The First International Congress of Art Critics took place at the Paris headquarters of UNESCO between June 21 and June 28 of 1948. The aim of congress participants was to compare their point of views concerning the vocation of art criticism, to consider their responsibility to both artists and the public, and to outline the particular nature of their contributions to developments in the field of art history.
The Second International Congress of Art Critics took place in Paris between June 27 and July 3, 1949 and resulted in the official creation of l'Association Internationale des Critiques d'Art the following year.
AICA is admitted to the rank of non-governmental organization.
The first AICA-USA national conference titled American Criticism Now was held February 14–15 at the New York Cultural Center in New York City.
During this same year, under the presidency of David Bourdon, AICA-USA gains 501(c)3 status.
The 25th AICA International Congress is held in Los Angeles. The Congress theme is Art, Politics and Multiculturalism.
AICA International redefines its main objectives as the following
- to promote art criticism as a discipline and contribute to its methodology
- to protect the ethical and professional interests of its members and co-operate in defending their rights
- to maintain an active international network for its members, with the aid of available technologies and encouragement of face-to-face encounters
- to contribute to mutual understanding of visual arts and aesthetics in all cultures
- to stimulate professional relationship across political, geographical, ethnic, economic and religious boundaries
- to defend impartially freedom of expression and thought and oppose arbitrary censorship
AICA-USA initiates the annual Distinguished Critic Lecture at The New School in collaboration with the Vera List Center for Art and Politics.
AICA supports art writers around the world through public programs and membership that includes free access to museums across the globe. Since its formation in 1950, AICA has been committed to elevating the values of art criticism as a discipline, and acting on behalf of the physical and moral defense of works of art.
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AICA supports arts writers around the world through public programs and membership that offers free access to museums across the globe. AICA-USA represents the largest national section of AICA International with over 450 distinguished critics, curators, scholars, and art historians working throughout the United States. As part of the international organization, we benefit from a global reach in presence. AICA-USA is intent on international communication, elevating the values of art criticism as a discipline, and acting on behalf of the physical and moral defense of works of art.
AICA's membership card is recognized for entrance to museums around the world. Members are invited to attend the annual AICA International Congress, hosted each year by a different member nation, and the AICA-USA annual meeting.
Every fall, in cooperation with the New School's Vera List Center for Art and Politics, AICA-USA presents a Distinguished Critic Lecture.
Organized in collaboration with CUE Art Foundation, this program matches emerging critics with experienced AICA-USA members who guide them through the process of writing a catalogue essay.
A partnership between The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant and AICA-USA that gives art writers the opportunity to strengthen their work through one-on-one consultations with leading art critics.