Your Donations Support CCAHA Fellowships
Dear friends,
In 1980, as a recently graduated conservator, I was hired by the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) to develop our services in the preservation of photographic materials. Working in partnership with experienced conservators, I felt welcomed, encouraged, and valued. Working in the CCAHA lab, I strengthened essential skills centered on examination, documentation, analysis, treatment, collections care, and public outreach.
Forty-two years later, CCAHA continues to train our next generation of conservators, connecting young conservators fresh out of school with a highly skilled staff, deeply committed to their education and success.
As Director of the Winterthur/University of Delaware Program in Art Conservation and an honored member of the CCAHA Board for the past 25 years, I have witnessed CCAHA’s extraordinary commitment to education and training. Working with mentors at the Center, emerging conservators in CCAHA’s Fellowship Program are exposed to an incredible range of culturally diverse and often challenging projects—from the preservation of Judaica collections to the treatment of early childhood drawings by Edward Hopper, the analysis of early silver-plated copper daguerreotypes, and the stabilization of Count Basie’s scrapbooks documenting his life at home and on the road.
Time and time again these projects expand knowledge and strengthen our Fellows’ skills and resilience. As they did for me.
I am delighted that CCAHA is dedicating this year’s annual appeal to supporting the next generation of conservators. Specifically, funds will be used to match a $36,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts to support our 2022-23 Fellowship program.
Your support makes this investment possible, ensuring that future Fellows continue to benefit from the Center’s remarkable expertise.
Please consider making a tax-deductible end-of-year financial contribution by visiting ccaha.org/donate. Your contribution is truly appreciated.
With my warmest regards and best wishes for the coming holiday season,
Debra Hess Norris
CCAHA Board of Directors