Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. "Learning to Look" workshops in conjunction with the February 2026 annual meeting of the CAA 2. Job Opportunity - Book/Paper Conservator. Oxford Conservation Consortium 3. Reconditioning APS Silica Gel Sachets 4. Summer Graduate Internships at the New York Public Library 5. Open Postdoctoral Position – Hyperspectral Imaging in Heritage Science (TUM insiTUMlab) 6. Job opportunity - Assistant Conservator, Hampshire County Council, Winchester, UK 7. Reminder Paid Summer Internship - Kimbell Art Museum 8. Pastel Portrait Painting's Artist/ Provenance - Input Needed ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: Rebecca Rushfield Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 7:24 AM Subject: "Learning to Look" workshops in conjunction with the February 2026 annual meeting of the CAA Message: Each year since 2002, the American Institute for Conservation has organized "Learning to Look" workshops in conjunction with the annual meeting of the College Art Association. The workshops, which are held offsite in a museum in the meeting's host city, bring together art historians, curators, artists, and conservators for a focused study of the material properties of one group or type of objects in the physical presence of those objects. 2026 marks the sixth year that curators and conservators from the Art Institute of Chicago will lead workshops. There will be two workshops: In the Conservation Studio with the Dutch and Flemish 17th-Century Collection Catalogue, led by Jacquelyn N. Coutré , Eleanor Wood Prince Curator; Annie Correll, Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Curatorial Fellow; and Gerrit Albertson, Associate Paintings Conservator. Thursday February 19, 2026 from 12:30- 2:00pm. Claire Ziesler's Forms From Fiber, led by Melinda Watt, Chair and Christa C. Mayer Thurman Curtor of Textiles; Isaac Facio, Associate Textiles Conservator; and Megan Creamer, Assistant Textiles conservator. Friday, February 20, 2026 from 12:30pm- 2:00pm Registration for each workshop is limited to 12 people. One does not have to be registered for the CAA meeting to participate in a workshop. To register, please contact Rebecca Rushfield at [email protected] and specify in which workshop you wish to participate. ------------------------------ Rebecca Rushfield Conservation Consultant Freelance/Private Practice/Self-employed/Independent Flushing NY ------------------------------ 2.From: Celia Bockmuehl Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 7:25 AM Subject: Job Opportunity - Book/Paper Conservator. Oxford Conservation Consortium Message: Job Opportunity - Book/Paper Conservator. Oxford Conservation Consortium, UKdate posted: 22 January 2026. closing date: 16 February 2026Oxford Conservation Consortium (OCC) has a job opportunity for a conservator of book and paper materials wishing to pursue their career in a busy conservation studio, gain exposure to a broad range of collections, tasks, and techniques, and participate in the dynamic conservation community working in Oxford's world class collections. OCC provides collection care to 17 members, all colleges of the University of Oxford with library, archive, and picture collections of international importance. The postholder will join a team of seven conservators to assist with the delivery of conservation and preservation work programmes, including carrying out interventive treatments on a wide range of book/archive objects, as well as preservation activities and exhibitions involvement. OCC is committed to maintaining a working, learning and social environment in which the rights and dignity of all staff, students and visitors are respected. We welcome applications from individuals from all backgrounds, including those under-represented within higher education. Recruitment, and progression within employment, will be determined according to personal merit and the duties and requirements of the post. In all cases, the ability to perform the job will be the primary consideration. Contract type: One-year fixed term, full time (with possible extension). Salary: 30,378 35,608 commensurate with experience, plus the Oxford Location Allowance, 1,730 per annum. Closing date: 12.00 noon, Monday 16th February 2026. Further details and application form can be found at https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/job-vacancies/ <https://www.magd.ox.ac.uk/job-vacancies/> 3.From: Emily Cummins Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 12:02 PM Subject: Reconditioning APS Silica Gel Sachets Message: Hello all, I am hoping to recondition some Art Preservation Services brand silica gel sachets. Ideally, I would like to perform reconditioning via heat application. However, I have not been able to source a calibration chart for this brand/type of sachet. Does anyone have a calibration chart they could share with me, that associates sachet weights to RH ranges? Also interested if anyone has any tips and tricks they could share about reconditioning silica sachets, particularly via heat application. Thanks in advance for any advice and information! ------------------------------ Emily Cummins Associate Conservator (Objects) Toledo Museum of Art Toledo United States ------------------------------ 4.From: Mary Oey Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 12:02 PM Subject: Summer Graduate Internships at the New York Public Library Message: Made possible by a generous grant from the Leon Levy Foundation, the Conservation Division of the New York Public Library (NYPL) is pleased to announce two 2026 summer internship openings in Book, Paper, or Photographic Materials. The internships are open to current conservation graduate students or students who will have just completed their final year of conservation school by this summer. The summer graduate internships provide the opportunity to collaborate, learn, contribute