The American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC): http://aic.stanford.edu/

AIC is the national organization for art conservators. This Web site can answer basic questions about art conservation, such as its goals, ethics and the training paths for conservators. See the About AIC link: AIC Core Documents on the home page. There are also free downloadable brochures on the care of art objects. And, if you have specific concerns and need to consult an art conservator, this Web site can guide you through the process of selecting a conservator. On the home page, choose Public Info (http://aic.stanford.edu/public/index.html) to find the downloadable brochures. Look under the headings, Caring for Your Treasures (including Issue 13 page 10 © 2005 Golden Artist Colors, Inc. paintings), Outreach Materials and Selecting a Conservator.

Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI):
http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/html/

The Canadian Conservation Institute is located in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. CCI engages in the treatment, research and scientific analysis of art materials. There are many links on the home page. Start at the top left with About CCI: Who We Are. Back on the home page, further down the left side, you will find Resources with links to a variety of technical conservation information. Also, at the right on the home page, under Spotlights, there is a link to Protect Your Outdoor Murals, which includes a sample condition report for keeping records of the condition of your murals from year to year:
http://www.cci-icc.gc.ca/headlines/murals/index_e.aspx.

Finally, check out the link at the lower right to Preserving My Heritage, a fun, interactive Web site. It includes a section on how to care for a variety of art objects:
http://www.preservation.gc.ca/index_e.asp.

Conservation Distribution List (Cons DistList) and Archives: This is an online information exchange for practicing conservators regarding conservation treatments and research on art materials and techniques. Questions and comments from artists interested in materials are always welcome. The list is moderated and is issued approximately once a week. It is free to join and to search the archive of past entries.

This link will tell you about the Conservation DistList and give specific instructions for joining:
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/aboutcdl.shtml

This link will take you to the archive of past postings:
http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byform/mailing-lists/cdl/

National Park Service: Conserve-OGrams:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/conserv.html

This site, though geared toward museum professionals, can also help artists, particularly with the packing, storage, transport and display of their artwork and health and safety issues. There are many Conserve-O-Grams and here are some specific files that could be useful to artists:
2. Security, Fire, and Curatorial Safety:

2/1 Hazardous Materials Health and Safety Update:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/02-01.pdf

2/7 Fabricating Secure Hangers for Framed Works of Art: http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/02-07.pdf

3. Agents of Deterioration:
3/4 Mold and Mildew: Prevention of Microorganism Growth in Museum Collections:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/03-04.pdf

12. Paintings: 12/1 Storage Screens for Paintings:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/12- 01.pdf

14. Photographs: 14/1 Making Mounting Corners for Photographs and Paper Objects:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/14-01.pdf

14/2 Storage Enclosures for Photographic Prints and Negatives:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/14-02.pdf

17. Packing and Shipping Museum Objects:

17/1 Checklist for Planning the Shipment of Museum Objects: http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/17-01.pdf

17/2 Packing Museum Objects for Shipment
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/17-02.pdf

17/3 Crating Museum Objects for Shipment
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/17-03.pdf

17/4 Retrofitting a Moving Van to Transport Museum Collections
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/17-04.pdf

8. Museum Exhibits:
18/2 Safe Plastics and Fabrics for Exhibit and Storage:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/18-02.pdf

21. Disaster Response and Recovery:
21/1 Health and Safety Hazards Arising From Floods:
http://www.cr.nps.gov/museum/publications/conserveogram/21-01.pdf

The Conservation and Art Materials Encyclopedia Online (CAMEO):
http://www.mfa.org/_cameo/frontend/

This growing encyclopedic database is a catalog of art materials and is a resource for museum professionals and the public. The database is continually expanded and updated. CAMEO was developed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, by the Conservation and Collections Management Department with a 1998 grant from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training
(NCPTT). As an example, try a search for “acrylic paint.” There are descriptions of the materials, illustrative images and bibliographical references.