Q&A with Rebecca Heyman, art conservation Fulbright recipient headed to the Netherlands

Buffalo State’s Patricia H. And Richard E. Garman Department of Art Conservation requires students to participate in internships in their third and final year of study. Students complete internships across the country and sometimes—like in the case of Rebecca “Bec” Heyman—the world.

Heyman, who is pursuing a dual master of arts in conservation of art and cultural heritage and a master of science in conservation science and imaging, applied for and received the Fulbright American Friends of the Mauritshuis Award, which means she will complete her internship as a research and conservation fellow through the University of Amsterdam (UvA) and the Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis in the Netherlands beginning in August 2026.

This will not be Heyman’s first time living in the Netherlands; during the summer of 2025, she lived in Maastricht as an intern of paintings conservation at a private practice. She said she was devastated to leave and knew she had to find her way back.

“I loved living in the Netherlands—the history, culture, people, and lifestyle were a good fit for me,” Heyman said. “The Mauritshuis is a prestigious institution that invented a lot of treatment techniques used on a global scale. It was an amazing work environment. I learned so much about paintings conservation and new techniques that I have brought back with me and continue to implement in my work I did everything in my power to return to the Netherlands to continue what I began last summer.”

“I am thrilled that Bec will be heading to the Netherlands for her third-year internship as a Fulbright Fellow in paintings conservation and will gain experience working with renowned international conservators,” said Fiona Beckett, associate professor of paintings conservation and Heyman’s advisor. “I know she will gain a wealth of experience at the Mauritshuis and have a wonderful time experiencing Dutch culture. I am very proud of her and know she will do a great job representing Buffalo State!”

Heyman gave a few moments of her time to discuss what excites her about the upcoming internship and how Buffalo State prepared her for this opportunity.

Tell us about the work you'll be doing in the Netherlands during the 2026–27 academic year. 
My primary focus will be researching and treating 17th and 18th century Dutch and Flemish easel paintings in the collection at the Mauritshuis, but I will also have the opportunity to attend classes and workshops at UvA. I am most excited to delve into art-making techniques used by 17th and 18th century Dutch artists and to explore these works of art from visual, art historical, and scientific perspectives.

Why is the Netherlands the right place for this work?
There is something special about the chance to work on such important historical artworks in the place that they were created. The Netherlands has always been a hub for art and culture, and I’m looking forward to walking around town and seeing some of the same sites and experiencing some of the same things that inspired the artists whose works are featured in the collection. 

What do you hope to learn?
I hope to refine my skills as a paintings conservator and gain more confidence in my decision-making and problem-solving.

What does being selected for this award mean to you?
I first learned about the existence of the Fulbright American Friends of the Mauritshuis Award back before graduate school while working as a lab tech in a paintings conservation lab at a different university. I found out one of the students there was applying for the award and I remember thinking that I would probably never be knowledgeable enough or skilled enough to even think about applying for something that prestigious. I never thought that winning an award like this was in the cards for me. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this insatiable curiosity about art and science. Receiving this award is the ultimate reward for my love of learning. I am doing something the younger version of me would be proud of, and it’s something that the adult version of me is really proud of too. 

How did Buffalo State and the support of faculty mentors prepare you?
There was no way I could have achieved this without the diligent and unwavering guidance and support from my advisors and professors. Not only did they teach me the skills I needed to know to succeed as a conservator, but they also gave me the confidence to apply. I am extremely grateful to SUNY Buffalo State's Center for Global Engagement for connecting me with Dr. Pixita del Prado. Dr. del Prado and Professor Beckett read draft after draft of my grant proposal, answered my endless questions, and always met my worries with encouragement. Professor Beckett and my former professor, Jiuan Jiuan Chen, also wrote letters of recommendation on my behalf. I don’t think there are enough words to express my gratitude to everyone who supported me through the application process and helped me feel prepared to take on an international move.

How do you expect this experience to shape your future path?
My experience as a Fulbright scholar will give me the opportunity to forge connections with conservators abroad and gain exposure to conservation treatment approaches and techniques that are not as widely practiced in the United States. Something that distinguishes a good conservator from a great one is the breadth of exposure to different cultures and knowledge. The things I learn about art conservation, as well as about myself, will make me a stronger conservator, and the confidence I gain will follow me through the rest of my career.

Photos courtesy Rebecca Heyman.