to, and work in a vibrant and full conservation lab that supports the varied, unique, and immense collections of NYPL's three research centers. In addition, interns author an NYPL blogpost <https://www.nypl.org/blog/all?subject=807&page=1> and also have the opportunity to collaborate with dedicated professional staff to contribute to the Library's social media platforms. NYPL's centralized conservation lab is located in Long Island City, Queens, in New York City. The staff of the Conservation Division consists of a team of conservators and technicians specializing in bound, flat, and photographic materials and we regularly create paid opportunities at all student levels of conservation training: pre-program; program; and post-graduate. The 2026 summer interns can expect each other, of course, as well as pre-program students and post-graduate fellows to be part of the lab staff this summer. Each internship will be supervised by the senior conservator of the appropriate specialty. To apply, please send your resume and a brief letter describing what kinds of treatment projects you'd be interested to pursue to: [email protected] <[email protected]> To learn more about NYPL's three research centers and special collections, please visit https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions <https://www.nypl.org/about/divisions> Compensation: $25/hr Location: New York City (Long Island City, NY) Duration: 8 consecutive weeks between June and August 2026 (some flexibility in which 8 weeks is possible) Application Deadline: February 9, 2026 Please note: (1) Applicants must hold U.S. work authorization as the internship is a term employment position. (2) Visas sponsored by another institution cannot be transferred to NYPL. ------------------------------ Mary Oey Shelby White and Leon Levy Associate Director of Conservation New York Public Library New York NY [email protected] ------------------------------ 5.From: Eva Angelin Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 12:03 PM Subject: Open Postdoctoral Position – Hyperspectral Imaging in Heritage Science (TUM insiTUMlab) Message: The Technical University of Munich (TUM) – Chair of Conservation-Restoration, Art Technology and Conservation Science – is seeking a Postdoctoral Researcher (TV-L E13, 100%) to join the insiTUMlab, a DFG-funded Core Facility dedicated to non-destructive, in-situ analysis of cultural heritage. The successful candidate will develop and apply Hyperspectral Imaging (HSI) methodologies and data analysis workflows for the investigation of cultural heritage objects and architectural surfaces. 📎 Please find the detailed job advertisement attached. 🔗 More information about the insiTUMlab: https://www.arc.ed.tum.de/rkk/forschung/insitumlab/ <https://www.arc.ed.tum.de/rkk/forschung/insitumlab/> 💶 Salary: approx. €4,600–€6,500 gross/month, depending on experience (TV-L E13 scale). 📅 Application deadline: 31 January 2026 For inquiries and applications, please contact: Dr. Clarimma Sessa Head of insiTUMlab, Technical University of Munich 📧 [email protected] <[email protected]> ------------------------------ --- Prof. Dr. Eva Mariasole Angelin Tenure Track Assistant Professor Technische Universität München / Technical University of Munich TUM School of Engineering and Design Professorship in Conservation of Architectural Surfaces Oettingenstr. 15 80538 München Tel. +49 (89) 21124 567 Mobil +49 15750725407 [email protected] www.arc.ed.tum.de/cs ------------------------------ 6.From: Frances Lunn Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 12:03 PM Subject: Job opportunity - Assistant Conservator, Hampshire County Council, Winchester, UK Message: Assistant Conservator Members of the list may be interested in the following vacancy for a qualified archive or paper conservator to join the small conservation team at Hampshire Archives and develop their skills through the preservation and conservation of a range of archive materials. Hampshire Archives has recently secured external funding to conserve, digitise and re-package some of Winchester Cathedral's medieval parchment rolls many of which are in a very fragile condition. In this role, you will help with some of the day-to-day conservation tasks, allowing the Conservator to focus on conservation of the Cathedral rolls. However, you will also have training in parchment conservation and participate in the rolls project alongside your other duties. This 12-month contract provides an excellent chance for a recently qualified or early career conservator, or someone returning to conservation after a break, to gain hands on experience working in a busy record office. Job Details Job Reference: HCC623067 Salary Range: £27,780- £30,564 pro-rata, per annum (actual salary £13,515 - £14,869 per annum) Work Location: Hampshire Record Office, Winchester Hours per week: 18 Contract Type: Temporary (12 months) Closing Date: 13 February 2026 Interview Date: 23 February 2026 For more details about the role, please click here: Assistant Conservator HCC623067 <https://protect.checkpoint.com/v2/r06/___https:/careers.newjob.org.uk/HCC/job/Winchester-Assistant-Conservator-HAM/1285853301/___.ZXV3MjpoY2Nwcm9kOmM6bzozZDZlNGI0MTYzNmFkMzgzYTNlZTMyOTc5OGM3OTY1OTo3OjE2YzQ6YTQ4NzcwMTliNzdiZjJmNmNkMGNmNGE4Njg4MGUwMzRmODBjNTI0OTBiNmMxOWQzN2M3ZWQwNzViMWRjY2RhOTpoOkY6Rg> ------------------------------ Frances Lunn Conservator Hampshire Archives Winchester United Kingdom ------------------------------ 7.From: Peter Van de Moortel Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 12:03 PM Subject: Reminder Paid Summer Internship - Kimbell Art Museum Message: A reminder that applications for the internship at the Kimbell Art Museum close on February 6, 2026. ---- The Kimbell Art Museum is pleased to offer one paid internship in the conservation department to a graduate student, specializing in the conservation of easel paintings. This opportunity is