Submit a Manuscript to the Journal
Journal of the American Institute for Conservation
For a Special Issue on
Conservation Outreach and Community Engagement
Abstract deadline
Manuscript deadline
Special Issue Editor(s)
Ellen Chase,
National Museum of Asian Art, Smithsonian Institution
chaseel@si.edu
Rebecca Rushfield,
Independent Consultant
wittert@juno.com
Conservation Outreach and Community Engagement
Due to the enthusiasm for the 2025 AIC Annual Meeting Concurrent Session "We're All in This Together: Conservation Outreach and Community Engagement," the Outreach and K-12 subcommittees are putting together a special issue of the JAIC on the topic. The aim of the special issue is to expand upon the presentations from the annual meeting and highlight successful case studies as well as moments of reflection on challenges. Conservation outreach and engagement are inherently collaborative and encompass a wide range of activities, from writing a blog post to developing a K-12 curriculum. They can involve building relationships with anyone from fellow museum professionals to the general public. Outreach and storytelling are essential to the future of the field, but it can seem daunting to begin engaging in this work.
We invite papers from anyone involved in outreach and community engagement work, including from people in private practice, emerging professionals, museum educators and other allied professionals.
Article types sought include research articles, short case studies, literature reviews, and ethical considerations.
Submission Instructions
Areas of interest include but are not limited to:
- Building diverse audiences and community engagement
- Creating understanding with museum colleagues and allied professionals
- Gaining buy-in and/or funding for cultural heritage preservation; political advocacy
- K-12 or family programs and intergenerational learning
- Outreach to artists
- Experiences speaking with the media
SUBMISSION DETAILS
Authors are invited to submit an abstract in Word format (500 words max), including title of the proposed paper, and an article outline to the organizers by September 15, 2026, at chaseel@si.edu or wittert@juno.com.
The organizers will notify authors by October 31, 2026, of their decision, and selected articles must be submitted in their entirety through JAIC’s online portal by April 30, 2027.
You may send inquiries about the special issue to Ellen Chase and Rebecca Rushfield at the above email addresses.