| Paintings | Paper | Textiles

• Conservation quality board, with a neutral or alkaline pH, is the preferred material for window mats and back mats. Items should be " hinged" to the back mat and not overall adhered or mounted to a board.
• Overexposure to light can cause structural damage to the paper support and can induce visual changes to the media such as fading of watercolor. The use of an ultraviolet filtering glazing material in the frame will lessen light exposure.
• Avoid storing items in basements with damp and dark conditions. Paper will buckle and distort in damp conditions and mold will grow, staining paper and media.
• The hot and dry atmosphere in an attic can cause paper to contract and tears may form on the sheet. A room or a closet, in the interior of the home, can serve as a stable storage area.

• Don’t be fooled that UV-absorbing glass completely protects your framed textile; visible light must also be controlled. Since any amount of light is damaging to textiles, there must be a balance between enjoying them and protecting them. Try to keep your textiles out of direct sun and sunny rooms. It is a good idea to keep drapes closed and lights off in rooms that have textiles.
• If you are storing your textiles, try to keep them in a room that is lived in and avoid basements and attics. The general rule of thumb is: if you are comfortable, so are your historic textiles.
• Never use a cedar chest or any wooden or cardboard box to store a textile, even when the textile is wrapped in acid-free tissue. Any wood or cardboard will cause permanent staining. Wrap your textiles in a clean cotton sheet or pillowcase if you don’t have acid-free tissue paper available.

• Original framing, especially when selected by the artist, should usually be kept. Paintings almost always look best in frames that the artist chose or designed. Keeping the original frame informs us how an artwork was presented when it was conceived.
• To prevent a painting from falling off the wall, always make sure that the picture wire is strong, D-rings are used to attach the wire to the frame, and one, or two large hanging hooks, are anchored securely to the wall where the painting is hung.