On June 22, 2017, U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Democrat Eliot Engel (D-NY) were presented with the American Institute for Conservation’s highest honor, the award of the Forbes Medal, for their bipartisan efforts that resulted in the creation of the “Protect and Preserve International Cultural Property Act.” Now passed into law, this act imposes new, stronger import restrictions on antiquities that are trafficked out of Syria. By reducing trade in looted artifacts and the profits from looting, historic sites in the Middle East and the cultural material they contain are better shielded, and, by extension, knowledge of our past, of our shared humanity, is saved. During the presentation on Capitol Hill, Chairman Royce said, “I want to thank the American Institute for Conservation for all of its important work. We are witnessing a cultural devastation in the Middle East. ISIS, Assad and other parties to the conflict are decimating the region’s Greek, Roman, and Byzantine heritage, and sites and artifacts of importance to all three major faiths, from Sufi Shrines to Jonah’s tomb. The U.S. must always lead in supporting those in conflict zones who are risking their lives to preserve the world’s history for future generations.” Recent turmoil in the Middle East – particularly in Syria and Iraq – led to a thriving trade in looted artifacts, benefiting organization such as ISIS. AIC is pleased to celebrate these U.S. Congressmen who recognized the dangers of such looting, and worked across the aisle to protect precious cultural heritage from exploitation. “On behalf of the board of directors of the American Institute for Conservation, I extend our thanks to Representatives Engel and Royce for their individual efforts and for their guidance of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs that has both established a precedent for and emphasized the necessity of protecting cultural heritage,” said AIC Executive Director Eryl Wentworth. “This award is a fitting way to recognize their bipartisan work on behalf of the American and global community to preserve objects and sites of cultural heritage.” The AIC Forbes Medal celebrates those whose work on national and international platforms has significantly advanced the preservation of cultural heritage. Prior to honoring Congressmen Engel and Royce, only eight recipients had received this honor since its inception in 1994. The Forbes Medal is named for Edward Waldo Forbes (1873-1969), who served as director of the Fogg Museum at Harvard University from 1909 through 1944. He founded the country’s first fine arts conservation treatment and research center, and was dedicated to technical research of artworks. Four years after retiring from the Fogg, he founded and served as director of the American Research Center in Egypt. |
Tag: awards
Call for Nominations: Paul Banks and Carolyn Harris Preservation Award
Deadline for nominations is December 1, 2012.
Please help recognize an outstanding colleague by nominating them for the Paul Banks and Carolyn Harris Award. The award is given to recognize the contribution of a professional preservation specialist who has been active in the field of preservation and/or conservat
ion for library and/or archival materials. The winner will be determined by the person’s accomplishments as they relate to preservation leadership in such activities as:
- Leadership in professional associations at local, state, regional or national level
- Contributions to the development, application or utilization of new or improved methods, techniques and routines
- Evidence of studies or research in preservation
- Significant contribution to professional literature
- Training and mentoring in the field of preservation
To submit a nomination, please send the following to the jury chair by the deadline
- Name of nominee;
- A formal statement of nomination, with a brief rationale for the nomination;
- A resume or narrative career outline upon which the award jury can base its determinations.
Beth Doyle, Jury Chair
b.doyle [at] duke__edu
Duke University Libraries
Letters of endorsement are encouraged and should provide additional evidence of the worthiness of the nominee. Nominations for persons not selected for the award in one year may be updated and resubmitted. Current employees of Preservation Technologies are not eligible.
For complete information on the award including a list of jury members, please visit www.ala.org/alcts/awards/profrecognition/banksharris
Call for Nominations: George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg Preservation Award
The was established by the Preservation and Reformatting Section (PARS) to honor the memory of George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg, early leaders in cooperative preservation programming and strong advocates for collaboration in the field of preservation.
The award acknowledges and supports cooperative preservation projects and/or rewards individuals or groups that foster collaboration for preservation goals. Recipients of the George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg Award demonstrate vision, endorse cooperation and advocate for the preservation of published and primary source resources that capture the richness of our cultural patrimony. The award recognizes the leadership and initiative required to build collaborative networks designed to achieve specific preservation goals. Any person or group is eligible for this award; membership in ALA is not required. The Cunha/Swartzburg Award is sponsored by Hollinger Metal Edge and includes a $1,250 grant and citation.
Send nominations, including the name of the person or group being nominated; address, phone number and email address of nominee and nominating party; a formal statement of nomination, with rationale for the nomination; resume, vita or extensive narrative career outline upon which the award jury can base its determination; and letters of support and endorsement, to Kris Kern, chair, Cunha/Swartzburg Jury, kernk [at] pdx__edu
For more information, visit www.ala.org/alcts/awards/profrecognition/lbicunhaswartz
Kristen Kern
Fine and Performing Arts Librarian
Portland State Library
503-725-5218
Recognize Your Colleagues-Nominate them for an AIC Award!
At some point in every career the guidance, support, or encouragement of a peer makes a world of difference. Every year AIC gives awards to exemplary conservators and other professionals
for their outstanding and distinguished contributions to the field. AIC members nominate the candidates for each award and the AIC Awards Committee selects the recipients.
