So You Want To Be a Textile Conservator?
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 this special field of art conservation. A great place to start is the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) website.
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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 • Clear, descriptive writing skills • Patience, concentration, and curiosity |
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.
Graduate Training Programs
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 textile conservation, including two that have been training textile conservators in the US since the 1980s:
Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC. MA in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI. MS in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
Fashion Institute of Technology, NYC. MA in Fashion and Textile Studies: History, Theory, Museum Practice
University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI. MS in Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design
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If you are contemplating a degree or certificate program to prepare you for a career in textile conservation, you should familiarize yourself with the following programs. 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.
University of Glasgow, MPhil in Textile Conservation University of Delaware, MS in Art Conservation SUNY-Buffalo, MA and CAS in Art Conservation Queen's University, MAC in Art Conservation |
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UCLA, MA in Conservation of Archaeological and Ethnographic Materials
New York University, MA and Advanced Certificate in Conservation of Works of Art
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
New York University, MA and Advanced Certificate in Conservation of Works of Art
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
Undergraduate Programs
University of Delaware, Art Conservation
Scripps College, Art Conservation
New Mexico State University, Art Department
Fleming College, Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management
Algonquin College, Applied Museum Studies
University of Alberta, Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture
Scripps College, Art Conservation
New Mexico State University, Art Department
Fleming College, Cultural Heritage Conservation and Management
Algonquin College, Applied Museum Studies
University of Alberta, Clothing, Textiles and Material Culture
Related Fields of Study
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Harvard University Extension School, MLA in Extension Studies, Museum Studies
Tufts University, Certificate program and MA in Art History & Museum Studies or History & Museum Studies California State University Long Beach online certificate program in Collections Management for Costume and Textiles University of Nebraska-Lincoln, MA, MS and PhD in Textiles, Merchandising and Fashion Design University of Texas-Austin, MS in Textile and Apparel Technology University of New Hampshire, MA in History: Museum Studies University of Alberta, MA in Material Culture The George Washington University, MA in Museum Studies 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 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, MA in 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
National Park Service, Managing Archaeological Collections
West Dean College, England, Continuing Professional Development Courses
International Institute for Restoration and Conservation Studies, San Gemini Preservation Studies Summer Field School
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Museum Studies
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
National Park Service, Managing Archaeological Collections
West Dean College, England, Continuing Professional Development Courses
International Institute for Restoration and Conservation Studies, San Gemini Preservation Studies Summer Field School
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Museum Studies
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.
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.
International Programs
If you are not in the US, Canada or the UK, you should contact a major museum in your area and ask about careers in textile conservation. Some non-English-speaking training programs include:
Abegg-Stiftung, MA in Conservation-Restoration specializing in Textiles, SACI-Florence Post-Bac in Conservation; Estonian Academy of Arts; University of Amsterdam; Artesis hogeschool Antwerpen Belgium; Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany; University of the Arts Bern, Switzerland; Technological Educational Institute, Greece; Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Universidade Católica Operto, and Instituto Politecnico de Tomar, Portugal; Department of Conservation Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University, Egypt; Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest; Metropolia University of Applied Science, Helsinki, Finland; Consevation Institute "Yachay Wasi," Lima, Peru; Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogota; National School of Conservation, Restoration, and Museology “Manuel Castillo Negrete,” Mexico City; Berner Fachhochschule, Switzerland; University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Please contact Camille Breeze if you have something to add to one of these lists.
Abegg-Stiftung, MA in Conservation-Restoration specializing in Textiles, SACI-Florence Post-Bac in Conservation; Estonian Academy of Arts; University of Amsterdam; Artesis hogeschool Antwerpen Belgium; Cologne University of Applied Sciences, Germany; University of the Arts Bern, Switzerland; Technological Educational Institute, Greece; Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Universidade Católica Operto, and Instituto Politecnico de Tomar, Portugal; Department of Conservation Faculty of Archeology, Cairo University, Egypt; Hungarian University of Fine Arts, Budapest; Metropolia University of Applied Science, Helsinki, Finland; Consevation Institute "Yachay Wasi," Lima, Peru; Universidad Externado de Colombia, Bogota; National School of Conservation, Restoration, and Museology “Manuel Castillo Negrete,” Mexico City; Berner Fachhochschule, Switzerland; University of Applied Arts Vienna.
Please contact Camille Breeze if you have something to add to one of these lists.