Email digest for the Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList) egroup. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. Expanding AIC Voter Eligibility 2. 12-month Internship in Time-Based Media Conservation, Irish Museum of Modern Art (Dublin) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.From: George Wheeler Posted: Sunday August 9, 2026 2:12 AM Subject: Expanding AIC Voter Eligibility Message: I am grateful to Bonnie Naugle and Noah Smutz for providing background and information as I try to focus my thinking on the upcoming vote to expand voting rights to all AIC members. What follows are some points that I hope that members will consider before casting their vote. First, I am uncomfortable with members of the AIC leadership, whether officers, committee members, or staff, urging us to vote a certain way (in this case "for"). This is particularly concerning when those solicitations do not include full discussions of plusses, minuses, and implications, or, when the argument is framed as standing on higher moral and ethical grounds. Strictly from a political strategy point of view, doing so is risky and often leads to backlash. Put in simple language, no one likes to be told what to do, particularly from those in positions of authority. This is human nature. A version of this played out during the exploration of certification in 2010, which led to a strong vote against certification. Second, some members have characterized the vote as "simply" bringing our By-Laws into conformity. There are some good arguments for that conformity. One is fairness: if you are obliged to follow the Code of Ethics, then you should be able to vote on it. Another is: if you want to enjoy the benefits of membership, you should pay a price for that. However, there is nothing "simple" about this decision and to characterize it in that way is either naive or disingenuous. In conversations with other AIC members, the questions that arise are: 1. Has this vote and the previous vote that expanded conformity to the Code of Ethics to all members been fully thought through? 2. Is possible that we would be compounding an error we have already made? I wonder if we could engage in the wonderful development in recent years at the AIC Annual Meeting where we openly discuss our "mistakes"? Third, there are other options for membership, and the associated responsibilities and obligations of that membership, that many other professional organizations enact. Some such categories of membership do not provide voting rights or demand professional ethical obligations. These memberships could apply to people from allied disciplines who wish to be a member in AIC, or to those in conservation who do not want to make the effort and take on responsibilities of a PM or a Fellow. It also allows someone to retain membership even when they object to all or parts of the Code of Ethics. This is not a trivial point. The recent draft of the Code (currently being edited), replete with virtue signaling and legal concerns for those in private practice, gave many of us pause and would undoubtedly have led to loss of membership. Finally, my hope is that the current vote for extension of voting rights will be withdrawn or that members reject the proposal. I believe we need to fully consider (and perhaps reconsider) the impact of the decisions we have and might make. *(See optional personal note) My further hope is that those working on the next draft of the Code of Ethics make it simple. Important issues like climate change and global warming (which all members might not agree on) might be better addressed in The Guidelines for Practice or even better, in a position or white paper that helps guide or stimulate people's thinking without demanding agreement or conformity (such as the AIC's position paper on the trade in African elephant ivory). In my view the Code of Ethics boils down to: don't hurt art and anyone associated with it. *Personal note: I have often heard and have sometimes fallen prey to: elders have wisdom and youth has energy. This statement flies in the face of my personal experience. While I know a few elders with lots of energy, I have had the experience and privilege of working with bright, energetic and indeed wise students and other young professionals. It is a false dichotomy that promotes intergenerational divide when what we need, particularly at this time, is intergenerational solidarity. ------------------------------ George Wheeler Senior Scientist Highbridge Materials Consulting, Inc. New York United States ------------------------------ 2.From: Brian Castriota Posted: Saturday August 8, 2026 9:11 AM Subject: 12-month Internship in Time-Based Media Conservation, Irish Museum of Modern Art (Dublin) Message: The Heritage Council and the Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA) are pleased to offer a 12-month, post-graduate Internship in Time-Based Media Art Conservation. IMMA is home to Ireland's National Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art, with over 3,500 artworks by Irish and international artists. The successful applicant will develop and broaden their knowledge and experience working with collections of time-based media, and support the IMMA Collection team in their ongoing efforts to advance conservation practices around IMMA's time-based media holdings. This opportunity is open to recent graduates (within two years of completing a relevant MA or MSc programme) who are interested in pursuing a career in the conservation of time-based media and contemporary art. The salary for this role is aligned with public sector pay scales and is set at €38,803 per annum, corresponding to Point 1 of the Executive Officer Standard (PPC) scale, effective from 1st June 2026. For more information, including details on how to apply, please visit: https://imma.bamboohr.com/careers/76 <https://imma.bamboohr.com/careers/76> ------------------------------ Dr Brian Castriota Lecturer in Conservation of Contemporary Art and Media University College London London United Kingdom ------------------------------ You are subscribed to "Global Conservation Forum (ConsDistList)" as [email protected]. To change your subscriptions, go to http://community.culturalheritage.org/preferences?section=Subscriptions. To unsubscribe from this community discussion, go to https://community.culturalheritage.org/HigherLogic/eGroups/Unsubscribe.aspx?UserKey=d16eaa87-0f69-494b-9f2f-303dbc1222e1&sKey=fab9aa4f27a04c5d876e&GroupKey=757a8f16-505f-4323-8e74-e376757aa9f7.