Which of your colleagues deserve recognition in the following award categories?
AIC Publications Award—recognizes excellence in a non-AIC Journal article or book on conservation published during the preceding two years (October 1–September 31).
Robert Feller Lifetime Achievement Award—recognizes exceptional contributions to the conservation profession over the course of one’s career.
Sheldon and Caroline Keck Award—for excellence in the education and training of conservation professionals.
Rutherford John Gettens Merit Award—for outstanding service to the American Institute for Conservation (AIC).
Conservation Advocacy Award (formerly the University Products Award)—for the accomplishments and contributions for conservation professionals who, through substantial efforts in outreach and advocacy, have advanced the field of conservation and furthered the cause of conservation.
These AIC awards are truly special and meaningful to their recipients, especially because they represent peer recognition and distinction. Nominate someone special today!
Many institutions, organizations, and individuals support the care of collections and the field of conservation in a variety of ways important to us all. To which award category below can you
submit a strong nomination?
Forbes Medal—for distinguished contributions to the field of conservation by a nationally prominent figure whose work on a national or international platform has significantly advanced the preservation of cultural heritage.
Special Recognition for Allied Professionals—in recognition of the work and contributions by professionals in other fields to the advancement of the conservation profession. Distinguished Award for Advancement for the Field of Conservation—recognizes institutions for vital and longstanding support of professional development activities of conservators.
Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and care of Collections, a joint AIC and Heritage Preservation Award—recognizing an organization large or small whose commitment to conservation has been sustained and exemplary.
For more information and award applications, please visit www.conservation-us.org/awards. The nomination deadline for all awards is December 15, 2012.
Recognize Your Colleagues – Nominate them for an Award by December 15th
Please remember that if you would like to nominate a colleague for an AIC award, the deadline is December 15, 2011.Every year, AIC gives out seven different awards to exemplary conservators and other professionals for outstanding and distinguished contributions to the field of conservation, in addition to two awards for organizations that have shown a strong commitment to conservation. AIC members nominate the candidates for each award, and the winners are selected by the AIC Awards Committee. The Awards are:
Robert L. Feller Lifetime Achievement Award for exceptional contributions to the conservation profession over the course of one’s career
Sheldon and Caroline Keck Award for excellence in the education and training of conservation professionals
Rutherford John Gettens Merit Award for outstanding service to the American Institute for Conservation
Honorary Membership for outstanding contributions to the field of conservation
Conservation Advocacy Award for accomplishments and contributions of conservation professionals who, through substantial efforts in outreach and advocacy, have advanced the field of conservation
AIC Publications Award for excellence in an article, e-publication, or book on conservation
Special Recognition for Allied Professionals for contributions by professionals in other fields in the advancement of the conservation profession
AIC/Heritage Preservation Ross Merrill Award for Outstanding Commitment to the Preservation and Care of Collectionsfor organizations that have been exemplary in the importance and priority they have given to conservation concerns and in the commitment they have shown to the preservation and care of their cultural property
Distinguished Award for Advancement of the Field of Conservation for institutions for vital and long-standing support of professional development activities of conservators
AIC awards are truly special and meaningful to their recipients, especially because they represent peer recognition and distinction. Please take a few minutes to let us know about the colleagues and institutions that deserve recognition for making significant contributions to our field. For more information and application forms, please visit AIC’s website.
Call for nominations: George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg Preservation Award ALCTS 2012 Preservation Awards
Nominations are being accepted for the 2012 Association for Library Collections and Technical Services (ALCTS) George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg Preservation Award. ALCTS presents this award to honor individuals whose work represents the finest achievements in research, collaboration, creative work, leadership and service in preservation.
If you are interested in nominating a candidate, contact award jury chair Michele Stricker atmstricker [at] njstatelib__org.
The deadline for nominations and supporting materials is Dec. 1, 2011.
The George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg Preservation Award was established by the Preservation and Reformatting Section (PARS) to honor the memory of George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg, early leaders in cooperative preservation programming and strong advocates for collaboration in the field of preservation.
The award acknowledges and supports cooperative preservation projects and/or rewards individuals or groups that foster collaboration for preservation goals. Recipients of the George Cunha and Susan Swartzburg Award demonstrate vision, endorse cooperation and advocate for the preservation of published and primary source resources that capture the richness of our cultural patrimony. The award recognizes the leadership and initiative required to build collaborative networks designed to achieve specific preservation goals. Any person or group is eligible for this award; membership in ALA is not required. The Cunha/Swartzburg Award is sponsored by Hollinger Metal Edge and includes a $1,250 grant and citation.
Send nominations, including the name of the person or group being nominated; address, phone number and email address of nominee and nominating party; a formal statement of nomination, with rationale for the nomination; resume, vita or extensive narrative career outline upon which the award jury can base its determination; and letters of support and endorsement, to
Michele Stricker, chair
Cunha/Swartzburg Jury
mstricker [at] njstatelib__org
Visit the Cunha Swartzburg page for more information: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/alcts/awards/profrecognition/lbicunhaswartz.cfm