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The AIC Wiki is sponsored by the American Institute for Conservation with content created by the various AIC Specialty Groups, Networks and Committees. Several of the Specialty Groups had "AIC Conservation Catalogs," compendia of working knowledge on materials and techniques used to preserve and treat works of art and historic artifacts. The series, begun in 1985 in print format and still in active development, was intended to be updated on an ongoing basis as techniques, technologies, and modes of practice evolve. Placing this content on the AIC wiki platform allows for easy and timely collaborative editing and also provide much broader access to these resources, ensuring that innovative methods and materials are documented and widely disseminated to practicing conservators and conservation scientists. Other groups have documented their knowledge bases directly on this wiki platform. Each section of the wiki may have a different organizational structure and while there is an overall template for many entries, these have been modified to meet the needs of each group.

Check Out What's New!

Two new content pages have been recently added to the Wiki:

• The Volatile Organic Compound Database provides information on chemical compounds that have been confirmed, through analysis, to be harmful to collection materials. This new resource is a work in progress. Please contact the AIC e-Editor with questions, feedback or interest in expanding the database.
• A new page on Permanent, Temporary, and Loan Display Case Guidelines hosts PDFs of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Display Case Specifications for Permanent Galleries, Temporary Exhibitions and Borrowers. If your institution is willing to share similar guidelines, please contact the AIC e-Editor.

Click on the subjects below to access the in depth content as well as to view more information on the original source and format.

Materials and Treatment

• Architecture
• Archaeological Conservation
• Book and Paper
• Electronic Media
• Objects
• Paintings
• Photographic Materials
• Textiles
• Wooden Artifacts

Research and Analysis

• Materials Testing
• Instrumental Analysis
• Environmental Testing
• Case Studies

Preventive Care

• Collection Care
• Environmental Guidelines
• Choosing Materials for Storage, Exhibition & Transport
• Exhibition Guidelines & Best Practices
• Housing Design & Specifications
• Mounts & Mountmaking
• Emergency Preparedness & Response

Workplace Practices

• Imaging
• Health & Safety
• Sustainable Practices
• Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility
• Public Relations and Outreach Toolkit
• Setting up a Conservation Lab
• Business Practices for Conservators

Education & Professional Development

• Professional Development and Career Resources
• Resources for Emerging Conservation Professionals
• Teaching Conservation
• K-12 Educational Resources on Conservation
• Accessing Conservation Literature

Additional Topics

• Conservation Supply Sources
• History of Conservation and Conservators
• AIC Institutional History
• FAIC Institutional History
• Conservation Organizations and Conferences
• Exhibiting Conservation
• Lexicon

Getting Started

A Message about our funder

This website was developed under a grant from the National Park Service and the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the American Institute for Conservation and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the National Park Service or the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training.

To contribute to the AIC wiki please:

• Read up - Read the AIC wiki user guidelines page for background information on how to use and contribute to this resource.
• Identify yourself - Contact the AIC e-Editor to indicate your interest and be put in touch with the appropriate AIC Wiki Chairs and Editors
• Get trained - The AIC e-Editor will create an account with Creator level access after training has been completed. Visit the Getting Started page for more information on how to access the training resources and for quick links to some of the most common style features on the site.

For more information on editing, visit the Help:Editing page and the Wiki Editors' Resources page.