Preventive Conservation Preventive

Preventive Conservation

Preventive conservation is an important segment of our master's-level first-year curriculum. It is the focus of the first and last block of the year and is included as a foundational parameter in all other blocks.

The following topics are addressed: environmental conditions and management; light; building systems; packing, shipping, exhibition and storage; integrated pest management and housekeeping; emergency preparedness, mitigation and response; surveys and assessments; monitoring, reporting and communication.

Since 2002 it has been possible for students to minor in preventive conservation during their second year of study. This is achieved through and independent research project, participation in Winterthur’s Preventive Conservation Team, seminars and field trips, and a summer work project that is, in part, focused on preventive conservation and collections care.

2016 saw WUDPAC's commitment to offer preventive conservation as a major area of study. This development now makes it possible for students to select preventive conservation as a primary focus. The major guides students through the development of technical, soft, and research skills necessary to lead institutions large and small in the preventive care of their collections.

Joelle Wickens and William Donnelly supervise this area of the curriculum.

Preventive Conservation Resources 

WUDPAC Preventive Conservation Course Syllabi 

• Fall (PDF) 

• Spring (PDF) 

Preventive Conservation Student Projects

Preventive Conservation Bibliography

Key Online Resources for Preventive Conservation  

• AIC Preventive Conservation Wiki http://www.conservation-wiki.com/wiki/Preventive_Care  

• Connecting to Collections Care Online Community  https://www.connectingtocollections.org/ 

• The Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI) https://www.canada.ca/en/conservation-institute.html  

• Lights, Camera, (Preventive) Action! Careers in Preventive Conservation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qu74jkp8M9s#action=share 

• STASHc: Storage Techniques for Art, Science, and History http://stashc.com/  

• National Park Service Conserve O Grams https://www.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/cons_toc.html

​The Department of Art Conservation at the University of Delaware is a member of the Resources for Emergencies Affecting Cultural Heritage (REACH) working group and proud partners with the American Institute for Conservation - Emergency Committee (AIC-EC). REACH and AIC-EC joined forces with the goal of creating and disseminating trusted resources on emergency management for cultural heritage institutions. The culmination of this collaboration is the AIC Emergency Committee Library, which is now available to the public. This library is an open-access resource hub literature, research, tools, forms, and templates on emergency management. The AIC Emergency Committee maintains this resources library and welcomes feedback or suggestions for additions. To make a comment or suggest a resources, please email the committee at AIC.EC.Wiki@gmail.com. ​