Mircea Maria Gerard Foundation

Rinascimento, Rebirth, Renaissance

Dedicated to advancing the field of conservation and restoration by exploring novel techniques and treatments, one moving work of art at a time and investing in the future by supporting emerging talent. Join us!

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The Mircea Maria Gerard Foundation, established in 2016 in memory of Mircea—a beloved
husband, son, friend, and art conservator—supports innovative conservation work in
Florence, Italy his final home. 

By exploring new techniques and technologies, nurturing emerging talent, and a deep commitment to shared cultural heritage, we aim to advance the conservation field and inspire hope, community and connection.

Join us in celebrating an individual life, and a shared future for all humanity. 

Our Mission

Our Work

Supporting Emerging Talent

About Mircea

Updates from the Founder

Florence, July 2025

Dear Friends of the Foundation,
It has now been a year since my last update. We chose to take a pause after nearly a decade of continuous planning and work, giving ourselves time to reflect, regroup, and look ahead. During this period, I completed my Master’s degree at the University of Bologna (yes, one of the oldest graduates at one of the oldest universities in the world). The research focuses on the escalating environmental crisis and its impact on cultural heritage generally and as reflected here in microcosm in Florence. This work was dedicated to Mircea and to the local conservation community. My research explored the challenges heritage conservators face firsthand and proposed ways to build resilience and adapt to the growing pressures on our planet and its ecosystems. Exploring how beloved works of art and their protection can be leveraged to raise public awareness and action.

Last month, Daniela Murphy and I had the honor of presenting the Foundation at a conference sponsored by the Cathedral Conservation Association. The theme—heritage conservation as outreach—felt close to home. We shared the story of Mircea’s Foundation and the way cultural heritage can serve as a living source of community, faith, and understanding. Our presentation stood out because the Foundations work exemplifies the very balance the organizers hoped to explore: bridging the human and spiritual dimensions of conservation with the practical realities of art restoration and tourism. You’ll find the full presentation and accompanying paper in the Our Work section.
Sadly, as we all know, war and conflict continue to spread across the globe. Combined with the devastating impact of environmental degradation, these forces pose urgent threats to the world’s cultural heritage. Our mission—to draw on cultural heritage as a source of resilience, empathy, and peace—has never felt more important.
We are now developing a new conservation initiative that reflects this commitment: to protect, and to promote peace through preservation. Please reach out if you have ideas. And stay tuned—we’ll be sharing more details soon.
To our younger visitors—or let’s say those newly entering the field—I want to personally welcome you. The Supporting Emerging Talent section has been refreshed with up-to-date opportunities for on-site experience and mentorship. I hope you’ll join us.
With warm regards and best wishes for the summer,

Luke Olbrich

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