I have often been met by blank stares when I tell someone outside the art community that I am training to become an art conservator. They may have never heard of the American Institute for Conservation, but for me it’s been a fantastic boon.
Being a member of AIC shows an ongoing commitment to the field, the institution and its values. Membership helps support all of the advocacy and education work AIC does for the conservation of art and historic artifacts. Increasing public awareness of the work we do and its importance is a cause I hold dear and am happy to contribute to, even if I can only do so in small ways. In fact, as you probably know already, the 2012 annual meeting is all about outreach.
When I first joined AIC I had my doubts, and many other emerging professionals do too. I had been told by more established professionals that I should join AIC right away. But was membership something I could benefit from, even when I wasn’t 100% sure I would stay in the profession? Was it really worth the fee? Was I going to get anything out of joining?
The membership fee for students is $65. At first this sounded like quite a lot to me because at that time I was a pre-program intern: getting paid little or nothing, commuting long hours, taking pre-requisite classes in the evenings, and babysitting to try to afford all this. But once I realized what being a member actually meant (and that it is only about $5 a month) I decided it was well worth it.
Having access to the latest issues of AIC News and JAIC is a great way to keep up with current research, publications, internships and other career development opportunities. I really enjoy pouring over the printed issues when I get them in the mail. AIC News keeps me up to date with who and what is happening in the field. JAIC provides more depth of knowledge and food for thought. While older volumes of both publications are available online, I find that this resource is really best used when searching for specific information. Also, the annual directory helps me find members by institution, name or geographical area.
AIC is about connecting, communicating, and being committed to conservation.
Thank you for sharing your experience with AIC. I am currently finishing my senior year as a Art History major and plan to enter the field of historic preservation and art conservation. Having no professional affiliation with an organization such as this or anyone in the field, I think its imperative for me to join and become a “mentee.”