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In his 1986 book The Nature of Conservation: A Race Against Time, Philip Ward defines conservation and places it within the art museum:
"By definition, museums have four classic functions: they collect, they preserve, they conduct research, and they present or interpret their collections to the public in light of their research. Preservation is the most fundamental of these responsibilities, since without it, research and presentation are impossible and collection is pointless. Conservation is the technology by which preservation is achieved."
The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and the Institute for Conservation (ICON) are the leading professional organizations for conservators in the United States and the United Kingdom. According to the AIC website, "Conservation encompasses all those actions taken toward the long-term preservation of cultural heritage. Activities include examination, documentation, treatment, and preventive care, supported by research and education. Preserving cultural heritage is essential, but it also presents complex challenges. Conservators embrace these challenges with passion, commitment, and dedication."
Conservators are trained professionals that physically preserve cultural heritage. They specialize in specific materials like paint, paper, electronic media, etc.
Below are the definitions of some key terms that may help you understand what conservation is.
Cultural Property: Objects, collections, specimens, structures, or sites identified as having artistic, historic, scientific, religious, or social significance.
Preservation: The protection of cultural property through activities that minimize chemical and physical deterioration and damage and that prevent loss of informational content. The primary goal of preservation is to prolong the existence of cultural property.
Restoration: Treatment procedures intended to return cultural property to a known or assumed state, often through the addition of non-original material.
Treatment: The deliberate alteration of the chemical and/or physical aspects of cultural property, aimed primarily at prolonging its existence. Treatment may consist of stabilization and/or restoration.
This guide was originally created in the spring of 2022 by Lauren Kozlowski during her internship at Ingalls Library as part of the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Case Western Reserve University Joint Program in Art History and Museum Studies.
