Art Conservation Education

16/03/2026

Currently finalising details for PCOI’s upcoming Masterclass in Belfast, stayed tuned for updates. Really looking forward to spending a couple of days with Tear Mending Experts Kate and Louise 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇳🇱

13/03/2026

Unmasking Rubens: A Technical Investigation at TEFAF 2026 🎨🔬
What happens when a 400-year-old masterpiece goes under the microscope?
We are thrilled to spotlight the restoration of Peter Paul Rubens’ The Boar Hunt (1616–18), the prestigious recipient of this year’s TEFAF Museum Restoration Fund. Currently undergoing treatment at the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden, this project is using cutting-edge science to settle a centuries-old mystery.
The Scientific Investigation 🕵️‍♂️
Technical imaging has revealed a hidden expansion to the original wooden panel. Was this Rubens’ own evolving vision, or an addition by his studio? To find out, the team is deploying:
• Dendrochronology: Precision tree-ring dating to verify the age and origin of the timber.
• Computational Imaging: Mapping hidden brushstrokes beneath layers of aged varnish.
• Material Analysis: Identifying the unique chemical signatures of Rubens' palette to trace his hand.
Meet the Panel of Experts 🎙️
Join a world-class team for an "inside look" at the research reshaping Rubens' history:
• Kate Seymour (Moderator): Chair of ICOM-CC, leading the global conversation on conservation ethics.
• Prof. Marc Walton: Professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and expert in computational imaging and AI-driven materials science.
• Dr. Holger Jacob-Friesen: Director of the Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, Dresden.
• Uta Neidhardt: Senior Curator of Dutch and Flemish Paintings, Dresden.
📍 Event Details
📅 Saturday, March 14 | 1:00 PM CET
📍 Programming Hall, MECC Maastricht
🌐 Can't make it to Maastricht?
Knowledge has no borders! This session will be recorded in full. The recording will be available on the TEFAF Website shortly after the fair, ensuring this groundbreaking research is accessible to students, conservators, and art lovers worldwide.

22/02/2026

🚫 SOLD OUT: Mist Lining Workshop at CESMAR7
I am thrilled to announce that the upcoming session of "The Mist Lining System for Canvas Paintings Conservation" hosted by CESMAR7 is now officially fully booked!
The rapid enrollment of 20 conservators underscores the vital need for advanced, minimally invasive structural solutions in our field. I am looking forward to three intensive days of theory and hands-on practice with this talented group.
🏛️ Seeking Future Host Partners
While the current session is at capacity, I am now planning the 2026-2027 international workshop calendar.
If your museum, university, or private laboratory is interested in bringing this specialised training to your region, I would love to discuss a partnership. My mission at Art Conservation Education is to provide high-level technical training and capacity building that empowers professionals to tackle the most complex canvas conservation challenges.
Why host this workshop?
• Proven Demand: Consistently high interest and rapid registration.
• Practical Excellence: Hands-on training in low-pressure, solvent- activated lining techniques.
• Global Network: Join a community of institutions and private practitioners leading the way in modern conservation standards.
🔗 Explore my full range of courses and consultancy services:
👉 www.art-conservation-education.com
📩 For hosting inquiries, DM me or contact: [email protected]

Art Conservation Education offers education, training, knowledge exchange, and consultancy in art conservation. Our mission is to empower individuals and institutions to preserve cultural heritage. With over 25 years of experience in easel paintings and collection care, we collaborate with experts i...

16/02/2026

Heritage Without Borders 2026

Don’t miss this rare opportunity to elevate your art conservation practice to global standards.

From April 20–25, 2026, the Philippines will host Heritage Without Borders, a week-long program dedicated to advancing art conservation practices and fostering dialogue between local and international experts.

The event will feature Ms. Kate Seymour, Chair of the International Council of Museums – Conservation Committee (ICOM-CC) and Founder of Art Conservation Education (ACE), Netherlands, as the distinguished guest speaker. Ms. Seymour is widely recognized for her contributions to conservation practice, research, and education, and will share her expertise with participants in both conference and lecture formats.

