Conservation and Restoration

The programme offers three fields of study, which are distinguished by material-specific and technological characteristics: Wood, Stone, Mural Painting. The direct contact with the university's courses in architecture and urban planning, cultural work and civil engineering and the practical connection to the surrounding monuments, museums, buildings and works of art in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Potsdam, the state of Brandenburg and the capital city of Berlin form optimal framework conditions.

Fields of Study

Interdisciplinary Subjects

Start of Studies

Study Organisation

Projects

Teachers & Staff

Cooperation Partners

History

Conservation and Restoration (B. A.)

Conservation and Restoration (M. A.)

25 Years of Conservation and Restoration

Cover der Jubiläumsbroschüre des Studiengangs Konservierung und Restaurierung

In 2020, the Conservation and Restoration degree programme celebrated its 25th anniversary. To mark this occasion, a brochure was produced that tells the story of the degree programme, presents the fields of study in detail and gives you insights into the everyday life of the degree programme and the teaching formats.

Download brochure

Insights into the Fields of Study

Job Profiles

"In the trio of art historians, natural scientists and restorers who today are essentially concerned with conservation and restoration issues, the latter differs decisively from the other two in that he is the only one who lends a hand to the original to a greater extent.

This not only gives him a special responsibility in the technical and manual area, but also in his ideal function as protector and preserver of the works of art entrusted to him. (...) The work of art needs an advocate to protect it from the worst abuse.

Here, the restorer has a special responsibility, as he is the only one who, due to his training, but also due to his interests and his individual knowledge of the object, can weigh and judge to what extent a work of art can withstand the strains placed upon it or will suffer irreparable damage in the process."

Bruno Heimberg, Das Selbstverständnis des Restaurators. Ein Versuch der Standortbestimmung, in: Zeitschrift für Kunsttechnologie und Konservierung Heft 2/1994, Worms 1994, pp. 340-344.

Extensive specialist knowledge and practical experience
pronounced sense of responsibility
critical judgement (prudence)
ability to discourse (communicative competence, mastery of argumentation strategies)
ability to cooperate (willingness to compromise, pragmatism)
Capacity for critical self-reflection as an essential characteristic of academic work.

"As living testimonies of centuries-old traditions of peoples, monuments in the present convey a spiritual message of the past. Humanity, which is becoming more and more aware of the universal validity of human values, sees in monuments a common heritage and feels responsible towards future generations for their preservation. It has an obligation to transmit to them the monuments in all the richness of their authenticity." Venice Charter 1964, Preamble

"The central task of conservators is the preservation and care of artistic and cultural objects. In order to be able to meet the requirements of modern restoration, academic training is necessary. Only a university degree enables the conservator to accompany an object from the preliminary examination, analysis and concept development through the actual conservation or restoration to the necessary documentation and further care. Conservators need comprehensive technical skills and a trained artistic sensitivity when dealing with art objects. They must acquire detailed knowledge of the historical manifestations of their objects and their materials; in addition to an overview of art history, this also includes a sound knowledge of chemistry and physics as well as knowledge of other related sciences. Training is therefore an ongoing process that continues in professional life and necessitates targeted further training." Association of Conservators

"Conservators deal with irreplaceable cultural assets that are carriers of cultural, ideal, ethical, religious, artistic, historical, social, technical, scientific, ecological and economic values." Swiss Association for Conservation and Restoration

News

More news

Gruppe vor der Moschee Bibi-Chanun in Samarkand

CITY | BUILDING | CULTURE Civil Engineering

Study & Teaching

News 10/06/2022

Successful conclusion of the Summer School in Bukhara with final presentations

After almost two weeks in Uzbekistan with documentation work in the Medrese Kukeldash in Bukhara, the Summer School 2022 ended successfully with presentations of the interdisciplinary working groups.

Studierende vor der Kukeldash Medrese in Buchara

CITY | BUILDING | CULTURE Civil Engineering International Office

Study & Teaching

News 09/16/2022

Successful start of the German-Uzbek Summer School 2022 in Bukhara

From 12 - 23.09.2022 a German-Uzbek Summer School in the project "Interdisciplinary at the Monument - Transfer, innovative methods and research-based learning in practical projects for the preservation of the cultural heritage of Uzbekistan" will take place at the Kukeldash Mederese in Bukhara.

Mit schwarz gezeichnete Formen auf weißem Hintergrund

CITY | BUILDING | CULTURE

Study & Teaching

Press release 07/18/2022

Students from the University of Applied Sciences Potsdam and the University of Applied Sciences Darmstadt develop the exhibition "Von Sinnen. Multisensorische Erkundungen der Stadt".

Over the course of a semester, students of arts management and cultural work and communication and industrial design developed formats for a multisensory exhibition. The results will be presented in the project room 207 m² of the Berlinische Galerie from July 22.