Caretakers of american heritage: advancing the technical skills of conservators and allied professionals [the foundation for advancement in conservation (FAIC) will advance the knowledge base and…

The National Endowment for the Humanities awarded the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation $350,000 on March 1, 2026, under the Promotion of the Humanities Division of Preservation and Access program (CFDA 45.149) to advance the technical skills of nearly 500 conservation and collections care professionals in the United States through one symposium and five workshops addressing specific needs identified by the 2023 Held in Trust Report and constituent requests. Workshop topics include polarized light microscopy; cleaning with gels, chelators, and pH and conductivity; caring for historic house collections; salvage of fire-damaged collections; anoxic environments for pest remediation; and pressure-sensitive tapes.

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit subsidiary of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works headquartered in Washington, DC, is the recipient. Performance occurs in Washington, DC with a period extending through February 29, 2028.

Caretakers of american heritage: advancing the technical skills of conservators and allied professionals [the foundation for advancement in conservation (FAIC) will advance the knowledge base and technical skills of nearly 500 conservation and collections care professionals in the united states with one symposium and five workshops for conservators and allied professionals that address specific needs identified by the 2023 held in trust report and through constituent request. Topics include polarized light microscopy; cleaning with gels, chelators, and PH and conductivity; caring for historic house collections; salvage of fire-damaged collections; anoxic environments for pest remediation; and pressure-sensitive tapes.]