Education of conservators-restorers at academies and faculties of art

Cultural goods are recorded, valorised, processed, preserved, conserved and restored because of the artistic, cultural-historical and documentary values attributed to them. In addition to these, they have other values and functions that must be taken into account. For example, the religious value of a cult object, the emotional value of a certain object in personal ownership, material value and others. A wide range of materials and artistic techniques requires specific knowledge that must be possessed by experts in the field of conservation and restoration. The subject of interest in this paper is education in the field of conservation and restoration of works of fine and applied arts. How are those who will deal with conservation and restoration of such values educated in the modern world? What knowledge and skills do they need and what training models are there? Do conservators of works of art stand out among conservators of different specialisations? What is the tradition of conservation education in Serbia? How can academies and faculties of art be places of quality education for conservators-restorers? The paper analyses different European models of conservation education, as well as the changes that have occurred with the shift of conservation as a craft to a defined profession which requires higher education. It is also discussed how such changes, through university education reforms, have affected the level of skills and knowledge conservators need, as well as whether these changes have led to the recognition of conservation and restoration of cultural heritage as a science. Among the various possibilities for the education of conservators at higher education institutions in Serbia, master academic studies in Conservation and Restoration of Works of Fine and Applied Arts at the Academy of Arts in Novi Sad is analysed as a case study.