A group of people smile and talk during a workshop inside a conference room

The inaugural 2002 Directors' Retreat took place at the Airlie Conference Center in Warrenton, Virginia, from October 10 to 12, 2002. The retreat, offered in partnership with the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC), focused on the needs and strategies of AIC's newly expanding national program for mid-career professional development, launched by a generous endowment from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Having already developed a strategic plan for professional development and conducted a membership survey in 2001 on continuing education needs, AIC wanted the perspective of conservation education experts to help guide the program into the future. In attendance were directors of academic programs and professional organizations providing conservation education.

Throughout the three-day retreat, the participants explored various issues and possibilities relating to conservators' mid-career educational needs. The retreat resulted in a profusion of ideas, resources, and strategies, providing new insights and direction for AIC's Professional Development Program. Many participants remarked that the information acquired during the retreat would aid them in their own educational efforts. Several also offered to collaborate with AIC in achieving its new mid-career professional development goals. A final report from the 2002 retreat is available in PDF format in the Resources section.

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