A multicolor abstract stain glass art made fully of Fillet pieces

Bringing undervalued

PEOPLE

and overlooked

PLACES

to the forefront of

PRESERVATION

The link between people and place has been broken

Artists and tradespeople (like other marginalized groups) in art & architectural preservation are often considered interchangeable and sacrificial — unseen and on the borders of society. But spaces we re/create and preserve are celebrated, often viewed as coveted locations that anchor communities.

Embracing a new approach to preservation

We seek to highlight people and places on the outskirts of art and preservation. The Fillet Foundation embraces a new approach to preservation by re/envisioning training for all and elevating folks who do the hands-on work.

Preservation with

PURPOSE

We facilitate educational, training, and job opportunities for people who may not have had the chance to work directly in a conservation or preservation setting due to intentional or unconscious bias.

We do this by empowering our collaborative partners through sharing the importance of preserving cultural landscapes, ourselves and the environment.

We

C.A.R.E.

Our work is most fulfilling at the intersection of equity, preservation and art

Conservation: Connecting culturally rich, but historically cash poor, projects to professional art conservation grants and other pro bono, or "low bono" services.
Restorative Preservation: Decolonizing preservation treatments by sharing skills and experiences. Pairing people through art and practice with reciprocal opportunities for cultural exchange.
Engagement: Cultivating community through presentations with a special focus on health & safety, introductions to preservation for K-12 students, & providing resources like access to respirator fit tests.
A group of people in PPE gear working on a ladder on the front of a building
4 people standing together around a table working together in a studio space
Artist Demetrius Philp teaching 3-4 people around a table showing photos of his work
A person teaching young children about stain glass in a classroom

What’s a Fillet?

Fillets (“fill-its”) are border pieces in traditional “stone-set” stained glass windows. Designed to be sacrificed in order to protect the central design, most, if not all, are destroyed or replaced during removal and reinstallation.

Yet, these pieces are essential in anchoring art glass within an architectural framework. Much like artists and tradespeople, the fillets connect the window (art) to the rest of the building (society).