Career Post (#1)

The career I chose to focus on for this post was an art restorer. Art restorers assess the condition of antiques and artwork. They then decide on and implement the best methods to restore that artwork to as close to its original condition as possible. This requires knowledge of art history so that they can determine how pieces would have looked. They keep detailed records of both the original condition of the artwork and the restoration process. They also work with museums to suggest effective techniques for conservation and storage of pieces.

The majority of art restorers have bachelor's degrees, although many also have master's degrees. A degree in fine arts, especially if paired with a major or minor in art history, would be good prep for this career. The University of Mary Washington actually has a pre-conservation in fine art minor! VCU, although I couldn't find evidence of it specifically having an art restoration program, has a really good art program and is in a viable location. There are also graduate programs to become a conservator.

Picture credit: Baumgartner Fine Art Restoration (Youtube)