Art conservation work is highly specialized.
If you don't find the answer you're looking for below, contact us!
If you don't find the answer you're looking for below, contact us!
An example of work before and after treatment, in this case, a painting by Bell Baranceanu titled Mission Hills.
How do I go about having AN Artwork or artifact treated?
Visit our "Getting Started" page, and email us the information we ask for there. If you have questions, you can contact us and we'll be glad to help walk you through the process
What services do you offer?
BACC offers a wide range of services including treatment and technical analysis of artwork, comprehensive collections care, education workshops, and emergency response and recovery. We also offer support for art historical studies and for finding funding for conservation and preservation projects.
Will you tell me what An artwork or artifact is worth?
We can appraise an object's condition, but we cannot appraise its market value. We can recommend an appraiser for you, or you may find one on the American Society of Appraisers' website, here.
Can you authenticate my artwork?
No, but we CAN provide information about the materials and techniques of artworks. Conservators are able to provide information about how an artwork was created and with what materials. This can be added to the knowledge that curators and art historians possess. With provenance, stylistic analysis, and materials analysis you can create as complete a picture as possible about an artwork. The process of trying to attribute a painting to a specific artist or to date a painting is not an easy task. Ultimately, it comes down to the experts and authorities in the art world who attribute work to a specific artist
What materials are treated at BACC?
Paintings on canvas, wood, and other supports; works on paper and documents; textiles, including rugs, fiber art, and garments; polychrome sculpture; frames; photographic materials; organic objects including basketry, leather, and feathers; and murals. It's always best to contact us directly, though, to determine if your object is treatable at BACC
How much will conservation treatment cost?
Because every piece is unique, treatment costs can vary widely. However, treatment rarely costs less than $500. To set up a preliminary consult and learn more about how hourly fees work, please visit our "Getting Started" page.
How long will conservation treatment take?
There is not a one-size-fits-all answer here, either, due to the nature of this work. Most treatments will take between several weeks and several months, depending upon the recommendations made by BACC staff, staff work load, and other factors that determine the final timeline.
Who can utilize BACC's services?
Cultural institutions, communities, collectors, and the general public — anyone who has an object that needs to be conserved!
Why should I choose BACC for conservation services?
There are several things that set BACC apart when it comes to art conservation. BACC is the only museum-quality conservation center in the western region that is available to the public. Our conservators' work is informed by graduate-level training and years of experience. As well, BACC offers a rigorous and scientific approach to art conservation that is in line with the American Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethics (we recommended reading the American Institute for Conservation and Northeast Document Conservation Center's tips on hiring conservation professionals for more on why this is so critical). Finally, our clients have great things to say about us on our testimonials page, and you can see examples of our work by viewing our treatment gallery.
Is my Artwork or artifact worth treating?
Of course! We believe that all artwork is inherently valuable and worth restoring and conserving. There are, however, many types of value: age value, sentimental value, historical value, and market value. Owners choose to conserve their art for many reasons. Sometimes the cost of conservation is greater than the market value of a piece, so we always recommend that should an owner want to know if the artwork is financially worth treating that they have the artwork professionally appraised, first.