Future Work: Preserving the Legacy of Art

Museums work to preserve the past for the present and the future. This exhibition presents a selection of case studies from across the High’s collections, showing recent efforts between conservation scientists and other museum professionals that have revealed new information about these works, their materials, and ways to conserve them for future generations.

From delicate works on paper and light-sensitive photographs to bronze sculpture, each object carries inherent challenges to preservation that museum staff must consider, including the best environments for their presentation and storage as well as regular evaluation and treatment. In this behind-the-scenes look at the work of art conservators, curators, and collections staff, visitors will be able to explore the questions asked, the techniques used, and the exciting stories behind rarely seen objects and some of the museum’s most iconic works of art.