Our Association
The American Institute for Conservation (AIC) is the leading membership association for current and aspiring conservators and allied professionals who preserve cultural heritage. We are a 501(c)6 organization.
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.
Our 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.
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.
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.
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.