The program schedule includes:

• April 20, 2026: 1-Day Conference 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM QC MICE Center

• April 21–24, 2026: 5-Day Lecture Series 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, National Library of the Philippines

• April 25, 2026, Closing Session: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, QCX Event Center

In addition to Ms. Seymour, the week-long event will welcome an esteemed roster of guests and speakers, including Director Cesar Gilbert Q. Adriano, National Library of the Philippines; Director General Jeremy Barns, National Museum of the Philippines; Ms. Gemma Cruz-Araneta, Vice-President of the Museum Foundation of the Philippines, Inc. along with other distinguished voices in heritage and conservation. Together, they will underscore the importance of conservation education, cultural heritage preservation, and collaborative approaches to sustaining practices across borders.

This initiative is presented by Sanfo 101 and Art Conservation Education (ACE), with the support of the National Library of the Philippines, the QC Tourism Department, and CSCA.

Registration is now open. Participants are encouraged to reserve their slots early for this rare opportunity to engage with leaders in the field and contribute to the growing conversation on heritage conservation in the Philippines.

Sanfo 101. Pioneering workshops on art conservation & restoration in the Philippines.

26/01/2026

Elevate Your Art Conservation Practice

From April 20–25, 2026, the National Library of the Philippines and the QC MICE Center will host a rare opportunity to bring art conservation to global standards.

This landmark event is presented by Sanfo 101 and Art Conservation Education, with the support of our co-presenters: the National Library of the Philippines, the QC Tourism Department, and the Certified Sanfo Conservators’ Association (CSCA).

Discover insights from a world-class art conservator — full details coming soon.

Sanfo101. Pioneering workshops on art restoration & conservation in the Philippines

31/12/2025

🎨 Embarking on a journey in heritage conservation? Our comprehensive guide is here to help you secure that perfect internship to hone your skills and preserve our cultural treasures. Learn how to stand out, connect with professionals, and make the most of your opportunities. Let's shape the future of heritage preservation together! 🌟 Check out our detailed blog post now!

Embarking on a career in heritage conservation is both exciting and rewarding. Gaining hands-on experience through internships is a crucial step in building the skills and knowledge necessary to preserve our cultural treasures. But how do we secure those valuable opportunities that can shape our fut...

24/12/2025

Happy New Year from our team! As specialists with 25+ years’ combined experience, we recommend one practical January action: run a focused humidity audit across priority storage and display areas. A simple, repeatable routine reveals risk hotspots, guides immediate mitigation and pinpoints staff training needs—saving time and preventing damage. Want guided implementation? See our training schedule and enquiry form: https://wix.to/wE7l6ie Let us help you start the year with confidence!

24/12/2025

Keep easel paintings safe over the holidays with a few quick checks we can all do! 1) Environmental spot-checks: measure temperature and relative humidity in storage and display zones — aim to avoid sudden swings that stress paint and supports. 2) Safe storage sweep: ensure paintings are upright, well-spaced, and clear of floor-level hazards; pad contact points and secure loose stretchers or frames. 3) Minor emergency readiness: confirm emergency contact lists, torch batteries, and spill kits are accessible; note any vulnerable works on a quick-watch list. These are low-effort actions that protect collections until formal conservation can be scheduled — small habits make a big difference! Read more guidance at https://wix.to/L7NcSNy
https://wix.to/S8DBIJj

24/12/2025

As 2025 draws to a close, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all who have supported and contributed to Art Conservation Education during this remarkable first year. It has been a year of fruitful connections, meaningful collaboration, and inspiring capacity building. From our in-person workshops in London, Mumbai, Delhi, Porto, Amersfoort, Krakow, Beijing, Brazil, Belfast, and Florence, to the countless conversations and shared experiences along the way, Art Conservation Education has grown through the generosity, expertise, and commitment of its global community.

