Are you passionate about art? Fine art restoration involves repairing any damage to old and worn artwork. If you have extensive skills, you can work as an excellent art restorer where you will be responsible for sculptures, ceramics, textiles, murals, and paintings.
It is important for some antiques to remain unrestored. Therefore, you must be highly skilled in dealing with such cases and have knowledge about what to do with each item. Even still, finding a job in the art restoration industry can be difficult.
Your job as an art restorer will be trying to bring out the original idea intended by the artist. This job requires technical skills in a wide variety of art styles. Here is an ultimate guide on how to work in art restoration.
Fine Art Job Prospects
The art restoration sector provides different job opportunities that pay good money if you are qualified and good at what you do. Art restoration and conservation involves the same objective but require a different approach.
In the art restoration sector, you will work in galleries and museums. Additionally, your job will include cleaning paintings, repairing any broken ceramics, restoring mosaics, and murals. In the art conservation sector, your role involves working in a museum together with other full-time staff responsible for the collection of artwork.
Both of these jobs require devoted personnel with keenness and passion for art.
Education Qualifications
The technological revolution has contributed to advanced tools and equipment used in art restoration and conservation. Previously you were only required to master the tools of the trade to qualify for the job. However, this is not the case now. You need to attend university to be trained and equipped with essential skills to handle different advanced tools.
If you are interested in working as an art restorer or conserver, you must have skills to handle different equipment and have extensive knowledge of cutting edge techniques. Many certified universities are offer art conservation programs where you will be equipped with skills you will need on the job.
Before jumping into a restoration project, you must have acquired skills as an apprentice. You will be assigned a master that will guide you and explain the basics of the job after graduation. An apprenticeship goes for about two years.
Duties And Responsibilities
An art restoration job involves artwork preservation. Ultimately, it is your job to ensure that you do not alter the intended message of the artwork. Further, you may have to collaborate with scientists and other departments to handle complex projects.
You have to be a team player to share ideas and be able to advise curators and other staff on technical issues. It’s your role to examine and identify various ways to treat artwork. You have to develop new standards for restoring, handling, packing, storing, and shipping artwork.
Artifacts are delicate. Therefore, art should always be handled with care as they are meant to last for the years to come. You must ensure all set development and maintenance standards are adhered to in order to protect fine art for a long time.
Working as an art restorer means you have to be creative, precise and have mastered art skills that help you preserve the intended message by the original artist. This job can either be part-time or full time, depending on the signed contract with the employer.
Average Salary
The average salary for working as an art restorer varies with the country and where you are employed. However, the median annual wage is approximately $72,740 annually, which is equivalent it $34.97 per hour. Working in art restoration is not very demanding. However, make sure you understand your role fully.
Bottom Line
With advanced technology, job opportunities in the art restoration sector have increased and become more comfortable. Lastly, securing a job in art restoration is feasible when you have a degree related to art. Additionally, it will help if you have gone through apprenticeship.
