Now Accepting ARCS Board Nominations, Spring 2026 Internships Announcement, and Programming Calendar ARCS Update Vol 11 Issue 2
January 19, 2026 | ARCS NewsNow Accepting Board Nominations for FY27!
ARCS is led by the Board of Directors who all play a critical role in overseeing the direction of the Association and advancing its mission, vision, and values. ARCS Directors represent ARCS at the highest level and provide strategic leadership and direction for the entire Association.
We invite the nomination of individuals who will help lead ARCS forward, advance the Association’s strategic plan, and support its ongoing growth. We are seeking professionals who are ready to further develop and enhance recognition of our professional field. Learn more by viewing the ARCS Board of Directors - Call for Nominations on the ARCS website starting on January 20, 2026.
Spring 2026 Internship Announcement
ARCS is committed to advocating for paid internships in an industry that remains inaccessible to many. ARCS offers internship stipend opportunities for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters. Once again for Spring 2026, ARCS will be offering a $1,800 stipend plus an annual membership to three applicants pursuing internships in registration and/or collections management.
Candidates are asked to submit their application materials by February 27, 2026, and awardees will be notified by mid-March 2026.
ARCS Programming
The Value of W.A.G.E.- Working Artists and the Greater Economy
January 21, 2026 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
Since its founding in 2008, Working Artists and the Greater Economy (W.A.G.E.) has agitated around the chronic problem of non-payment in the art field while focusing strategically on the relationship between artists and nonprofit institutions. Co-founder & core organizer Lise Soskolne will present on W.A.G.E.’s long standing campaign to standardize the compensation of artists’ labor as well as its growing suite of calculation tools for art and cultural workers that merge publicly available government data with worker-driven payment standards. This session will include a participatory discussion with ARCS members about how they can use W.A.G.E.’s tools to advocate not only for the value of artists’ labor, but also for their own value in the preservation, circulation, administration, and exhibition of art.
Speaker: Lise Soskolne, Artist/Core Organizer of Working Artists and the Greater Economy (WAGE)
Pricing
- Members $25.00
- Non-Members $50.00 per webinar
ARCS 2026 Emergency Workshop Series January 26 - March 9, 2026
In 2024, the "Focus on Conservation (FOC)" conference on "Disaster Risk Management for Cultural Heritage" explored preparation, response, training, and research to mitigate the effects of disasters on cultural heritage. This year ARCS is highlighting these emergency case studies from cultural institutions ranging in type, scope, and severity from the FOC conference.
During this four-part workshop series, Registrars, Collection Specialists, and other Museum Professionals will be presented with an in-depth experience on collections emergency preparedness and response. Utilizing recordings from 2021-2023 Emergency Webinar Series presentations, registrants will receive the recordings and resource materials in advance of a 30-minute open discussion with the original speakers. These recordings are geared towards people who have some experience with collections emergencies, but all are welcome.
- Webinar One: Preparedness January 26, 2026 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. ET
- Webinar Two: Training February 9, 2026 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET
- Webinar Three: Response February 23, 2026 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET
- Webinar Four: Recovery March 9, 2026 2:00 - 2:30 p.m. ET
Pricing
- Members
$10.00 per webinar/$30.00 for all 4 - Non-Members
$20.00 per webinar/$70.00 for all 4
Affinity Groups January/February 2026 Schedule
An ARCS Affinity Group is a community group made up of ARCS members who share common interests and goals, and who come together to support one another, share knowledge, and advocate for their mutual concerns. The meetings are a safe space to meet and discuss issues or questions with your colleagues. Members self-select to join the group and meet and participate as they choose to achieve their objectives.
Affinity Groups are open to all ARCS members and are free.
- January 23, 2026 Science Meetings
- January 27, 2026 Accessions Group
- January 29, 2026 Private Collections and Museums
- February 2, 2026 Fine Art Services
- April 1, 2026 History Museums & Historical Societies
- April 6, 2026 Independent Contractors
- April 8, 2026 Academic Museums
- April 9, 2026 Military Museums
- April 10, 2026 Fair Pay and Working Conditions Group
Buy ARCS Merch!
The ARCS Printify Store is live! Visit our store to purchase all the coolest acid-free themed merch to show off at home, work, and conferences!
