The Emerging Conservation Professionals Network (ECPN) Officers are thrilled for the AIC Annual Meeting in Minneapolis next week! We're particularly excited to see early career professionals showcased in nearly all specialty group talks, concurrent sessions, and posters.
Are you presenting or authoring a project? Be sure your name is on the list of ECP presenters. If it's not there, please add!
Also, check out ECPN's Wiki Page on Presenting Talks & Posters for tips.
ECPN is dedicated to supporting those entering the field or in the early stages of their careers. The AIC Annual Meeting provides a unique platform to connect with peers, participate in ECPN-organized events, and experience a major professional gathering. We've highlighted a few events that may be of interest to the ECPN community below. We also extend our gratitude to the Getty Conservation Institute for their generous sponsorship of ECPN's Happy Hour. Learn more about the AIC Annual Meeting and how to register for the conference and ticketed events on the AIC website.
ECPN Happy Hour
Wednesday, May 28th, from 7:30-9:30 pm at Brit’s Pub
Join fellow emerging conservators for a fun and informative evening of networking and refreshments! The event will be in the Lower Long Room at Brit’s Pub, a 4-minute walk from the conference venue. No registration is required, but note that space is limited so come early.
Cost: FREE - registration not required
INCCA-CAN! Speed Mentoring
Thursday, May 29th from 1:00-2:00 pm at the conference venue
The event consists of up to three informal, 10-minute, one-on-one sessions with the mentors of your choice, pending availability. You can discuss anything with your speed mentor – this is your dedicated time to chat without the usual distractions of conferences! Check out the full bios for mentors here: Mentor Roster - AIC Speed Mentoring 2025, and fill out this Registration Form if you would like to participate as a mentee.
Cost: FREE - registration required
Embracing “It Depends”: A Collaborative Discussion on Navigating Ambiguity in Art Conservation, Luncheon
Friday, May 30th, from 12:00-2:00 pm at the conference venue
Organized by: Madeline Hagerman, Director, Undergraduate Program, Assistant Professor, University of Delaware
Art conservation is a field filled with ambiguity, where often there is no single “right” answer to a conservation challenge. This uncertainty can be frustrating and liberating, especially for students and emerging professionals accustomed to clear-cut solutions. This interactive session will explore the role of uncertainty in conservation and how it can be leveraged to foster creativity, critical thinking, and resilience among early-career professionals.
Cost: $35
(Textiles) Alf Engen Ski Museum Gets a Lift
Friday, May 30th, from 11:00-11:30 am at the conference venue
Speaker: Reilly Jensen, Museums Field Services Coordinator, Utah Division of Arts & Museums
Authors: Kaela Nurmi, Marie D. Desrochers, Reilly Jensen, and Steph Guidera
Learn more about last year’s Community Partnership Project (CPP) organized by Utah Field Services (UFS), and AIC Textile Specialty Group (TSG), and ECPN. These groups joined forces to describe, assess, and rehouse a collection of ski fashion history objects at the Alf Engen Ski Museum in Park City, Utah, during the 2024 Annual Meeting.
8th Annual Mistakes Session
Saturday, May 31st, from 5:00-6:00 pm at the conference hotel
Close out the Annual Meeting with “A Failure Shared in Not a Failure: Learning from Our Mistakes.” Conservators from all specialty groups are invited to gather and share some of their less happy moments, including treatment errors, mishaps and accidents, with the idea of helping our colleagues not to repeat them. It's always challenging, hilarious, sad, fun, sobering, and reassuring, and there will be a cash bar!
Cost: FREE - registration not required
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