generously supported by the Samuel H. Kress Foundation. Candidates must be enrolled in a recognized conservation training program at the moment of application and be authorized to work in the U.S. The Kimbell internship program is designed to mentor future museum professionals from diverse cultural, economic, social, and educational backgrounds. The internship in conservation will consist of researching and undertaking the treatment of an old master painting. This will happen under supervision of Kimbell Art Museum conservation staff. Summer Internship Program Cycle Session Dates June 1-August 15 (approximately 370 hours) Application Open December 12 Application Close February 6 Pay Rate: $21.00 per hour Additionally, the intern will receive a $3,000.00 relocation stipend and a reimbursement up to $1,500.00 towards a domestic study trip. The application requires: · Resume describing relevant experiences · Cover letter · Contact information for two professional and two personal references Applicants must be able to pass a standard pre-employment criminal background and drug screening. Applications can be submitted through the museum's online portal ( https://kimbellart.org/internships <https://kimbellart.org/internships> ) Please refer to the posting on the museum's website for more information. To request an accommodation, or if you prefer to complete the application in an alternative format, or if you have additional questions about this opportunity, please contact [email protected] <[email protected]>. Required documents can be emailed to [email protected] <[email protected]>. ------------------------------ Peter Van de Moortel Chief Conservator Kimbell Art Museum Fort Worth United States ------------------------------ ------------------------------ Peter Van de Moortel Chief Conservator Kimbell Art Museum Ft Worth United States ------------------------------ 8.From: Valeria Orlandini Posted: Thursday January 22, 2026 2:35 PM Subject: Pastel Portrait Painting's Artist/ Provenance - Input Needed Message: Dear colleagues, I treated a pastel painting with mold and would like to have information about the artist. It's a portrait of a "Young Lady" executed on laid blue paper support lined onto a linen canvas attached to a wooden strainer. The pastel was under a glass and inside in an ornate gilded frame in very bad condition. Both the artwork and the frame were stabilized to protect it from further damages. This painting belongs to a private client who inherited this object without its proper provenance. It's likely that the artwork was purchased in Paris, France and then brought to the US. There is a wooden backing board on the reverse of the frame and has an inscription that it's not legible. There are only fragments, this laid paper support is very fragile and in poor condition. Am not certain if this painting is from the (early) 18th century or is in a 19th century French Rococo revival style or something else. Attached find several images for your review. From examining the backs and bottoms of countless works of art, I would argue that the most common preservation mistake artists make is not properly marking their work. Every piece should have the artist's name, the title of the artwork, the date, signature and the place of creation clearly printed (somewhere on it) in block letters. I contacted Dr. Thea Burns, Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Art History and Art Conservation Program, Queen's University, in Kingston, Canada. Thea has researched extensively on pastels, blue paper and other topics and was very helpful in addressing the possible ways to identify the artist and dating. She encouraged me to contact Neil Jeffares in England to inquire about this pastel and introduced me to this wonderful resource/ website. Pastels & pastellists: The Dictionary of pastellists before 1800 <http://www.pastellists.com/> Neil Jeffares London, United Kingdom Website www.pastellists.com <http://www.pastellists.com/> Twitter http://twitter.com/neiljeffares <http://twitter.com/neiljeffares> Hope that you might recognize the artist and possibly find other artworks by this same artist, such as drawings and oil paintings of a woman with a turban or an Odalisque - "L'Odalisque" commonly seen in French Rococo style. The pastel painting is very delicate and beautiful thus deserving this stabilization treatment. It was framed without the original wooden backing board (verso) after treatment to prevent further fungal attack. Please, I'd greatly appreciate any further information and guidance. Many thanks in advance for your time and kind attention. Valeria email: <[email protected]> References: Thea Burns,The invention of pastel painting. Archetype Publications, London, 2007. ISBN 978-1904982128 Thea Burns,The art of the pastel. Abbeville Press <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbeville_Press>, 2015. (With Philippe Saunier) (Translated by Elizabeth Heard) ISBN 978-0789212405 Thea Burns, The Overlooked History of a Drawing, Printing and Writing Material 1400-1600 (2025) ISBN 978-1904982128 Blue paper : the overlooked history of a drawing, printing and writing material 1400-1600 <https://librarysearch.northumbria.ac.uk/primo-explore/fulldisplay/44UON_ALMA21207626930003181/northumbria> Drawing on Blue: European Drawings on Blue Paper, 1400s–1700s By Edina Adam Michelle Sullivan, eds., with the assistance of Alec Aldrich with essays by the following authors Mari-Tere Álvarez Thea Burns Marie-Noëlle Grison Camilla Pietrabissa Leila Sauvage Michelle Sullivan Copyright Date: 2024 Blue paper - Wikipedia <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_paper> <http://www.pastellists.com/> ------------------------------ Valeria Orlandini Conservator of Works on Paper and Photographic Materials Chevy Chase MD (301) 657-2682 ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. 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