Company Profile
Westlake Art Conservation Center
Company Overview
Westlake Art Conservation Center is a nationally recognized nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation, treatment, and stewardship of artistic and cultural heritage. Located in Owasco, New York, Westlake partners with museums, historical societies, libraries, and private collectors across the Northeast to conserve paintings, works on paper, photographs, frames, murals, objects, and architectural elements.
All conservation work is carried out in accordance with the American Institute for Conservation's Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice. Through its conservation labs, climate-controlled storage, educational programming, and community outreach, Westlake serves as a regional center for the care of cultural property and a resource for the communities and institutions that hold it.
Company History
Westlake Art Conservation Center is the legacy of Susan Blakney, a Fellow of both the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and the International Institute for Conservation (IIC), who founded the practice in 1975 as West Lake Conservators. At a time when professional conservation services were virtually unknown in the Finger Lakes region, Blakney — together with her sister and business partner Margaret Sutton, an expert in painting supports and lining techniques — built a practice that became a trusted resource for institutions and collectors across Central New York and beyond.
For nearly five decades, West Lake Conservators operated as a private conservation lab, developing a reputation for technical excellence, mentorship, and regional service. In 2022, the practice transitioned to nonprofit status as Westlake Art Conservation Center, expanding its mission to include public education, cultural advocacy, and community enrichment alongside its conservation work.
In April 2025, Westlake relocated to a new 13,500-square-foot purpose-built facility overlooking Owasco Lake, situated on a 250-acre property that will include a public nature preserve. The new headquarters houses dedicated conservation labs for paintings and paper, a photography suite, climate-controlled fine art storage, a gallery, and educational spaces for workshops, seminars, and exhibitions — reflecting the organization's commitment not only to conserving objects, but to fostering broad public engagement with cultural and environmental stewardship.
Benefits
Westlake offers a collaborative, mission-driven environment where conservation science, scholarship, and community intersect. Staff regularly participate in advanced professional training and contribute to the field through conferences, publications, and exchanges with national and international peers. The organization's expanded facility provides a setting for meaningful, long-term work — treating collections of lasting cultural significance for institutions, families, and collectors who trust Westlake to carry that responsibility with care.
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