Looking ahead to 2026, we are excited to build on this momentum with an expanding programme of international activity. Early in the year, Art Conservation Education will support the El Gigante Vestido Symposium in Chile (January 2026), contributing to interdisciplinary dialogue around the conservation of pre-Hispanic geoglyphs and environmental responsibility. In February 2026, Art Conservation Education will join partners in Delhi as part of the ongoing outreach and follow-up to the Indiana Conservation Fellowship Programme, with plans for a symposium and site-based engagements. Our first Mist-Lining Workshop of 2026 will take place in Bologna in March, in collaboration with CESMAR7.

Further events are already in development for 2026, and we continue to welcome expressions of interest from those who wish to collaborate or host a workshop.

These initiatives reflect Art Conservation Education’s continued commitment to professional exchange, ethical conservation practice, and education across borders. We look forward to sharing further programme details in the coming months and to continuing this journey with you in the year ahead.

With warm wishes for the festive season and best wishes for 2026,

Kate Seymour
Founder and CEO
Art Conservation Education

05/12/2025

📢 CESMAR7 RESTORATION COURSES

I’m delighted to announce the first dates for the new theoretical–practical course:
✨ “Mist Lining Technique in Preserving Canvas Paintings” ✨

This hands-on workshop will explore the principles, materials, and practical steps behind the mist lining technique—an innovative approach to supporting and stabilizing delicate canvas paintings.

👩🏻‍🏫 Teacher: Kate Seymour
📆 Dates: 5–6–7 March 2026
🕘 Schedule: 9:00–13:00 & 14:00–18:00 daily (24 hours total)
📍 Venue: Laboratorio degli Angeli, Via degli Angelis 32, 40124 Bologna BO
📚 Format: In-person theoretical–practical course

🖊️ How to Register:
Send your application by 20 January 2026 to [email protected], including:
• Full name / business name
• Address / registered office
• Tax code / VAT number

Please note:
• Limited to 20 participants
• The course will run once a minimum of 10 participants is reached
• Registration is for the full course only (no single-day enrollment)

☎️ Info & Assistance:
Chiara Fabbri — CESMAR7 Secretariat
Tel: 333 167 9921
Email: [email protected]

🪄 Who Should Attend: Restorers and Restoration Technicians
📌 Cost: €610 for CESMAR7 2026 members / €650 full (includes 2026 membership card)

I look forward to working closely with participants as we explore and practice this highly effective conservation method!

📢 CORSI DI RESTAURO CESMAR7

Con grande entusiasmo annunciamo le prime date per il corso teorico-pratico “La tecnica del Mist Lining nella conservazione dei dipinti su tela”

👩🏻‍🏫 Docente: Kate Seymour

📆 Date e orari: 5-6-7 Marzo 2026. Ogni giorno 9.00-13.00 e 14.00-18.00 (24 ore totali)

📍Sede dello svolgimento: Laboratorio degli Angeli; Via degli Angeli, 32, 40124 Bologna BO

📚 Tipologia corso: Corso teorico-pratico, in presenza

🖊️ Modalità di iscrizione: inviare la propria candidatura entro il 20 gennaio 2026 all’indirizzo [email protected] con i propri dati (nome e cognome/ragione sociale, indirizzo/sede ditta, codice fiscale/p.iva).
Il numero di posti è limitato a 20 partecipanti. Il corso sarà attivato solo al raggiungimento del numero minimo di 10 iscritti. Non è possibile iscriversi alle singole giornate.

☎️ Per info: Segreteria Cesmar7, Chiara Fabbri al tel. 333 167 9921, mail: [email protected]

🪄 A chi è rivolto: Restauratori, Tecnici del Restauro

📌Costo: 610 € per i soci CESMAR7 2026; 650 € intero (comprensivo di tessera associativa 2026)

canvasrestore workshop