We want to extend a huge thanks to everyone who joined in the #AskAConservator Day fun! We loved learning about your communities.
We also want to acknowledge voices that were missing—in particular, our colleagues who were unable to participate this year due to the federal government shutdown.
How long did it take to become a conservator once you decided that was the career path for you?
It took me a decade from the time I first started pursuing conservation to finishing graduate school. During that time, I worked full-time to gain conservation experience, attended night and weekend classes, and met all the conservators I could! Ronel Namde, Associate Conservator of Photographs
From @mikaelanasia.bsky.social:
#AskAConservator
Ask a Getty Conservator. Your questions answered. A Getty conservator talks with attendees of a conservation workshop at Getty. Matted prints are on the table in front of her.
Conservators from the Getty Museum, Getty Villa, and Getty Research Institute are answering your questions for Ask a Conservator Day! 🧵
Shoutout to all the art conservators—at Getty and elsewhere. 💙
#AskAConservator
An image of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood with the face of a blonde woman wearing glasses crudely pasted over Mr. Rogers' face. The text reads "Ask a Conservator Day. Who are the people in your neighborhood: Lissa Rosenthal-Yoffe, AIC & FAIC Executive Director."
How do you work with conservators? “I think of my work as stewardship of the stewards. As conservators care for the cultural record & along with our remarkable staff, volunteers, & supporters— I care for the ecosystem that makes that care possible. It’s partnership, accompaniment, & advocacy, & making sure the field is seen, valued and supported.” - Lissa
We're NOT conservators... So why are we participating in #AskAConservator Day? Because this year we're asking "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood," featuring our interdisciplinary community.
As folks who work for a conservation organization but aren't conservators, what role do we play? [1/5]
Sure it’s Election Day, but it’s also #AskaConservator Day! Check out @conservators.bsky.social feed for ways to ask questions and learn more! AIC’s Instagram stories are especially wonderful 🥺
It’s #AskAConservator Day! 🧤
We’ve gathered questions from across the museum for our fab team working hard to care for our incredible collections.
blog.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/ask-our-cons...
Check out our latest blog post, perfect reading for #AskAConservator day!
A Head Above Water: The Conservation of a 19th-Century Wooden Figurehead 👇
commercial.yorkarchaeology.co.uk/19th-century...
#Archaeology #Conservation
For #AskAConservator Day, we’re taking you behind the scenes with @heritagecouncil.ie/NLI #conservation intern Clodagh Burns. 👩🔬✨
In this video, Clodagh shares a glimpse into the personal diaries of #MaryLeadbeater (née Shackleton, 1758–1826).
www.instagram.com/reel/DQodKv9...
a woman in a white coat, mask and gloves dusting a fossil box with a brush; beneath the glass of the box some kind of fossilised skeleton is just visible
a woman in a white lab coat, mask and gloves dusting a conical shaped microscope box. The antique microscope is sitting next to the box on the desk
a woman looking through a modern microscope at a slide
Having the opportunity to do a student placement is such a great way to learn & connect with people, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the field. It’s inspiring to see how collaboration, theory, and practice come together to care for collections & cultural heritage every day #AskAConservator
Senior conservator Ginny Jassal (on stepladder) and conservation intern Jasmine Pike (with pincer tool) hanging a red and white crochet scarf on a taxidermy giraffe in RAMM's Case Histories gallery
A woman on a stepladder photographed from behind, hanging a crochet red and white scarf on a statue of Prince Albert recessed into a bright pink wall
Senior conservator Ginny Jassal, curator Holly Morgenroth and conservation intern Jasmine Pike standing in front of a taxidermy giraffe, smiling. There is a red and white scarf around the giraffe's neck.
a taxidermy African elephant with long white tusks, and a circular crochet red and white blanket on its back. Two woman are using a pincer tool to move the blanket into place
RAMM participated in the nationwide Red Roses yarn art to celebrate the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025. RAMM and Exeter Guildhall were decorated in white and red yarn art. The Prince Albert statue, Gerald the giraffe and the elephant were kept warm with scarves and a blanket. #AskAConservator
a circular plant fibre mat with zigzag pattern and a dyed green circle in the centre. The edges of the mat are curling up.
a circular fibre mat with a zig zag pattern, with a piece of clear plastic on it, and small, fabric pouches filled with weighted material laying on top
a circular plant fibre mat with zigzag pattern and a dyed green circle in the centre. The edges of the mat are no curling up and are now lying flat
This plant fibre mat was displayed in our recent Food exhibition. We wanted to show it flat as it would have been used originally, but the edges were curled due to being rolled up in the past. How do you get something to lie flat again? With gentle, controlled humidity & weights ⚖️ #AskAConservator
a man kneeling next to a heron taxidermy on a plinth while a woman in a blue lab coat holds its neck. They are both wearing gloves.
