Strategy
Organisational Aims 2012-2016
AAH members and stakeholders are welcome to contact the Association with comments.
Mission
The mission of the Association of Art Historians is to:
Promote the professional practice and public understanding of art history.
Organisational Aims 2012-2016
During 2012-2016, in furtherance of our mission, the AAH is focusing on five aims. They ensure unity of purpose and effort, and are intrinsically linked. Work in one area reinforces that of the others. All our activities and resources are directed toward furthering one or more of our aims:
- To promote and publish art-historical research
- To support and train art historians for the future
- To engage our members
- To promote, represent and advocate for art history
- To make art history accessible
We pursue our aims with a commitment to organisational best practice and long-term financial sustainability.
Promotion and publication of art-historical research
We support the conduct of high quality art history related research at all levels and support access to resources necessary to conduct such research. We publish, disseminate and support the publication and dissemination of high quality art-historical research for the benefit of our members, the development of the discipline, and the wider public good.
We want our academic journal, Art History, to continue being regarded as world leading in the field and exemplary of best practice.
We organise events where those involved with art history can present, discuss and learn about new research. We encourage the development of art history as a discipline and celebrate research accomplishments at all levels.
Examples of how we achieve these aims:
Annual conference
Art History journal
Events such as Summer Symposium
Examples of how we can evaluate success: Conference attendance figures
Art History readership and submission rates
Event attendance and feedback
Support and training
We support those who pursue art history related education, careers and activities by providing topical and relevant information in appropriate formats. We organise professional training in relevant skills, techniques and practices.
We provide small and specific grant support for individuals to pursue art history related education, careers and activities.
We strive to make membership of the AAH affordable and beneficial to art historians so that it may support them in their study, careers and research.
Examples of how we achieve these aims:
Workshops
Grants such as the Conference Grants
Examples of how we can evaluate success: Workshop attendance and feedback
Number of individuals helped
Member engagement
The AAH encourages an active and informed membership body that is interested and involved in their organisation. To this end we communicate with members in suitable formats, allowing for and valuing feedback.
We help our members meet and network in order to learn and draw support from one another.
We strive particularly for a large and engaged body of student members, because they are the future of the organisation and the discipline.
Examples of how we achieve these aims:
Communications review
Active communication with members through Bulletin, post, email and social media
Network component to events
Examples of how we can evaluate success:
Feedback from members
Member interaction with office and group committees
Representation, promotion and advocacy for art history in its widest sense
We believe that the serious study, analysis and interpretation of art are fundamental components of building a healthy cultural sector and strong culture industries, and that these aspects are of increasing importance to the British and world economies. We work with likeminded organisations, in the UK and elsewhere, to promote these beliefs and principles to policymakers and funders.
We speak for those who pursue art history related careers and activities. We promote the interests of our members and the discipline, its professions and related practice, to public and private bodies – government, universities, publishers, suppliers of visual material, relevant funding bodies, etc.
We ensure our relevance by maintaining a membership level which represents a significant proportion of active art historians within all regions of the UK and we seek to strengthen our reach internationally by welcoming members from outside the UK. We represent individuals and groups in all pursuits and professions where art history expertise is relevant. Through a diverse membership we highlight the importance of the study of humanities, culture and art for society and the economy.
Through our membership and our actions we increase and enhance our public profile.
Examples of how we achieve these aims:
Collection of annual ‘state of the discipline’ data
Communications strategy
Examples of how we can evaluate success: Number of media mentions
Membership numbers
Making art history accessible
We organise events and produce publications that convey the essence as well as the latest findings in art history in a way that is accessible to people without specialised training. We do this to attract new entrants to the field and to raise awareness of what art history is and its relevance to society.
We believe that teaching art history in schools not only makes the discipline stronger, but gives students an important foundation for future study and work. We defend the teaching of art history in schools, universities and other institutions of learning and we work to ensure that those who engage in it have access to necessary resources.
Examples of how we achieve these aims:
Events
Communications strategy
Textbook for schools
Examples of how we can evaluate success:
Event feedback
Number of pupils using the AAH textbook