Conservation and Restoration

The study program Conservation and Restoration is devoted to the conservation of works of art and of cultural artifacts which merit regard as irreplaceable documents owing to their respective historical, artistic and cultural value, and whose conservation is therefore of public interest. In a wider context, the conservation of our cultural heritage is defined as a part of Human Rights. (See: Our Creative Diversity. Report of the UNESCO World Commission on Culture and Development. 1996) The fundamental role of the conservator-restorer is the preservation of cultural heritage for the benefit of present and future generations. The conservator-restorer contributes to the perception, appreciation and understanding of cultural heritage in respect of its environmental context and its significance and physical properties. The education offered by the Academy of Fine Arts, Vienna, is considered to be comprehensive with respect to the general basics and the intellectual superstructure of the discipline, while also providing specialist training in the given framework of the study focuses offered: Conservation - Restoration of Paintings / Sculptures Conservation - Restoration of Objects - Focus on Wood//historic musical instruments Conservation - Restoration of Paper / Photographs / Books / Archive Material Conservation - Restoration of Mural Paintings / Architectural Surfaces Conservation - Restoration of Modern and Contemporary Art.