Art Conservation for the Midwest — Preserving What Matters
Welcome to ICA: Art Conservation with Heart
The Intermuseum Conservation Association (ICA–Art Conservation) is the Midwest’s nonprofit home for art conservation, based in Cleveland, Ohio. From museum masterworks to family heirlooms, we care for paintings, works on paper, textiles, and objects so they can be shared today and tomorrow. If it’s important to you, it’s important to us—no matter its age, size, or market value.
What We Do
Conservation, Preservation, & Education
Treatments for paintings, works on paper, textiles, and objects to stabilize materials, address damage, and renew visual clarity.
Packing and transportation, installation, display and framing guidance, and collections care to protect artworks across time and space.
Lab tours, hands-on workshops, and free webinars that share practical ways to care for cultural heritage at home and in the community.
For Museums, Community Collections & Families
We work with museums of all sizes, libraries and universities, historical societies and halls of fame, small community organizations, and private collectors. Whether it’s a rare document in a campus archive in Columbus, a collections survey in Dayton, or a portrait hanging in a family home in Akron, our approach is welcoming, clear, and grounded to the highest ethical standards.
Rooted in the North Coast, Serving the Midwest and Beyond
As the region’s only nonprofit art conservation laboratory, we serve Ohio and the broader Great Lakes corridor—South Bend, Indianapolis, Detroit, Akron, Cincinnati, Columbus, Cleveland, Dayton, Toledo, Youngstown, Pittsburgh, Buffalo, Rochester, Louisville, Kansas City, St. Louis, and beyond—while also working with clients across the country. Our team provides on-site assessments when needed, coordinated transport, and clear communication every step of the way.
Join Our Mission –
Community Support Makes This Possible
Your support sustains our educational mission, providing webinars and workshops, and making conservation accessible for small institutions. Partner with ICA to help preserve the region’s shared heritage—and the personal stories that live within it.
Ready to Talk About Your Artwork?
Tell us what you have and what you’re hoping to achieve. Email connectwithICA@ica-artconservation.org or call 216-658-8700 to start the conversation.
FAQ: Answers for Museums and Families Alike
What is art conservation and why does it matter?
Art conservation preserves artworks and cultural artifacts so they remain stable and meaningful over time. Treatments rely on science-based methods that respect original materials and intent.
How is art conservation different from art restoration?
Art restoration focuses on aesthetics, seeking to return an item’s appearance to "like new." Conservation is rooted preservation and stabilization, using tested scientific methods and materials to slow deterioration, as well as address aesthetic concerns. At ICA, all treatments are fully documented for transparency and grounded in the ethical guidelines of the American Institute for Conservation.
Who does ICA-Art Conservation work with?
Museums of all sizes, libraries, universities, historical societies, halls of fame, government organizations, community groups, artists, private collectors, and families.
Do I need to be in Ohio to work with ICA?
No. While Cleveland is our home base and most of our projects are in the Great Lakes Region, we serve clients across the United States. Items can be delivered or shipped, and on-site assessments are available for large or delicate work.
How do I begin and what should I send?
Start by emailing photos, basic dimensions, materials (if known), and a brief description of the item’s condition. Tell us your concerns and goals. We’ll outline next steps, which typically include an in-person examination, condition report, and treatment proposal.
Subscribe to Our Quarterly Newsletter
Newsletter
