conservator

The work

Conservators keep works of art, historic buildings and other historic objects in good condition by preserving them and and ensuring they are looked after in the right way.

They deal with a wide range of objects, but most specialise in one area, such as:

• fine art
• books
• textiles
• archaeology
• industrial exhibits.

The work usually involves three stages:

• examining the object to identify any damage and its cause
• preserving the object to stop deterioration and ensure future stability
• restoring the object to ensure that original characteristics are not lost.

Conservators need to understand the effect of the environment on different materials, and to ensure that objects are not stored or displayed in harmful conditions. This involves monitoring and controlling:

• light
• humidity
• temperature
• air pollution.

Conservators use a range of scientific methods, materials and equipment, and keep written and photographic records of their work.

Hours and Environment

As a conservator in the public sector you will usually work 37 to 40 hours a week, Monday to Friday. In the private sector, your hours will depend on the volume of work, and you may have to work to deadlines.

You will usually be based in a laboratory or workshop, although some conservation work, such as stone masonry, has to be carried out on site. You may spend time in museums, art galleries and private houses, giving advice on collections.

Depending on the task, you could spend a lot of time sitting or standing.

Skills and Interests

To be a conservator/restorer you need:

• good practical and manual skills
• good colour vision
• a patient and methodical approach
• the ability to pay close attention to detail
• artistic, technological and scientific interests and ability
• sound business skills (if self-employed)
• good communication skills, with the ability to explain sometimes complex issues to clients.

Entry

To become a conservator you will usually need a degree in conservation, or in your specialist area (for example fine art, ceramics and glass or textiles) followed by a postgraduate conservation qualification.

Visit the Institute of Conservation website for a list of courses. You should check directly with course providers for their entry requirements.

For most courses you will need to have done work experience or voluntary work in a museum, or other historic site. Large museums usually have lots of requests for voluntary work, so it may be best to try smaller local museums. You can find addresses in 'The Museums Yearbook', which is published annually by the Museums Association. You should be able to find it in reference libraries.

See the Museums Association website (in Further Information) for advice on finding voluntary opportunities.

Training

After completing a course, you need several years’ experience before you are considered fully competent as a conservator. One-year internships are a way in which you can gain the necessary supervised practical experience in the workplace. These are run by some major museums. Addresses of museums can be found in 'The Museums Yearbook', which should be available in reference libraries.

You will need to update your skills and techniques on an on-going basis. If you work in a museums or heritage site you might be able to do specialist training. 

Area museums councils run a variety of in-service courses. You can find details of the councils on the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council website - see Further Information below for contact details.

To help you establish and keep up a professional reputation you can join a professional body such as the Institute of Conservation, the British Association of Paintings Conservators-Restorers or the Guild of Master Craftsmen. These organisations set quality standards and provide for professional development - see Further Information below for contact details.

You could join the Institute of Conservation Professional Accreditation of Conservator-Restorers (PACR) scheme. This is a professional membership qualification which will assess your  professional capability against set standards. If you complete this, your details will be listed in the register of conservators. The register is available on the Institute of Conservation website for use by organisations and members of the public who are looking for reputable conservation or restoration services.

Opportunities

Conservators are employed in the public and private sectors. Many conservators work in museums, but there has been an overall decrease in posts, as work is often contracted out to freelancers. Many jobs are offered as short-term contracts.

Conservators also work for the National Trust, English Heritage and the heritage bodies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Some cathedrals have studios to care for their stained glass, libraries and wall paintings.

You may need to move away from practical work into a management job to gain promotion. As an experienced conservator you could become self-employed.

Annual Income

Figures are intended as a guideline.

New entrants may start on around £16,000 or £17,000 a year.
Experienced conservators may earn around £20,000.
Senior conservators are likely to earn between £25,000 and £36,000.

High standards of performance can lead to much higher salaries. Additional payments are common for those living around London.

Further information

Victoria House
Southampton Row
London
WC1B 4EA
Tel: 020 7273 1444 24 Calvin St
London
E1 6NW 3rd Floor
Downstream Building
1 London Bridge
London
SE1 9BG
Tel: 020 7785 3807 166 High Street
Lewes
East Sussex
BN7 1XU
Tel: 01273 478449 11 Southwark Street
London
SE1 1RQ
Helpline: 0800 093 0444

 

WoW Careers Services Can Help You Prepare The Perfect CV or Provide Further Advice On This Career Path For More Information Call Us On 0845 224-2613 or Claim Your FREE CV Review Today.

Back

 

© & TM 2007-2008 WoW4 Limited | wowme@wowmycv.co.uk | Counties & Towns | Links | Call Us On: 0845 224-2613