Conservation is a very rewarding career that gives back in many ways. It requires a dedication to life-long learning and some patience during your training and early working years. Below you will find technical information, resources, supplies, private practitioners, and books to teach you more about our special field of art conservation, which specializes in textiles.
A great place to start is the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) website.
Every textile conservator needs the same basic skills:
- Aptitude for working hands-on with delicate historic materials
- Long-term planning and creative problem-solving skills
- Excellent sewing skills and eyesight (or vision correction)
- Comprehensive understanding of textile structures and techniques
- Interest in textile history, costume history, and art history
- At least a basic understanding of organic chemistry/materials science
- Clear, descriptive writing skills
- Patience, concentration, and curiosity
- Team-building skills
- Integrity and adherence to professional codes of ethics
The best way to begin learning about textile conservation is to work with historic clothing and textiles under the direction of a museum professional. Local historical societies are usually overflowing with clothing and textiles with few or no staff members to care for them. Volunteer to help catalog and photograph, or ask to be taught how to vacuum or rehouse objects. Any collections-related museum experience will be beneficial and will give you a taste of what this work is like. You can also locate a conservator in private practice in your area who may need a volunteer. To locate a conservator in the US, use the Find a Conservator tool on the AIC website.
Conservation Education
There are still relatively few places in the US to study conservation, and fewer still that have a strong emphasis on textiles. The AIC website lists several institutions in the US and Canada offering graduate training in art conservation. In reality there are more MA programs in that can prepare you for a career in conservation. Conservation graduate programs are notoriously difficult to get in to and are costly, so gather as much information as you can before deciding the route that is best for you.
Please contact Camille Breeze if you have a training program to add to any of these lists.
Apprentice Training
The classic approach to a career in art conservation was to volunteer, and if you showed the right skills you could work your way up to a steady job. With some continuing professional development, you could have a long satisfying career. This is still a viable route to take.
The more accepted route to acquiring the theory, philosophy, skills, and credentials to be a textile conservator (though not necessarily the experience) is through a graduate training program. An MA or MS is usually a requirement for a museum job or to advance within a museum department.
Some people become textile conservators after working in related fields such as fashion design, theater, textile science, archaeology or historic preservation. In this case, a certificate or advanced internship in textile conservation can be the best way to gain additional training—and increase your job possibilities.
Graduate Conservation Programs in the US and Canada
Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC. MA in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice
University of Rhode Island. MS specializing in Historic Fashion and Textiles, Textile Conservation, and Cultural Analysis
University of Delaware, MS in Art Conservation
UCLA/Getty, MA in Conservation of Cultural Heritage
SUNY-Buffalo, MA and CAS in Art Conservation
Queen’s University, MAC in Art Conservation
New York University, MA and Advanced Certificate in Conservation of Works of Art
Undergraduate Programs in the US and Canada
University of Delaware, Art Conservation
Scripps College, CA Art Conservation
New Mexico State University, Art (Museum Conservation)
Fleming College, Ontario Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management
Algonquin College, Ontario Applied Museum Studies
University of Alberta, Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture
Lindenwood University, MO Art History and Visual Culture with an emphasis in Pre-Art Conservation
International Conservation Programs
University of Glasgow, MPhil in Textile Conservation
Durham University, MA in Conservation of Archaeological and Museum Objects
UCL Institute of Archaeology, MA in Principles of Conservation
West Dean University, MA in Conservation Studies and MA in Collections Care and Conservation Studies
City and Guilds of London Art School. Diploma and BA (Hons) in Conservation: Books & Paper
Courtauld Institute, London. Degrees and research fellowships in Conservation
University of Lincoln, UK. BA, MA and PhD programs in Conservation
Hamilton Kerr Institute, UK. Master of the Conservation of Easel Paintings
Abegg-Stiftung, MA in Conservation-Restoration specializing in Textiles
Institut National du Patrimoine in Aubervilliers, France. MA in Conservation with several specialties, including textiles
Universitst Polytecnica de Valencia, Spain MA in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage
Estonian Academy of Arts. BA, MA and PhD programs in Cultural Heritage & Conservation
University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. MA in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage
Istituto Superiore per la Conservazione ed il Restauro (ISCR), Rome, Italy. Degrees in restoration
Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany. BA in Conservation and Restoration of Art and Cultural Property
University of the Arts Bern, Switzerland. BA and MA in Conservation-Restoration
Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal. BA, MA and PhD in Conservation and Restoration
Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Portugal. BA in Art Conservation and Restoration
Instituto Politecnico de Tomar, Portugal MA in Conservation and Restoration
Metropolia University of Applied Science, Helsinki, Finland. BA in Conservation
University of Applied Arts Vienna. BA and MA in Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management
University of Malta. Preparatory Program leading to an MSc in Conservation
Technological Educational Institute, Greece. BA and MA programs in Conservation of Antiquities and Works of Art
Conservation Institute “Yachay Wasi,” Lima, Peru. BA in Conservation
Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogota. BA in Cultural Heritage Studies with conservation training
Universidad de San Carlos, Guatemala City. MA in conservation of monuments and immovable heritage
National School of Conservation, Restoration, and Museography, Mexico City; BA and MA in restoration
Department of Conservation Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University, Egypt. BA in Archaeological conservation
List of seven restoration and conservation training programs in Turkey
List of Additional conservation and restoration programs in Europe
List of German-language conservation and restoration programs
Related Degrees
Harvard University Extension School, MLA in Extension Studies, Museum Studies
Tufts University, Certificate program and MA in Art History & Museum Studies or MFA in History & Museum Studies
California State University Long Beach online certificate program in Collections Management for Costume and Textiles
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, degrees in Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design
University of Texas-Austin, MS Division of Textile and Apparel
University of New Hampshire, MA in History: Museum Studies
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Museum Studies
Art Institute of Chicago. MS in Historic Preservation
University of Alberta, MA in Material Culture
The George Washington University, MA in Museum Studies Online Certificate
New York University, Certificate program and MA in Museum Studies
University of Pennsylvania, Certificate program and MS in Historic Preservation
The Cooperstown Graduate Program, MA in History Museum Studies
University of Oklahoma, MA in Museum Studies and Library and Information Studies
The University of Kansas, Certificate Program and MA in Museum Studies
Florida State University, MA in Museum and Cultural Heritage Studies
San Francisco State University, MA in Museum Studies
Johns Hopkins University, MAs in Cultural Heritage and Museum Studies
Regis College, MA in Museum Studies Graduate Certificate
Non-Degree Training
Museum Textile Services Learning Lab
Beloit College Center for Collections Care
Northeast Document Conservation Center, Webinars and In-Person Workshops
American Institute for Conservation, Workshops and Online Courses
Northern States Conservation Center, Online Museum Classes
Collecting to Connections Care (C2C Care) through the FAIC offers webinars and courses
National Park Service, Managing Archaeological Collections
Texas Historical Commission Museum Services Programs
National Preservation Institute offers customized training in historic preservation
International Academic Projects provides short professional development courses in conservation and related fields
West Dean College, England, Continuing Professional Development Courses
Hornemann Institute, Hildesheim, Germany. Online courses for restoration and conservation
International Institute for Restoration and Conservation Studies, San Gemini Preservation Studies Summer Field School
Pachamama Institute de Conservacao e Restauro, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Online courses.