| Educational Requirements: |
4 years of post-secondary education |
| Occupational
Growth Rate: |
Below average occupational growth in Alberta |
| Lifting Requirements: |
Lifting between 11 and 25 kg (approximately 25 to 55 lbs) |
Conservators plan, coordinate and participate in the preservation and
conservation of cultural property (contemporary, historic, prehistoric and
enthnographic objects, natural history specimens, archival materials and works
of art), and study environmental influences on artifact preservation.
Duties
Conservators work with a wide variety of objects, including
- costumes and textiles (e.g. Northwest Mounted Police uniforms, native hide
garments),
- furniture,
- musical instruments,
- ceramic and glass objects,
- metals (e.g. antique cars, silverware),
- taxidermy specimens,
- ethnographic materials,
- video and audio tapes,
- gravestones,
- architecture (e.g. forts, grain elevators),
- industrial artifacts,
- paintings,
- works of art on paper,
- stone, and
- books and printed materials.
They usually specialize in particular types of object but, in general,
conservators
- advise curators regarding the condition of artifacts and works of art,
possible treatments and options for long-term care,
- take preventive conservation measures, such as ensuring that the storage
environment is stable and protects objects from environmental hazards,
- advise curators, educators and designers concerning environmental needs
and suitability for storage, loan and/or travel;
- perform analytical tests and technical examinations to determine suitable
storage and conservation requirements and restoration treatments,
- draft policies and administer procedures to prevent damage which can be
caused by excess light, fluctuations in temperature and humidity, dust
particles, air pollution, infestation or human handling,
- conserve and restore artifacts and works of art by using their scientific
knowledge and aesthetic sensibility as well as technical procedures (e.g.
polarized light, chemical analysis), manual and artistic skills,
- maintain written, electronic and photographic records of the condition of
artifacts, treatment options and any treatment carried out,
- monitor collection storage areas, galleries and laboratories for pests,
- direct and supervise the activities of conservation assistants,
technicians and interns,
- prepare progress, technical and other reports on the operation of
conservation laboratories,
- research and evaluate new conservation and restoration techniques (e.g.
new cleaning methods for paintings or wood consolidation), and make them
available to the museum community.
Working Conditions
They may use a variety of materials, including dangerous chemicals and
explosives, and must follow safety precautions to avoid injury. Due to the
lengthy processes sometimes involved, conservators may be required to work
overtime to complete a process.
Skills, Interests, Values
Conservators need the following characteristics:
- creativity,
- the ability to concentrate for long periods,
- manual dexterity,
- perceptual and problem-solving skills,
- an active interest in art, science and history,
- a willingness to keep up to date with new conservation techniques, and
- the ability to work as part of a team.
Successful conservators enjoy instructing and coordinating the work of
others, doing precise work, finding solutions to problems, and taking a
methodical approach to their work.
Education Requirements
Conservators must have skills and knowledge in general museum practices and
operations and at least one specific area, such as
- art history,
- anthropology,
- trades,
- science (particularly organic chemistry), or
- textile science or design.
They also need creative skills in fields such as painting, photography,
sewing, cabinet making or silversmithing, plus internship training in
established conservation laboratories and studios.
To research which US schools have graduate programs in the arts go to:
http://www.petersons.com/gradchannel/code/search.asp
Employment and Advancement
Conservators work for
- federal government departments (e.g. the National Archives of Canada,
National Museums, Indian and Northern Affairs Canada, Parks Canada, and the
Canadian Conservation Institute),
- provincial government departments such as Alberta Community Development,
- museums, art galleries, universities, archives and historical societies,
and
- other organizations whose mandate is the preservation of cultural
property.
Conservators may be employed full-time, part-time or be self-employed. They
may combine several part-time jobs such as research and conservation work for a
museum, consulting work for a historical society, and lecturing and writing
work-related articles.
Employment
prospects in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of
factors, including
- the number of people in the occupation,
- the occupational growth rate, and
- trends and events in related industry sectors (see above).
Salary
To research salary
ranges in the arts go to
http://www.jobstar.org
Other Sources of Information
Assistant Director, Curatorial and Collections Preservation, Provincial
Museum of Alberta, 12845 102 Avenue, EDMONTON, Alberta, T5N 0M8.
Web-Site address: http://www.pma.edmonton.ab.ca
Head, Research, Royal Tyrrell Museum of
Palaeontology, Box 7500, DRUMHELLLER,
Alberta, T0J 0Y0.
E-mail address: dbrinkman@mcd.gov.ab.ca
Conservation Coordinator or Education and Learning
Co-ordinator, Museums
Alberta, 9829 103 Street, EDMONTON, Alberta, T5K 0X9.
E-mail address: conservation@museumsalberta.ab.ca
Conservator, Department of Human Ecology, 3-02 Human Ecology Building,
University of Alberta, EDMONTON, Alberta, T6G 2N1.
E-mail address: shirley.ellis@ualberta.ca
|
