The Art Restoration and Conservation International Field School (ARCIFS) is a member of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works.

Our Academic Director, Nikolas Vakalis, has an ongoing collaboration with the University of Notre Dame's Historic Preservation program within the School of Architecture, as an adjunct professor.

The Art Restoration and Conservation International Field School’s Academic Director, Nikolas Vakalis has the ongoing privilege of collaborating with the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, School of Architecture and Urban Planning's Historic Preservation Institute (UWM-SARUP HPI)

At ARCIFS, we take pride in the strong academic ties we have with prestigious institutions, including our collaboration with West Virginia University. Our Academic Director, Nikolas Vakalis, extends his expertise as an Adjunct Professor at West Virginia University

The Art Restoration and Conservation International Field School (ARCIFS) is a member of the Society of American Archivists

Since 2011, we have established a longstanding collaboration with the Dioceses of Terni, Narni, and Amelia, a partnership that stands as a testament to our dedication to the preservation of cultural heritage.

The Soprintendenza archivistica e bibliografica is the regional office of the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage that supervises Archives and Libraries. It is responsible for the protection, conservation, and promotion of archives and libraries in its region.

Since 2018, a substantial 3-year cooperation agreement has been established with the Office of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage for the Abruzzo Region to research and preserve archaeological artifacts housed in their warehouses in Teramo.

The city of Amelia has been a valued partner of our program since the beginning. They have provided us with administrative support, as well as access to their historic archives. This support has been essential to the success of our program, and we are grateful for the city's commitment to preserving its cultural heritage.

The Amelia Public Library is a great resource for our program. They have a wide collection of books, articles, and other materials on Amelia's history and culture. We are grateful for their support and cooperation.

Italian law requires all restoration work to follow strict guidelines, obtain approvals from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, and be supervised by the Ministry's experts. AICS has maintained an excellent working relationship with the Ministry since the beginning of the program.

As part of our course on the restoration of archaeological ceramics, AICS faculty and participants have been involved in restoring archaeological material from the Parco archeologico del Colosseo, which is part of the Soprintendenza.
(Ministero per i beni e le attività culturali e per il turismo)

Since 2022, a substantial 3-year cooperation agreement has been established with the Office of the Ministry of Cultural Heritage to research and preserve archival material housed in the museo delle storie in Bergamo.