Programme and institute
Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage, University of Amsterdam in collaboration with Stichting Restauratie Atelier Limburg, Maastricht

Curriculum
Conservation and Restoration of Contemporary Art is a full specialization as part of the programme Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage at the University of Amsterdam. This programme is organized in collaboration with the faculties of Humanities and of Natural Sciences at the University of Amsterdam (UvA), Netherlands Institute of Cultural Heritage (RCE) in Amsterdam and the Limburg Conservation Institute (SRAL) in Maastricht. Throughout the programme, the inherent value of Dutch museums and heritage sites will be exploited, as well as the knowledge and expertise that can be obtained from the professional community and other universities and colleges. The Dutch Ministry of Education has officially accepted the Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage training programme as part of the Dutch education system, after accreditation by the Dutch-Flemish Accreditation Organization (NVAO). The programme is divided into three sections with several specializations:

• A bachelor diploma in humanities or natural sciences including the Minor Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage covering all conservation disciplines.
• Following a successful completion of the bachelor degree including the minor in conservation and restoration, selected students will continue with a two-year Master Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in one of the specializations: Contemporary Art; Paintings; Historic Interiors; Metals; Textiles; Glass and Ceramics; Wood and Furniture; Paper and Books. This will include a great deal of practical training.
• After the two-year master students have to complete the training with a two-year post-initial phase in order to become a fully educated and trained conservator. The conservator in training will be given a chance to work and learn in a conservation-training studio to their chosen area of specialization. An additional year of museum internship(s) will conclude the post-initial phase. The professional exposure and experience that students acquire during this part of the training programme will allow them to gain recognition as conservators on an international accredited level.

Special features

The University of Amsterdam offers a 7-year training program to become a fully trained conservator. As part of this programme 4 years could be dedicated to conservation of Contemporary Art. Theory and studio practice are combined in a wide range of workshops on specific conservation techniques and the use of special artist materials - from paint systems to metals, from plastics to time based arts.

The core of the program is cantered around real artworks from museum collections in the conservation studio or on site. The student will perform extensive research on the case study in order to understand the material structure, history, context and the concept of the artwork thoroughly before careful decision-making on possible conservation treatment options can be assessed. The documentation, the research, the dialogues with the different stakeholders, the decision-making as well as the actual conservation treatment itself will be carried out by the student under the guidance of professional conservators.

When dealing with contemporary art an artist interview is often necessary as part of the research and as a tool in decision-making on conservation strategies. Therefore training in the required skills and an actual artist interview are part of the curriculum. Furthermore new conservation strategies are addressed in order manage the conservation and re-installation of contemporary artworks that have a more performative character, incorporating change and interaction as inherent parts of the artwork. Think of time based media artworks, installation art, artworks made with ephemeral materials like photographs and video, or composed of immaterial matter such as smoke, warmth, sound or light.

The training programme runs parallel to classes of the other conservation disciplines and often cross-links are made, especially with the program in paintings conservation. Specific subjects will be incorporated in the program when these can be linked to (inter) national research projects, so that the students are stimulated to take part in the professional discourse in the field. Likewise participation in conferences and working groups on specific topics in contemporary art conservation is therefore highly valued.

Entry requirements

Admission to the Master programme Conservation and Restoration of Contemporary Art is granted only to those who have:

• An academic bachelors or masters degree in humanities or natural sciences (i.e. art history or chemistry)
• Successfully completed the minor in Conservation and Restoration at the University of Amsterdam or equivalent (i.e. a full BA in a conservation program abroad, to be approved of by a jury)
• Knowledge of chemistry at the highest level of secondary education, such as the Dutch VWO-graduate or equivalent, to be approved of by a jury.

On top of these formal requirements, applicants are invited to partake in an assessment. This involves submitting a portfolio, tests in manual skills and visual capabilities and an interview. On the basis of the results a jury will decide which applicants will be admitted to the master programme.

Faculty
Primarily involved in the MA programme Contemporary Art Conservation is Sanneke Stigter, art historian and conservator of contemporary art. Besides her involvement as the leading member of the teaching staff for the MA Contemporary Art Conservation, members from the professional community are invited on a regular basis to perform as guest lecturers. Among these are Ingeborg Smit (Rijksmuseum Twenthe), Lydia Beerkens (SRAL), Ysbrand Hummelen (ICN), Thea van Oosten (ICN), Louise Wijnberg (Stedelijk Museum), Pieter Keune (Reinwardt Academie), Evelyne Snijders and Cécile van Hanja. Furthermore there are a lot of cross discipline lectures and workshops with related fields in the training programme.

Professional outreach
Besides benefiting from the knowledge and expertise of members from the professional community performing as guest lecturers, students of the programme in Modern and Contemporary Art Conservation are offered a one-year internship in a conservation-training studio.

Language
Thorough knowledge of Dutch and English language required

Links
UvA Conservation training at the University of Amsterdam

UvA Minor Conservering en Restauratie Cultureel Erfgoed

UvA Master Conservering en Restauratie Cultureel Erfgoed

Contact
Drs. Suzanne Maarschalkerweerd-Dechamps is Coordinator of Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it