A cross-collection initiative dedicated to organizing professional development opportunities & fostering community among emerging professionals in conservation and preservation spaces across Yale.
Careers in conservation and preservation require time-intensive training and advanced degrees.
The committee is made up of representatives from the Yale University Art Gallery, Yale Center for British Art, Yale Peabody Museum, Yale University Library, and the Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage.
Emerging conservation professionals are embedded across five cultural heritage units at Yale and are generally referred to as “trainees.” Program type, titles, and time at Yale vary, but all are working to gain the skills and expertise needed to advance in the field.
The Educational Opportunities in Conservation Committee ensures all trainees have access to professional development opportunities and a chance to take advantage of all Yale has to offer emerging professionals.
Trainees visit the newly renovated Yale Center for British Art shortly after its reopening in 2025.
Program Highlights from 2025
Making connections across institutions
A group of conservation and curatorial fellows from Harvard joined Yale’s cohort of conservation trainees for a tour of Yale’s Collection Studies Center in February 2025.
The tour strengthened professional networks and enhanced resource sharing between the institutions. The visit underscored the importance of cross-institutional engagement to advance the cultural heritage field.
Visiting conservation labs across Yale
Tours are organized for trainees to visit new spaces and meet staff across Yale.
Tour locations included the paper conservation lab at the Yale Center for British Art, the Yale University Library’s Gates Lab, and the heritage science labs at the Institute for the Preservation of Cultural Heritage on Yale’s West Campus.
Gaining presentation skills & experience
Trainees presented at the 2nd Annual Forum for Emerging Conservation Professionals at Yale, held at the Yale University Art Gallery in April 2025.
Presenters shared their projects and reflected on learnings during the past year to gain experience presenting and discussing their work.
Learn More
View resources from the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) about becoming a conservator.
Email ipch@yale.edu with Educational Opportunities in Conservation in the Subject Line.
