Grad options for art conservation and/or museum technician jobs

[RGfellows]

Hello,

I'm an art history undergrad at UC Berkeley and I'm trying to explore my options for grad schools and future careers. I've been trying to get information online, but I've been getting a lot of mixed results, so I was hoping you all might have some better answers for me.

 

First off, I've looked at art conservation, and it sounds very interesting; however, I haven't been able to get much information on the actual work aside from things like "maintaining art/museum pieces etc". It appeals to me because I obviously enjoy art history, and I enjoy having the manual tasks of maintaining things. For instance, I collect antique books and I occasionally to work to maintain their spines, pages, etc, and I quite enjoy it. The only problem is that I'm unsure how suited I am for it? I have a 4.0 in art history, and I already have a long personal history of studio work such as painting, drawing, ceramics, etc. However, I don't have  much of a background in Chemistry. I'm more than willing to take the classes and apply myself as much as possible, but I don't quite know where I stand with it. Do you think that a weakness in chemistry would take conservation out of the running for me?

 

Secondly, if I don't go with art conservation, I'm interested in a job as a museum technician/registrar. I've been getting mixed results about what type of degree I should try for and what job options are like.

 

Sorry, I know this is a lot of stuff, but if you're able to answer even some of it then I would be extremely grateful!

 

Thanks,

Sara

[Herbie]

The program I know most about is IFA. That's not saying much either. You need about four courses in bio/chem total, definitely having at least OCHEM 1. Since you'll be identifying material compositions, it makes sense. 

 

I would contact the programs too (obvious information). But I would contact them because they may have workshops that cater to a similar group, albeit they certainly will not serve as surrogates for science courses. And honestly? You may be able to knock those out in a summer term! I wish you the best of luck!

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

Registrar and collection manager, and conservator, are two career paths in the museum field, and require different training.

I'm more on the research/curatorial side of the museum, so my knowledge may be weak answering. However here are some generalizations to offer the basic idea of the distinctions among the roles you hold interest:

*Collections managers handle objects, note conditions, conduct inventories, and maintain/update databases of the collections. Bigger museums have the flexibility to divvy the tasks up, smaller museums may have limited staff and have to be a Jill/Jack of all trades. Sometimes collections tasks can be trained in an internship, or on the job, but a Master's degree in Museum Studies can be of particular help (the program may assist you getting those collections internships, or field training, you need to do the job correctly... and initially, get hired to do it.) Note: more employers expect you to have the professional skills before coming on board, and fewer are training on the job. This has to do with an over saturated job market, and tighter budgets in museums. University of Delaware's SWAT is a good example of excellent field training. University of Colorado-Boulder may be another, as CU has not just one museum but two, along with its Museum and Field Studies master's program, however I'm less familiar with CU.)

*Registrars track objects - in and outside the institution. The registrar also handle the plans of the movement of objects, such as couriering art to another location, uploading/packing into the truck, etc. Thus, travel with the artwork, can be involved. Sometimes that is delegated, however to another lucky staff member :-) As for registrar training, collections management experience can be helpful (some museums additionally overlap the two), so can participating in registrar listserves online, and attending conferences such as the one upcoming on in Chicago -- Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists -- for networking and information.

*Conservators care for, repairs, restores, and investigates the physical object. You usually do need a science background, and academic/professional training in a place for conservation. Personally, I've worked in a museum which had grads, and grad candidates, from the Winterthur/Uni of Delaware conservation program. Winterthur is a well-known program (respected for cutting-edge research using tools/expertise of conservation), I'd look into their requirements for admission, expectations of their students, and what students are doing post-program in terms of employment to see if that is a viable option and of interest to you.

If you want hands-on training with bookbinding, North Benet Street School in Boston may be worth your time exploring. Northeast Document Center, as an example, may be then a potential employer. I wonder if rare book collections in athenaeums, libraries, or universities, would also be an employer you'd eventually seek? You say you studied art history, and perhaps art conservation, or collections managing, would be a better match with your academic training so far?

Edited February 16, 2013 by ArtHistoryandMuseum

[RGfellows]

Thank you guys, so much!

@Chulianne: 

 

....they may have workshops that cater to a similar group...

 

This is great, I knew that some labs may offer workshops from time to time, but it's great to know the programs might as well. 

 

@ArtHistoryandMuseum

Thank you for so much detailed information! I hadn't know about the specific job of collections manager, and that sounds like it might be a really good fit. I ultimately liked the idea of being an art conservationist because I like the idea of being able to care for works directly, and, definitely correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like a collections manager gets to do a lot of that, but in different ways and with a bit less of an intensive science grounding.

[RGfellows]

I do have a question about becoming a collections manager.

What is the typical sort of outlook for getting hired?

I know that museum jobs in general have a saturated job market, so no matter what it'll be competitive, but from the sound of it, collections manager is often a sort of one person position within museums. So, in terms of having a sort of stability while trying to get hired as one, is there any way I could get a different museum job of some sort that might be slightly less competitive and work on my resume and such for potential advancement to collections manager? And if so, is there a specific job that might be best for gaining the experience necessary?

