Nurturing Young Conservation Experts: Launch of the "MMCA Conservation School"

18 Participants to Be Selected,
Training Program Runs Until September

The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art announced on January 21 that it will launch the "MMCA Conservation School" program to train young professionals in the field of art conservation. The museum will recruit students from January 21 to 26, selecting a total of 18 participants, and will conduct a full-scale nine-month training program starting in March.

Preservation process. Provided by the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

As contemporary art increasingly employs complex materials and experimental techniques, the difficulty of conservation is rising. However, there is a shortage of specialists to handle these tasks professionally. As the only national institution in Korea specializing in art conservation, the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art plans to systematically nurture conservation experts tailored to the characteristics of contemporary art by leveraging its accumulated personnel and infrastructure.

The "MMCA Conservation School," which is being launched for the first time this year, consists of six courses: paper, oil painting, new media, photography, scientific analysis, and condition assessment and emergency treatment. The training will be practice-oriented and take place at the Cheongju, Seoul, and Gwacheon branches of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. The curriculum includes understanding contemporary art materials and techniques, hands-on conservation and scientific analysis, and topics such as conservation ethics and environmental considerations.

Participants will receive a set amount of educational support funds, and those who complete 800 hours of training will be awarded a certificate of completion. The National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art expects that this program will provide a foundation for young professionals to work in the field of art conservation both domestically and internationally.

Director Kim Sunghee stated, "The MMCA Conservation School is a strategic investment in passing on national art conservation capabilities to future generations," adding, "As a public institution, we will continue to strengthen the sustainability of the national art conservation system."