The art conservation program at Buffalo State is about to get a helping hand. This graduate program has just received a $995,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

The foundation distributes grants every year in the interest of arts and humanities. The art conservation program at Buffalo State, one of three accredited graduate degrees in North America, was the beneficiary. Other places where art conservation institutions exist are Delaware, New York City and Ontario.

The three-year master of arts program is about to undergo a serious evolution as new equipment, such as polarizing microscopes, an X-ray spectrometer, infrared imaging cameras among other items, are brought in to strengthen the program's research . This equipment helps aid material identification and contributes to analysis and restoration of art and artifacts.

Tools for the department aren't the only things that are being upgraded. Part of the funding is going toward establishing an Andrew W. Mellon Professor as well. The new professor would be involved in teaching, as well as faculty research.

“I didn't even know there was such a thing,” says Dale Curtin, a fine arts major. “It sounds really interesting. I'm definitely going to have to look into it.”

“Really,” asks Christopher Watroba, a history major. “I didn't know this school had an art conservation program. Maybe I should switch majors.”

The Mellon Foundation has been providing grants to arts and humanities since the 1960s. With aid to Buffalo State's art conservation department, the graduate program can boost up its technology and elevate the materials needed to progress the program to a higher level.

For more information on the Mellon Foundation, go to: http://www.mellon.org/MellonGeneral.htm

For more information on the art conservation program at Buffalo State College, go here.