What is MACC?
The Midwest Art Conservation Center (MACC) is a non-profit regional center working for the preservation and conservation of art and artifacts. Organized in 1977 by area museums to care for their collections, MACC has grown to become a full service fine arts conservation laboratory serving museums, historical societies, libraries, archives and other cultural institutions, as well as private and corporate collections. MACC provides a full range of professional conservation services, including the examination and treatment of a wide variety of art, historical and cultural artifacts, paintings on canvas and solid supports, murals, indoor and outdoor sculpture, decorative art objects, archaeological artifacts, prints and drawings, photographs, documents, tapestries, quilts and costumes . Other services include x-radiography and materials analysis. MACC conservators also provide preservation management advice and consultation. They conduct general needs assessment and collection specific surveys and offer seminars and workshops in collections care and emergency preparedness. Conservators are available 24 hours-a-day to assist in emergency response and recovery. MACC's members are non-profit organizations for whom collections care is a high priority. If you have questions about our organization, please call us at (612) 870-3120 or e-mail us.

How Can I Get Something Treated by MACC?
The following outlines the steps of MACC’s treatment process:

1. Examination of artwork and objects All items must be examined by a MACC conservator before treatment begins. Make an appointment with MACC’s Office Manager at (612) 870-3120 to bring your piece to MACC’s laboratories. (Site visits require special arrangements. Please contact us to schedule visits.)  During the examination, the conservator will perform tests, determine how to conserve the artwork, and establish the overall condition of your piece. Examination fees vary depending on non-profit membership status, the type of artwork being treated and the number of pieces involved.
2. Approving the Treatment If you want MACC to treat your piece, sign and date the appropriate lines on your MACC treatment proposal and mail it back to MACC: 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404. Your treatment will then be put into the conservator’s queue (schedule).
3. Treatment Conservation treatment work will begin on your piece once it is reached in the conservator’s queue.  This time will vary, depending on the amount of projects in the queue, member organizations’ exhibition schedules and other factors. We make every effort to meet our clienteles’ needs, but give priority to our member organizations.
4. Invoice When Conservation Treatment on your piece is complete, you will receive an invoice for MACC’s services in the mail. Once payment for this invoice is received, you may pick up your piece from MACC’s facility. You may also choose to pay for your treatment when you pick up your piece. Make an appointment with MACC’s Office at (612) 870-3120.

Who Uses MACC?
MACC provides art conservation treatment services for Museums, Cultural and Professional Institutions as well as private individuals and corporate collections.

Will MACC Appraise my Artwork(s)?
MACC does not appraise artworks. A certified appraiser can get you started on valuing your art. MACC is solely an art conservation resource. MACC does not treat artworks on the basis of their value. The same high quality care and adherence to the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice is given to every piece that enters our facility.

Are There Internship and Training Opportunities at MACC?
Some opportunities exist for dedicated and talented individuals interested in the field of conservation. Pre-program, mid-program and recent program graduates can inquire about internships and other opportunities. Also, individuals interested in non-profit management and administration are encouraged to contact us.  Please direct your correspondence to: Executive Director, MACC, 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55404 or   careers@preserveart.org

If you are interested in becoming a professional conservator, you should know that admission to a graduate program requires an under graduate degree with studies in art history, chemistry, and studio art.  Each of the graduate programs prescribes specific classes and number of credits in these areas of study.  In addition, the graduate programs require hundreds of hours working with a trained conservator. While the rigorous programs accept very few applicants each year, this is an extremely interesting and rewarding career.  For requirements and prerequisites for admission, please refer to these links to the Graduate Programs in Conservation Studies in North America:

Buffalo State College – Art Conservation Department          

New York University – The Conservation Center      

Queen’s University – Department of Art           

University of Delaware and Winterthur Art Conservation Program         

University of Texas at Austin - Conservation Education Programs for Libraries and Archives           

Where is MACC?
MACC is located within The Minneapolis Institute of Arts at 2400 Third Avenue South, Minneapolis MN 55404

For those visitors not carrying artwork, please check-in at the Security Guard Desk at that main entrance.

For those carrying artwork, our loading dock is on the west side of the building (2401 Stevens Avenue South) and is marked as Loading Dock B. It also has a Security Guard Desk for check-in.

From I -35W south of Minneapolis: Follow 35W north to the 31st and Lake Street exit (it's on the right side of the freeway). Take this exit - if you miss this exit, you'll have to go downtown, get back onto 35W south, then drive down to the next turnaround and get back on 35W north). After exiting at Lake street, drive through two stop lights (the first is 31st, the second will be Lake Street), and take a left onto Lake Street. Turn right onto 1st Avenue and follow it to Nicollet Avenue(the road curves to the left). Turn right on Nicollet and travel north until 24th street. Turn right onto 24th street and follow it until Stevens Avenue. You will be on the west side of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. You can park either on the street, or circle around the building to the parking ramp.
From I-35W north of Minneapolis: Follow 35W south to 94W. Follow 94W to the Hennepin Avenue exit. Stay on Hennepin until you reach 24th Street. Turn left onto 24th Street. Follow this street to Stevens Avenue. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts will be to your right when you reach Stevens Avenue.
From Interstate 94 east of Minneapolis: Follow 94W to the Hennepin Avenue exit. Stay on Hennepin until you reach E 24th Street. Turn left onto 24th Street. Follow this street to Stevens Avenue. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts will be to your right when you reach Stevens Avenue.
From Interstate 394 west of Minneapolis: Follow 394 to the Dunwoody Avenue Exit, follow Dunwoody to the stoplight at Lyndale Avenue. Take a right onto Lyndale and follow Lyndale to 24th street. Turn left onto 24th stret then follow 24th to Stevens Ave. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts will be on your right when you reach Stevens Avenue.