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

@ArtHistoryandMuseum

Thank you for so much detailed information! I hadn't know about the specific job of collections manager, and that sounds like it might be a really good fit. I ultimately liked the idea of being an art conservationist because I like the idea of being able to care for works directly, and, definitely correct me if I'm wrong, but it sounds like a collections manager gets to do a lot of that, but in different ways and with a bit less of an intensive science grounding.

 

 

Sure, I'm happy help with what I can! I do have a Master's in Museum Studies and several years of museum experience, but remember, I am not an expert. That said, your hunch about collections managers caring for objects is accurate. Sometimes, with a lack of professional staff, collections managers do have to perform conservation tasks. Just keep in mind if you do any work on a piece: always do your research thoroughly first, and whatever you do, make sure it is reversible.

 

It would be my guess that roles in collections management are more common than conservation staff. For not all museums have a dedicated core of conservation staff, but many have positions in collections.

 

As for resume and experience building, I'd start with an internship. Ideally, paid, but if you have to work elsewhere (to do the unpaid internship), I'd make sure you are volunteering your time for less than 15 hours a week, or 2 days a week. You don't want to be taken advantage of, nor do you want to conflict with a full-time work schedule... or even time for yourself. 

 

As for internships themselves, be willing to go anywhere in the country. The job is often short and not a forever assignment, so be willing take a job wherever it is... especially if it comes with housing. That is the ideal perk. Plus, if you don't get paid, at least you have a roof over your head. (Unless the museum forbids it, you could always seek a second job, too.)

 

Internships and other museum jobs are advertised all over: Global Museums, AAM, CAA, etc. You'll have to comb them over and figure out what appeals to you. I'd recommend regional museum listings. In my area, there are New England Museum Association job postings online (I think you can Google "NEMA JOBS", you'll find it), and at the end of the webpage, there's a bunch of paid and unpaid internships. Note: many museum internships are for the summer, and applications are due early -- like now, and in the spring.

 

Because you are an undergrad, unless you get a full-time gig, I'd go for the internships now, because you may be ineligible later. I recently earned a MA in Museum Studies... and sometimes intern employers seek my background as helpful (less training/less errors, yet hire with less pay), and others see me as over-qualified. Also, sometimes a job post says it seeks "college undergrad/grads AND recent grads," sometimes not. That is clue, too.

 

As for assistant positions, like "collections assistant", they come in part-time and full-time positions, and the window to apply for them is often shorter. Like I said, employers want candidates already experienced. That means with some sort of database knowledge (e.g. Past Perfect), and a background with collections handing, data entry, etc.

 

Finally, sometimes being the intern, gets you hired when positions open at the museum. It has been my experience in museums, and as a applicant outside of a museum, that museums are "turning internal" and looking at the applicants in house as a preference. In other words, you may advance due to a foot in a door. That is all about luck, timing, loyalty, and hard work. Prove yourself with any opportunity and you'll never know where it can take you.

Edited February 16, 2013 by ArtHistoryandMuseum

[RGfellows]

Thank you so much for all the advice! Getting out there can be extremely overwhelming, so it's good to have some firsthand advice!

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

No problem, I'm happy to share what I know.  

 

Keep in mind that doing internships, having in-field experiences, and meeting with potential employers, you may not want to go any further, and that's OK. While the experience may heighten your interest to pursue the specific type of work, the experiences jut might also tell you that collections work in a museum setting, may not be for you. Either way, it's helpful. 

 

Additionally, I wanted to mention something about PhDs, in case you also are interested in that.

 

For collections roles in a museum, obtaining a PhD may actually hurt your applications. Because of their nature (data entry and databases), museum employers look to a PhD candidate as not truly interested, or overqualified for collections work. I have not ever hired personally for a position in a museum, so perhaps take it not too rigidly, but I have heard this advice from a mid-career museum collections professional, who worked for a large art museum in the US.  I think I've heard it from other people, too.

 

That said, it is primarily collections management positions that you want to think carefully about committing yourself to a PhD. A PhD in Art History may be, however, helpful for some internships -- such as those art history, curatorial internships at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC. 

Edited February 16, 2013 by ArtHistoryandMuseum

[RGfellows]

Additionally, I wanted to mention something about PhDs, in case you also are interested in that.

 

For collections roles in a museum, obtaining a PhD may actually hurt your applications. 

Hah, this actually answers my next question!

 

I'm wondering about the benefits and drawbacks of having a PhD because I've heard the same things you have about it potentially making me seem overqualified. The only issue is that, if I do end up finding collections management not quite what I expected, I might end up being underqualified for a job I end up turning towards. And I imagine that a large break between schooling might make it more difficult to get accepted to a PhD program.

[ArtHistoryandMuseum]

I don't know you, but in a way, I think we are kindred spirits, in that we are both interdisciplinary. My undergrad involved rare books/bookbinding, I seek a PhD, and I would like to advance in the field of museums. :-) I suppose to some, that's exciting/advantageous, to others not as decided/concentrated. I, on the other hand, see interconnections and benefits...

