The Midwest Art Conservation Center’s Mentorship Program gives collecting institutions the opportunity to receive direct consulting from Preservation Services staff while paying only a fee toward travel and related expenses.  Support is provided to a selected number of participants with an identified project which promotes the future preservation of their collections.

Selected institutions receive two on-site visits from the staff consultant to assist in the completion of their project. In addition, this relationship is maintained through phone and email correspondence throughout the year until the project is completed.

Projects must involve a permanent collection with artifacts that are not usable, expendable or replaceable.  (An example of a collection that would not qualify would be an interpretive / study collection used by patrons and staff at a living history museum.)  Successful projects are those small and specific enough to be completed over the course of one year. While not a requirement, funds devoted toward the project are helpful.  Institutions should also plan that some staff time outside of usual duties will be devoted to the project’s completion.
Some example Projects may include:

• Improving storage, exhibition, and management of collections
• Development of a Preservation Plan with both short-term and long-term goals
• Funding strategies for continuing preservation (including assistance in writing a specific grant application)
• Improving environmental issues
• Improving security policies
• Disaster preparedness
• Staff training on a preservation topic

Collection needs assessment surveys or conservation treatments will not be considered.
This program is made possible with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Some Past program recipients:
Buffalo County Historical Society – Alma, WI Development of a Collections Management Policy
Charles H. MacNider Art Museum – Mason City, IA Development of a Disaster Plan
Dakota Wesleyan University – Mitchell, SD Development of a Relocation Plan for Collections
The Goldstein Museum of Design – Saint Paul, MN Development of Detailed Space Plan for New Storage
Office of the State Archaeologist – Iowa City, IA Consulting on New Collections Storage Facility
Sitting Bull College – Fort Yates, ND Consulting on New Building Construction
Siouxland Heritage Museums – Sioux Falls, SD Development of a Long-Range Preservation Plan

Click for Mentorship Application here