ARTECHNE – Technique in the Arts, 1500-1950

Ateliergebouw, Amsterdam

The Ateliergebouw on the Museumplein in Amsterdam is a centre for restoration and conservation, science, research and education. In the Ateliergebouw, the Rijksmuseum, the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands (RCE) and the University of Amsterdam (UvA) combine their knowledge and experience in the field of restoration and conservation of works of art.

The tripartite partners, – the UvA Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage Department, the Rijksmuseum and the RCE – are important partners in the newly set up Netherlands Institute for Conservation, Art and Science (NICAS). The institute is funded by the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific research (NWO) and the fifth partner is the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft). The institute stimulates innovative interdisciplinary research that unites conservation, science and art history. The areas of knowledge considered include material dynamics, diagnostics, conservation treatment and a new type of art history. Main themes are the origin of the artwork and the life of the artwork through time.