Last month, the American Institute of Conservation (AIC) board released an updated Position Statement On Contested Commemorative and Confederate Monuments. The statement aims to address AIC’s mission to support conservators by clarifying “the role of conservators as they are tasked with the preservation of monuments deemed to be racist or otherwise offensive or oppressive, especially those located in community spaces.” The statement updates AIC’s 2017 position on confederate statues and other historic monuments.

The position statement acknowledges that following the recent outpourings of protest around the wrongful deaths of Black people and other People of Color, the role of conservators in caring for monuments and historic artworks has been come uncertain. The statement provides a means to support conservators working in the field and provide guidance on how to move through uncertain times.