We work with our technical team to ensure that our objects are displayed safely & looking their best. For Wild, this heron required a new base. This was a delicate task as the wire armature in the feet of the heron needed to be threaded through the new wooden base & secured in place #AskAConservator
a penguin taxidermy on a piece of Styrofoam inside a reinforced cardboard box
some geode samples in a cardboard box, sitting in cut out holes in a piece of styrofoam
Objects from RAMM’s collections are currently touring the country as part of an exhibition about colour @tulliecarlisle.bsky.social - To ensure they're not damaged during transport we make bespoke packaging for each object to keep them safe and protected on their long journey. #AskAConservator 🐧
a conservator in white coat and mask on a stepladder, using a vacuum cleaner and brush on a taxidermy giraffe - a taxidermy elephant is also visible
a conservator in white coat and mask, and blue gloves, using a vacuum cleaner on an ornate antique piano/harpsichord style instrument
Dust accumulates not only on our famous giraffe Gerald, but all other items on open display. It's abrasive & can damage objects by attracting moisture/pests. That’s why we regularly remove dust from objects with a brush & vacuum. We use a mask, gloves & lab coat to protect ourselves #AskAConservator
📅 Tomorrow (4th Nov) is #AskAConservator Day!
Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes to preserve our collections? This annual event is your chance to ask all your conservation-related questions! 🧤📚✨
💬 Drop your questions about #conservation in the comments below!
Tomorrow (November 4th) is #AskAConservator day. Reply with your conservation questions or use the #
Ask a conservator day was created to remember the flooding of Florence in 1966, which damaged priceless cultural heritage, and the incredible efforts made to conserve the items impacted.
A Conservator cleaning the books and historic interior in Cosin’s Library using a soft, dry brush and a museum backpack vacuum on a low suction to remove the surface dirt.
Friday 7 November our Conservation team will be running an annual takeover of our social media for #AskAConservator day! Conservators around the world will be discussing their work and sharing how they care for collections. Ask us questions and follow the hashtag to see who else is participating.
A Getty conservator works on a wall mural at the Getty Villa after the 2025 Palisades Fire. They are standing on a step stool, surrounded by various tools, with their arm raised up to the wall.
What do conservators do all day? How do you become a conservator? 🤔
Conservators from the Getty Museum, Getty Villa, & Getty Research Institute are ready to answer your questions for #AskAConservator Day!
What would you like to know!?
#AskAConservator Day is 2 weeks away! Join in the fun as we ask conservators "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?" Conservators will answer questions & spotlight colleagues who bring all kinds of expertise to the care of cultural heritage. Learn more: culturalheritage.org/ask-a-conservator-day
A tall boy can of circa 2012 Arizona Lemon Fizz beverage with the youthful black and white headshot of a blond Richard Prince scowling over his superimposed signature sits in a stainless steel sink because it might have leaked after all these years in the cabinet in what I thought was fairly stable environmental conditions
#askaconservator should I have been draining these Richard Prince AriZona Lemon Fizz Beverage (2012) cans all along?
How do YouTube shorts port over? Want to learn how UCLA Libraries preserve wet books? #AskAConservator
youtube.com/shorts/-5IcO...
Now I am just pondering the point of cross-posting links that can't display previews from the "other" places. Considering preserving my sanity at this moment.
But really, if you want #AskAConservator Day content, it is out there! Especially on Instagram which is terrible to search through.
The Isabella Stewart Gardener Museum staff telling us their hardest materials to conserve for #AskAConservator Day
www.facebook.com/reel/8598753...
UCalgary showing off some of their preservation and digitization work for #AskAConservator Day
x.com/UCalgaryLibr...
Historic Greenwood Cemetery talking about getting into conservation for #AskAConservator Day
www.instagram.com/reel/DB2BN80...
Since it appears that #AskAConservator doesn't have the momentum over here, let me bring over some of my favorites from...other places.
Begining with "A Day in the Life of a Paintings Conservator" from The Getty Museum
x.com/GettyMuseum/...
I am thrilled for the 1st of November! 🥰
Today, not only do I have the joy of joining art conservators throughout the world to celebrate #AskAConservator while working on a special artifact, I am also working as an interpreter for Election Day #Vote .
Happy to be able to use my good to do good. 🫶
