American Institute for Conservation

The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is the leading membership association for current and aspiring conservators and allied professionals who preserve cultural heritage. We represent more than 3,500 individuals in more than forty countries around the world working in the domains of science, art, and history through treatment, research, collections care, education, and more. All of them have the same goal: preserve our cultural heritage so we can learn from it today and appreciate it in the future. Mission We are the national membership organization supporting conservation professionals in preserving cultural heritage by establishing and upholding professional standards, promoting research and publications, providing educational opportunities, and fostering the exchange of knowledge among conservators, allied professionals, and the public. Values COMMUNITY Our joy and strength come from working together; we are committed to fostering a welcoming, accessible, respectful, and active community within our profession and with the wider world through collaboration with new and existing partners. We believe that we are stronger advocates for ourselves and the field when we use our collective voice. DIVERSITY We embrace diversity in our membership, our partners, our initiatives, the objects and sites we preserve, and the collections and clients we serve. EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS We support equity and equitable decision-making for our members and our partners, and we strive to provide an inclusive environment and accessible opportunities for all members, especially those who are underrepresented or marginalized. PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH We are dedicated to helping our members learn, grow, contribute, create, and thrive throughout their careers. SUSTAINABILITY We advocate for sustainable practices to fight the impacts of the climate crisis, preserve heritage at risk, and improve our field. ACCOUNTABILITY We value good governance and financial responsibility; we invest in our members and are committed to doing so ethically, sustainably, and transparently. We are committed to listening to our members and responding to their input.