Services: Ask a Conservator Day - Art Conservation Clinic

Do you have family heirlooms or works of art in need of some TLC? Join us for a free conservation clinic where members of the public can bring in an item from their collection and have it assessed by a professional conservator. Bay Area experts specializing in the conservation of books, photographs, documents, paintings, glass, textiles, and objects will be available for one-on-one consultations. Attendees will learn about the history, composition, and condition of their item as well as receive advice on safe handling and storage. If your item is in need of repair, conservation treatment options will be discussed.

Space limited. Reservations strongly encouraged: sign up here. 
Advance registration will close at 4pm on Monday, November 3rd. 
This event is almost completely booked, so we may not be able to accommodate walk-ins.

Important things to know:

• There may only be time to assess one item during your appointment.
• Only bring items you can easily and safely carry. Be mindful of bringing highly valuable or fragile items. Do not bring items with mold or pest infestations.
• Anything you bring must return home with you. We cannot dispose of your items or accept donations.
• A conservation assessment is NOT an appraisal – we cannot assess the monetary value of your artwork.

Participating conservators, businesses, and institutions include:

• Juliayn Coleman - books
• Laura García-Vedrenne, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco - textiles
• Ria German-Carter - paintings
• Julie Goldman - works on paper
• Nzilani Glass Conservation - stained glass, ceramics and glass objects
• Abigail Rodriguez, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco - objects
• Gawain Weaver Art Conservation - photographs
• The Fillet Foundation - bringing undervalued PEOPLE and overlooked PLACES to the forefront of PRESERVATION

This program is presented by SFPL's Preservation Unit for Ask a Conservator Day 2025, in partnership with SFPL's Art, Music, and Recreation Center and the Small Business Center.