I have worked at several museums and galleries and have become aware of the necessity to take proper care of artwork. I have seen works that receive or have received damage that could have easily been prevented if the artist or subsequent owner of the artwork would have taken the correct measures to archive their work.
Do you take the proper steps to ensure that your artwork is archived and stored properly? When you display your work, are you using caution to place it in an environment that will not damage it? Here is a simple starter article from the Canadian Art Collection that discusses both museum and home practices that will make your artwork last longer.
http://www.mcmichael.com/artwork.cfm#light