Glenbow’s Conservation Lab at the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture
Glenbow is proud to operate one of the only museum-based conservation labs in Western Canada.
In Glenbow’s new Conservation Lab at the JR Shaw Centre for Arts & Culture, opening in 2026, visitors can experience a close look at the conservation process through expansive interior windows that showcase the work of preserving and restoring the museum’s collections. The Lab will also provide opportunities for learning about the conservation process, techniques, and equipment.
The Role of Conservation
Glenbow’s conservators are responsible for regularly examining and caring for items in the museum’s collection, which includes more than 250,000 artworks, objects, and belongings. They are also responsible for items that visit Glenbow as part of traveling exhibitions. Conservators ensure art and objects can be safely displayed or used for research purposes.
A conservator’s work includes preventive conservation, documentation, treatment, and restoration. They must understand both the history and chemical composition of an item to maintain it. This sometimes includes not interfering with wear and “historic dirt.”
Types of Conservation
Paper Conservation
Paper conservation includes watercolours, prints, drawings, photographs, books, and more.
Object Conservation
Object conservation includes a vast array of materials such as leather, plastic, and everything in between.
Painting and Sculpture Conservation
Painting and sculpture conservation includes artworks in media such as oil and acrylic paint on canvas, wood, and other materials, as well as artworks in materials like bronze, stone, and mixed media.
Preventive Conservation
Preventive conservation includes building maintenance, environmental monitoring, and pest management. It deals with the long-term needs of objects, including controlling light levels, humidity, temperature, and storage. Placing objects in their most ideal environment slows the aging process, making them last longer.
If an object is damaged or disfigured, a conservator can treat it. This can be as simple as dusting, or it can involve intensive chemical treatments.
