New York City is home to New York University, which offers a graduate program in art conservation.
Art restoration--more commonly referred to by professionals in the field as "art conservation"--is a profession devoted to studying, preserving, and restoring precious works of art and other cultural materials. Professionals working in art conservation must be highly trained on the graduate level to learn how time takes its toll on works of art and reverse such damage to preserve paintings and objects for future generations to ponder and enjoy.
New York University
The Conservation Center at New York University's Institute of Fine Arts has an MA program in art history that comes with an advanced certificate in art conservation. The program takes four years to complete, with the fourth year being dedicated primarily to an internship in the field. It has the distinction of being the oldest degree-granting art conservation program in North America. Studying in New York City gives students access to world-class museums and the opportunity to interact with leading American conservationists.
New York University
Conservation Center
The Stephen Chan House
14 East 78th St.
New York, NY 10075
212-992-5868
nyu.edu/gsas/dept/fineart/academics/index.htm
Buffalo State College
The Department of Art Conservation at Buffalo State College offers a three-year program in art conservation that earns students both an MA in the field and a certificate of advanced study. The course of study includes an internship at a museum or another cultural institution selected by the student and her faculty advisor. The program at Buffalo State College uses an interdisciplinary approach, combining the study of history and art with that of science, in order to bring students up to par with the latest developments in the field of conservation.
Buffalo State College
Art Conservation Department
1300 Elmwood Ave.
Rockwell Hall 230
Buffalo, NY 14222-1095
716-878-5025
buffalostate.edu/depts/artconservation/
The Courtauld Institute
London's Courtauld Institute is one of the few universities in the world devoted solely to the study of art history and art restoration. For graduate students, it offers two programs in restoration: an MA in the conservation of wall paintings and a postgraduate diploma in the conservation of easel paintings. The MA program dates back to 1985 and has trained art conservationists from 20 countries around the world. Although these programs are based in London, students should be prepared to undertake a significant amount of travel during the completion of a degree.
The Courtauld Institute of Art
Somerset House
Strand
London WC2R 0RN
England
United Kingdom
courtauld.ac.uk/degreeprogrammes/postgraduate/walls/index.shtml
Tags: Buffalo State, Buffalo State College, State College, York University, Courtauld Institute, Conservation Center, conservation program