ICA - Art Conservation
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ICA is the oldest (and best) nonprofit conservation center in the United States ICA is the nation's first non-profit regional art conservation center.
The organization was founded in 1952 by the directors of six major Midwestern museums to provide professional, high-quality, and cost-effective art conservation services. The ICA was the model used by the National Endowment for the Arts when it began dispersing start-up funding to create a network of similar centers across the United States in 1971. For the first fifty years of its existence, the
Say hello to this week’s featured team member, Wendy Partridge! Wendy shares how her background led her to a career in paintings conservation and what she finds most rewarding about her role as ICA’s Senior Paintings Conservator and Director of Conservation. From caring for complex surfaces to guiding conservation initiatives, Wendy brings expertise, leadership, and a deep commitment to preserving artworks for future generations. 🎨🔍
06/17/2026
Museum cleaning is a specialized art! Whether you're a new volunteer or a seasoned pro, remember these 3 golden rules for safe cleaning:
🚫 Hands Off the Goods: General cleaning is for floors and cases. Never touch or clean an artifact unless specifically instructed by a conservator.
✨ Keep it Simple: Dry mopping and gentle dusting with a microfiber cloth are usually all it takes to keep a space s**c and span!
🧼 Spray the Cloth, Not the Surface: If using a cleaning solution, always apply cleaner to your microfiber cloth first.
Part of our series on practical steps collecting institutions can take to protect cultural heritage during America's 250th birthday 🎂
It’s time to spotlight another member of our conservation team! This week, we’re featuring Zoey Hasselbring, ICA’s Textile Conservator. Zoey shares how her background led her to the field of textile conservation and what she finds most rewarding about working at ICA—especially the opportunity to care for such a wide variety of historic textiles from museums, historical societies, and community collections across the Midwest. We’re grateful for the expertise and dedication she brings to preserving culturally significant fabrics and garments. 🧵 👗
06/10/2026
The best dust strategy? Stay ahead of it.
Regular, gentle cleaning prevents buildup before it becomes a conservation issue. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s consistency.
Slow, careful maintenance protects collections far better than occasional deep clean “rescue missions.”
Part of our series on practical steps collecting institutions can take to protect cultural heritage during America's 250th birthday 🎂
06/07/2026
Zoey is hard at work in the textiles lab, carefully caring for delicate materials and preserving the stories they hold. Textiles often carry personal, cultural, and historic significance, and each piece requires thoughtful examination and a deep understanding of the materials involved. Learn more about Zoey in this week's Meet the Team video!
If you’re interested in learning more about textile conservation and the work that happens behind the scenes, keep an eye out for upcoming webinars and tour opportunities. We love sharing the conservation process with our community. 🧵🔍
Meet the team! This week we’re highlighting Kate Passannante, ICA’s Paper Conservator. Kate shares her favorite part of the job and offers insight into what makes caring for works on paper so meaningful.
From historic documents to fine art prints, paper-based materials often carry intimate stories about the people, places, and moments they represent. Kate’s work involves careful examination, patient treatment, and a deep appreciation for how these objects connect us to our shared history. Her dedication helps ensure that these fragile materials can continue to be studied and appreciated. ✏️📄
06/03/2026
Dust doesn’t travel alone. It brings baggage.
Particles in dust can trap moisture and bind with airborne pollutants creating a cocktail that settles onto collections. We commonly find paintings and objects coated with a layer of ni****ne from years in a house with smokers, or soot from artwork that was displayed before the widespread adoption of electric heating and the Clean Air Act (1970). Once deposited, these compounds can accelerate deterioration in sensitive materials.
In short: dust is not just dust—it’s a delivery system.
Detail during treatment of Alexander R. James, Portrait of Henrietta Buckler Seiberling, 1919, oil on canvas, H 38" x W 30 1/8". Collection of , Akron, OH.
Part of our series on practical steps collecting institutions can take to protect cultural heritage during America's 250th birthday 🎂
05/30/2026
Join us for a behind the scenes tour of our lab on June 4, 2026 at 10:30. You’ll get an up close look at how our team approaches complex conservation work and the thoughtful decision making that guides each step of the process.
During the tour, you’ll have the chance to see projects currently underway, learn how our conservators assess and care for artwork and cultural objects, and get a feel for the collaborative environment that supports our mission as a nonprofit conservation center. We’re excited to welcome you into our space and share how we help preserve the stories and materials that matter to our communities. 🧪🔍
Meet the team! If you’ve ever wondered what a Special Projects Manager at an art conservatory does, Jordan Mesavage is here to show you. From coordinating complex workflows to supporting our conservation teams, Jordan helps keep our mission moving forward every day. 🧰📋
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Address
2937 W. 25th Street, Pivot Center For Art, Dance And Expression
Cleveland, OH
44113
Opening Hours
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |