Art Conservation

Treatment Streams

M.A.C.

Art conservation is an exciting and challenging multidisciplinary field involving the examination, interpretation, analysis and conservation of cultural, historic and artistic objects. Professional conservators must rely on their knowledge of both the humanities and the sciences to understand the creation and production of material culture in past and present contexts and to ensure its preservation for the future. Queen’s University offers Canada’s only art conservation Master's degree program.

Students may specialize in one of the three following options: the treatment of artifacts, painting, or paper, leading to a career in conservation practice.

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"My time in the MAC program was wonderful. There is a great family atmosphere and the professors and staff are incredibly helpful and supportive. The education I received at Queen's has definitely put me ahead of the crowd in terms of pursuing jobs, and no matter where I am working in the heritage field I have my Queen’s MAC education as my foundation for success."

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Degrees Offered/Length of Program

Master of Art Conservation (M.A.C.): Two years

Method of Completion

Treatment Stream: Four terms of theoretical and practical study on campus, advanced lecture courses, lab work in conservation of heritage objects, research project, two 12-week off-campus summer internships both domestically and overseas.

Students in the Treatment stream must choose one specialty at the time of application:

• Conservation of paintings
• Conservation of artifacts
• Conservation of paper objects.

Cross Disciplinary Aspects

Students in treatment streams may have opportunities to work with humanities, science and engineering departments at Queen's and undertake projects with museums, galleries, archives, the Canadian Conservation Institute and corporate partners.

Travel Opportunities

Treatment stream students are required to complete two 12-week summer internships which may take place anywhere in the world. 

Supervisors

Initial contact should be made with the department’s graduate assistant (artcon@queensu.ca) before getting in touch with a potential supervisor. 

• Barbara Klempan, Associate Professor, Paintings Conservation. klempanb@queensu.ca

• John O'Neill, Associate Professor, Paper Conservation. oneillj@queensu.ca

• Alison Murray, Associate Professor, Conservation Science. alison.murray@queensu.ca

• Krysia Spirydowicz, Associate Professor, Artifacts Conservation. spirydow@queensu.ca

Employment Opportunities

Graduates from the treatment streams go on to careers in conservation laboratories in art galleries, museums, archives or independent conservation studios.

Funding Information

Funding is available through Queen’s Graduate Awards and other internal awards. Some students may qualify for teaching assistantships in their second year. Students are encouraged to apply for external funding such as NSERC, SSHRC and OGS. Entering graduate students who win federal government tri-council awards are automatically provided a $5,000 top-up award by Queen’s.

Academic Prerequisites

• Four-year Honours bachelor degree in humanities, sciences or engineering with upper second-class standing (or equivalent).
• One full-year, post-secondary course in fine art studio or workshop practice (or equivalent)
• Three terms of chemistry at the University level, including at least one-term of organic chemistry. All courses preferably with a laboratory component.
• Applicants with an undergraduate degree in the humanities must have a minimum of five full-year courses in art history, ethnology, archaeology, or equivalent.
• Applicants with a science or engineering undergraduate degree must have a minimum of two full-year courses in art history, ethnology, archaeology, or equivalent. 

Other Requirements

• Good visual sensitivity and manual skills
• Experience in conservation is highly recommended.
• For international students, if required, a minimum TOEFL total score of 600 (paper-based) or TOEFL iBT minimum scores of: writing (24/30); speaking (22/30); reading (22/30); listening (20/30), for a total of 88/120.

Applicants offered an admissions interview will be required to present a portfolio of their work.