Both in conveying out practical treatments and identifying areas of concern in unlike paintings. Through working in the decorated private studio environs, my practical skills developed chop-chop from existence involved with a range of diverse and challenging projects.

The chance to work on a wide range of oil, acrylic and mixed media paintings, as well every bit paintings on different supports really supplemented my experience and helped to develop and refine my portfolio. I also benefited from the knowledge and experience of more senior conservators, which exposed me to new materials and techniques as well as developing my own controlling capability.

Higher up: Sophie during her internship consolidating an unstable oil painting

Make it bear on with our team

Delight arrive touch with our team if you would like to apply for an upcoming internship position, or if you take any queries related to the study of conservation.

You can contact u.s. by emailing [electronic mail protected] or calling united states on 0207 112 7576.

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Source: https://fineart-restoration.co.uk/news/the-path-to-becoming-a-conservator-and-an-internship-experience/