2024 Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City
Join us onsite in gorgeous Utah or virtually for our 52nd Annual Meeting!
Register Reserve a Room
Dates: May 20-25, 2024
- Pre-session: May 20-21 (Monday & Tuesday)
- Main sessions: May 22-24 (Wednesday through Friday)
- Post-session: May 25 (Saturday)
We are excited to host this meeting at the Salt Palace Convention Center. Our hotels are conveniently located nearby. See our Accommodations & Travel page for more information.
Expect the Unexpected: Embracing and Managing Change, Uncertainty, and Surprise
In his novel Slapstick or Lonesome no More! Kurt Vonnegut wrote “history is merely a list of surprises… it can only prepare us to be surprised yet again.” For those of us working to study, treat, and preserve cultural heritage our jobs often involve encounters with the surprising and unexpected. We may encounter unanticipated materials on an object, have to change treatment methodology as new information comes to light, uncover new aspects of an artistic practice, discover unexpected advantages of a collaboration, or navigate shifting institutional or client priorities. While these types of uncertainty can be exciting, terrifying, and stressful, they present real opportunities for growth and learning. At AIC’s 52nd Annual Meeting – May 20-24th at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City, Utah – we want to hear your stories of encountering the unexpected, of the surprising things you’ve learned and the pivots you’ve had to make. Through sharing our experiences, we can help our community be prepared to be surprised (yet) again and to embrace and take full advantage of the opportunities presented when the unexpected occurs.