ABSTRACT
Conservators do not typically curate exhibitions, but they can, and they have. How and why does this happen? And what does this mean for the conservation profession? Unlike technical research publications that aim to enlighten a group of professionals, conservation-driven exhibitions are accessible platforms that encourage curiosity and reinforce the importance of heritage preservation. Furthermore, exhibitions enable conservators to hold influence and lead the narratives being told by the museum to their public. This case study investigates the phenomenon of conservators curating exhibitions, primarily in the United States, although this activity occurs globally. It first examines what and how exhibitions are developed, and then discusses the reasons why a textile conservator might curate an exhibition. It concludes by discussing practicalities of curating exhibitions when outside the scope of usual conservation duties.