 

In the end, we have to make decisions in life (which we may not know the full ramifications for), which are based on our current interests, the opportunities offered, and plans for the future, and have to hope it all works out!

[RGfellows]

Haha! It's good to know that I'm not alone out there, then!

Thank you, and good luck to you as well!

[packca]

Hi Sara,

 

I'm currently a third-year graduate student at the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and I'm more than happy to answer any questions you might have about the program and the field of conservation.

 

I too was an Art History/Studio Art major during my undergrad studies. I then went on to get my Master's in Art History...which is when I discovered the world of conservation. It was a perfect fit for me, because it combined the art history that I love with the ability to work with my hands and use my artistic skills as well. Once I finished my MA in art history, I had to go back to school to do the chemistry prerequisites. There are currently four graduate programs for art conservation in the United States: Winterthur, Buffalo State College, NYU, and the UCLA/Getty program (their focus is on ethnographic and archaeological conservation). I believe most, if not all, of these programs will require a minimum of 4 courses in college level chemistry: 2 gen chems and 2 organic chem courses. Coming from an art history/studio art background, I was a bit intimidated by this at first, but found I really enjoyed the courses once I started. Once you've taken Chem 101, you'll have a good idea if it is something you enjoy...and can help you decide if conservation is right for you.

 

Each of the programs accepts a limited number of applicants each year (usually 10) and they are all very competitive, so the more you have under your belt - the better. In addition to the chemistry, a certain number of art history and fine art prerequisites are required. These can vary from program to program, so it's best to check their websites. It sounds like your background is a lot like mine, so you would probably have no problem meeting these requirements. In addition to the coursework, would would also need to have a portfolio of your artwork, showing your work in a variety of mediums (again, the number of pieces and range of mediums are specified in the application instructions for the programs).

 

Internships are a great way to get your foot in the door and start learning about the field. There are a number of great pre-program internship experiences out there and this is how we all get our initial training and get ready for applying to the graduate programs. A lot of museums offer these types of internships, some are even paid. My first pre-program internship was at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian. They have a great internship program for pre-program applicants (there are a number at the Smithsonian and in DC....well all over the east coast, really! Again, this is just the area I'm familiar with, there are many all over the US). The work and treatments you do during these internships will help you build a conservation portfolio - which you will also need to apply to the graduate programs.

 

I spent 5 years from the time I decided to go into conservation to the point I was accepted into graduate school. I was lucky in that I was accepted during the first year I applied, but it's not uncommon for people to have to apply more than once. Again, since it can be so competitive, the more experiences you get, the better candidate you will be. The grad program is three years (4 at NYU, which has an additional year because of the art history MA that you get along with the conservation degree there). So, all together, I will have spent about 8 years training for this career. This is not that unusual and you can anticipate spending at least a couple years of completing the chemistry requirements and getting the pre-program experiences. 

 

I hope this isn't too much information or come across as too overwhelming. It's a lot of work, but I believe it is totally worth it. It is definitely the most rewarding work I've ever done and there is a lot of satisfaction in knowing you're helping to preserve cultural heritage for future generations. If you have any questions at all, I'd be more than happy to answer what I can!

 

Best,

Crista 

Edited February 17, 2013 by packca

[RGfellows]

Thank you so much Packa!

So far, chem 101 is pretty interesting, though it's pretty stressful for me. The only issue is I don't know if I'm struggling because I'm not suited for chem, or if it's because the course is pretty intensive. I'm taking it at Berkeley and they're known for making their intro science classes extra tough to weed out the non-pre-meds.

 

It's good to hear someone from a similar background as me who's experiencing all of this. Thank you!

[packca]

I understand completely...I did my organic chem classes at school where they were extra tough to weed out pre-meds who wouldn't cut it. It was stressful and I basically had no life as I was studying constantly. But still totally worth it!

 

Best, Crista

[UCL_Qatar]

Hi Sara

 

I hope you are well.

 

You may be interested to hear about the MSc in Conservation Studies on offer at UCL Qatar (a branch campus of University College London located in Doha, Qatar). We launched last year and currently have 32 students from 13 countries enrolled on our Master's programmes in Conservation, Museum Studies and the Archaeology of the Arab and Islamic World.

 

I have sent a message to your inbox containing more information on the MSc.

 

Best of luck in your searches!

 

Kind regards

 

Brett Kershaw

UCL Qatar

[TaraGreen89]

Hey Sara

I am a Studio Art/History undergrad in my last year of undergrad, aiming towards a Masters in conservation in a few years (once I've managed to make my way through all the Chem courses).I don't know whether or not you're looking to stay in the U.S. for conservation or not, but there are a number of good programs in the U.K. (they tend to be more specialized than U.S. programs- I don't know if that would be a pro or con for you) as well as a v. good Canadian program at Queen's University in Ontario.

Funding can be a problem when looking at schools outside of the U.S. but there are actually a surprising number of scholarships & grants available for U.S. students looking to study overseas- the rub is in finding them and fitting their often-times very specific guidelines.

T