Future Leaders in Art Conservation Technology | P18AS00387

Opportunity Information: Apply for P18AS00387

Future Leaders in Art Conservation Technology (Funding Opportunity Number P18AS00387) is a National Park Service initiative under the U.S. Department of the Interior focused on strengthening the role of science and technology in the conservation of cultural heritage. Structured as a cooperative agreement within the Arts/Cultural Affairs activity area (CFDA 15.946), the opportunity is designed to build practical bridges between working conservators and scientific research methods, with the broader goal of improving how historic and artistic works are preserved over time.

The effort centers on three connected outcomes. First, it aims to create a science and technology showcase specifically for art conservators. The point of this showcase is to make scientific approaches more visible and accessible to practitioners, highlighting tools, techniques, and analytical methods that can directly inform treatment decisions and preventive conservation. By widening exposure to these methods, the program intends to support better, more evidence-based conservation and, in turn, stronger protection of cultural heritage materials.

Second, the opportunity emphasizes workforce development by creating hands-on research experiences for youth, students, and emerging professionals in conservation. Participants would be exposed to, and able to carry out, research in an art conservation science laboratory setting. This is meant to cultivate a new generation of conservators who are comfortable working with research processes, laboratory practices, and scientific thinking as part of routine conservation work, rather than viewing research as separate from day-to-day treatment and collections care.

Third, the program includes a dissemination component focused on preservation technology information. In practice, this means sharing knowledge and lessons learned about conservation science and technology with the field, so that insights do not remain confined to a single lab or project. The intent is to help spread effective approaches, raise baseline technical literacy among conservators, and encourage broader adoption of proven preservation technologies.

In terms of award details, the funding ceiling is $27,625 with one expected award. Importantly, this notice is not an open competition: it is a notice of intent to partner with the Foundation of the American Institute of Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works under an existing cooperative agreement, and no applications are accepted. The opportunity was created July 2, 2018, and eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," but the practical reality is that the funding action is tied to the pre-identified partner rather than being available to the general public or to new applicants.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the arts (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Future Leaders in Art Conservation Technology" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.946.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jul 02, 2018.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Notice of Intent to partner with Foundation of the American Institute of Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works under an existing cooperative agreement. No applications will be accepted.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $27,625.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for P18AS00387

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