Museum and Organizational Links
Preservation and Conservation Information
BCIN
The Bibliographic Database of the Conservation Information
Network is the world's largest on-line resource for preservation and
conservation information.
ICOMOS
UNESCO ICOMOS (International Council on Monuments and Sites)
database of conservation articles and information.
American Institute for Conservation of
Historic and Artistic Works
AIC is the professional organization of conservators in the
United States. Their site provides extensive information about the
conservation profession.
Heritage Preservation
The mission of Heritage Preservation is to promote proper care of
collections, including architecture. They provide helpful information, as
well as administer grant programs for preservation planning of museums and
not-for-profit institutions.
Smithsonian Center for Materials
Research and Education
Formerly the Conservation Analytical Laboratory, SCMRE's web site
provides information about the care of collections, as well as about educational
opportunities that they offer, including the reading lists for their suspended
Furniture Conservation Training Program.
Grants for Preservation and Conservation
Institute of Museum and Library Services
IMLS (federal) provides grants to museums and not-for-profits that allow
preservation and conservation of collections. Their Conservation Project
Support Grant (CP Grant) may be the most important avenue for conservation
funding available in the United States today. They provide the funding for
the Conservation Assessment Program (CAP - administered by Heritage
Preservation) and the Museum Assessment Program (MAP - administered by the
American Association of Museums).
National Endowment for the Humanities
NEH (federal) provides extensive funding of cultural activities. Of
particular interest are the Preservation Assistance Grants (PAG), which are
non-match grants of up to $5,000, Grants to Preserve and Create Access to
Humanities Collections, a matching grant with awards up to $1,000,000, and
Stabilization of Humanities Collections Grants, a matching grant with awards up
to $700,000.
National Endowment for the Arts
NEA expends most of its resources on fostering craft and artistic traditions,
and the modern production of such works. However, they do offer limited
funding of historic objects/art deemed highly significant through their Heritage
and Preservation grant.
Getty Trust
The Getty offers two grant programs of interest, Museum Conservation Grants, and
Architectural Conservation Grants. Applicants submit a letter of interest
with relevant details to determine if the project is eligible, and are then
invited to submit a full application.
Save America’s Treasures
This program is
designed for
preservation of nationally significant collections and buildings. However,
it is not only relevant for blockbuster objects, but also for collections of
less significant individual objects that in the composite represent a nationally
significant resource. If, for example, you have the most complete group of
historic furniture made in your region, you can argue national significance for
your collection. You have the best research resource for these objects in
the country. These grants are up to $1,000,000, so the effort to apply can
be richly rewarded.
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