AIC's 53rd Annual Meeting

The collaboration between the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), Spelman College Museum of Fine Art, and the Atlanta University Center (AUC) Collective represents a significant initiative to enhance diversity in the conservation field. This partnership aims to provide collections care exposure, education, and pipeline opportunities for students from the AUC, which includes Spelman College, Clark Atlanta University, and Morehouse College. As part of the world’s largest consortium of historically Black institutions, this collaboration leverages the AUC Art History and Curatorial Studies Collective, an emerging leader in nurturing Black art historians, curators, and museum professionals. As an active educational partner of the AUC Collective and the only museum in the nation with a mission focused on women artists of the African diaspora, the Spelman Museum is uniquely poised to respond to calls for social and racial justice impacting the museum industry.

Through a $500,000 IMLS grant, the Spelman Museum focuses on advancing collections care, accessibility, and diversity. The project emphasizes educational programs and student participation, offering work-study and internship opportunities to foster hands-on experience in conservation while digitization and organization of the museum's collection, which comprises a nationally recognized repository of works by Black artists.

The initiative also explores integrating conservation into the AUC Collective curriculum, offering workshops and exploring various training modules. This collaboration aims to make significant strides in diversifying the field of conservation and enhancing the cultural vitality of the museum industry.

Keywords: Diversity, Conservation, Education, Collaboration, Atlanta University Center, Spelman College, Collections Care, Museum Studies, AUC Collective