Christa Gaehde Scholarship Grant

The Christa Gaehde Scholarship supports AIC members pursuing research or study in art on paper conservation. Eligible projects include attending workshops, conferences, or purchasing materials, with outcomes expected to be disseminated through publications or presentations. This grant honors Christa Gaehde, a pioneer in the field, and aims to elevate standards in conservation practices. Applicants must demonstrate qualifications, project usefulness, and financial need, while individual AIC membership is a prerequisite.

The Christa Gaehde Scholarship Grant broadly supports members in the study and research of art on paper conservation, which may involve any individual study, attendance at workshops, conferences, or other events, purchase of materials for research projects, or other activities within this scope that take place six weeks to twelve months after the application deadline.
About Christa Gaehde
The Fund honors Christa Gaehde (1922-2002), a pioneer in paper conservation. Christa trained and worked in Germany before leaving in 1949 to become one of the first paper conservators in the United States. She was a founding member and Fellow of AIC, Fellow of IIC, and the first conservator to be elected to the Print Council of America. She co-authored one of the first books on paper conservation, A Guide to the Collecting and Care of Original Prints, in 1965. Christa served on the Board of Examiners for Certification from 1980 – 1983 and was a strong supporter of setting standards of practice for the profession.
During the sixty years of her career, Christa was renowned for the subtle finish of her work, which included sophisticated bleaching and repair techniques. She was keenly interested in the impact of conservation on the appearance of artwork and concerned about the long-term effects of treatment long before this topic acquired general interest in the field. The quality of her work was recognized by curators, collectors, dealers, and auction houses both in the United States and Europe. To many colleagues, students, and interns with whom she generously and unassumingly shared her knowledge, she was a true mentor and role model. In 2000 she received the Sheldon and Caroline Keck Award in recognition of her contribution to the education and training of conservators.

Eligibility

Status as current member of AICUsefulness of project to the applicant and/or the conservation fieldQualifications of applicant to conduct projectPlan to disseminate outcomes of project (publication, teaching, presentations, etc.)Appropriateness of budget; financial need may be considered
You must be a member of this organization to apply for this award - become a member.

Ineligibility

The member requirement means applicants must have an AIC individual membership. Persons receiving member benefits through an institutional membership do not qualify.