Programs

The American Institute for Conservation is the national membership organization supporting conservation professionals in preserving cultural heritage. We accomplish this mission through the following programs.

Uphold Professional Standards

Professional Designation

We maintain a Professional Designation program for conservation professionals who have had their training, knowledge, and experience reviewed by a body of professional conservators who are recognized in the field.

Professional Services Tool

We list members with professional designation in Find a Professional, which provides users with a systematic, consistent method of obtaining identifying and locating professional conservation services from all across the United States and abroad.

Code of Ethics

We established a Code of Ethics, which are principles that guide conservation professionals and others who are involved in the care of cultural property. They assume certain obligations when interacting with cultural property, to the owners and custodians of those items, to the conservation profession, and to society as a whole in the course of their practice.

Leadership opportunities

We offer members a chance to show their organizational leadership skills with many leadership opportunities. Overseen by a board of directors, our various committees, networks, and specialty groups contribute to the health and vitality of the entire organization and the profession as a whole.

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Promote Research and Publications

Journal

We publish the Journal of the American Institute for Conservation (JAIC), which is our primary vehicle for the publication of peer-reviewed technical studies, research papers, treatment case studies, and ethics and standards discussions relating to field of conservation and preservation.

Newsletter

We publish AIC News, a member-only newsletter published online six times per year. It provides members with up-to-date news on: national and international conservation issues, new materials and research, organizational matters, group and network activities, conferences, publications, and employment opportunities.

Books & Periodicals

We prepare Books & Periodicals, which are typically a collection of long-form articles on topics which were originally presented upon at our annual meeting. While not peer-reviewed, these postprints present a wealth of information about current topics in conservation as well as insight into conservation treatments.

Wiki

We maintain a conservation wiki that includes working knowledge on materials and techniques used to preserve and treat works of art and historic artifacts.

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Provide Educational Opportunities

Annual Meeting

We organize our Annual Meeting, the largest gathering of conservation professionals in North America each year. Conservation professionals as well as students entering the field enjoy the opportunity to listen to talks about the latest research, network with fellow conservators, and learn about new products in the industry. 

Outreach & Advocacy

We provide Conservation Outreach tools to promote the field of conservation and the work conservation professionals do. Learn how to take care of your personal heritage with our Caring for Your Treasures series. Take part in a Community Partnership Project, or advocate for conservation.

Social Media

We maintain a presence on several mainstream Social Media outlets, which you can use to connect with your colleagues, find programming, or just learn more about the field.