{"id":4212,"date":"2008-07-25T13:02:00","date_gmt":"2008-07-25T18:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.conservators-converse.org\/2008\/07\/time-for-change\/"},"modified":"2008-07-25T13:02:00","modified_gmt":"2008-07-25T18:02:00","slug":"time-for-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/resources.culturalheritage.org\/conservators-converse\/2008\/07\/25\/time-for-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Time for change?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Time for change?<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

There are some important issues that the conservation field need to deal with, and perhaps this new network is a forum in which this could be achieved. I just want to pick up on one that hasn\u2019t really been mentioned, but is a serious issue. <\/span><\/p>\n

Pay for newly qualified conservators and Interns (pre and post graduate)<\/span><\/span>
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Why is the pay so low? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I think a lot of the issues have been discussed already in an excellent article entitled \u201cthe salary conundrum\u201d it is also worth reading many of the comments as well:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

http:\/\/youngmuseumprofessionals.blogspot.com\/2008\/05\/salary-conundrum.html<\/a>
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However, one additional reason that I can think of is the use of unpaid pre-program interns throughout the museum world, including conservation. Unpaid interns are a means of museums getting the work they need doing for free (based on the need of interns to get experience to get into school). If this free labor was not available the museums alternatives would be two fold, firstly to not do the work (but this would of course lessen their chance of receiving the all important donor\u2019s money) or two to pay for the work to be done\u2026. Our preferred option of course, as it would give museum professionals a job and also look after our collective heritage. This situation is of course not the fault of the interns, but, it is the fault of the museums, and the university courses that demand experience. So I question whether this issue could be resolved as well, paying interns would be a start, and lessening the amount of time conservators need to be interns would also help as this would in theory lessen the amount of interns a museum would have freeing up work for newly qualified professionals. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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What to do? <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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I would suggest that AIC as the body that represents the profession in the US, needs to follow the lead of professional bodies the world over and demand for its members acceptable pay and conditions. For example, the Institute for Conservation (ICON) in the UK has the following to say: (for dollar amounts essentially double the figure)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>\u201cIcon seeks to foster recognition of the responsibility held by conservators in protecting and preserving the world’s cultural heritage. The high-level skills required for this vital role should be recognised in status and salary levels. We recommend that the minimum salary for conservators should be \u00a320,895 and conservation technicians should be \u00a317,000. We also recommend that the stipend (not salary) for interns undertaking workbased learning be \u00a314,000.\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>They go on to say:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>“Starting salaries and career progression for conservators employed in institutions should be no lower or more restricted than for those alongside whom they work. Icon supports the principle of parity across the heritage professions\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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It is important to note that these figures aren\u2019t just pie in the sky dreams; they have translated into actual practice: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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<\/span>\u201cFor the guidance of employers seeking to determine appropriate salaries for conservators, we provide the following average figures based on a study of all conservation jobs advertised with Icon in 2007:<\/span><\/span> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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