The AAH serves a key role in shaping and securing the future study of the history of art and visual culture. An elected Executive Committee actively lobbies on important issues such as education, funding, copyright and employment. AAH members are represented by Members’ Groups for university and college academics, school teachers, students, independent members and museum and gallery professionals.

AAH members are entitled to concessions at many museums and galleries in the UK.

The three-day Annual Conference takes place at a different UK institution each year. It hosts up to 120 academic papers as well as forums and discussion groups. Keynote speakers include; artists, academics, curators and architects who represent the variety and diversity of the discipline.

Student Conferences, a Summer Symposium, and Schools Conferences also take place throughout the year.

The AAH Initiatives Fund provides financial support for projects and events that promote and develop art history education. Click on the links to download a copy of the AAH Initiatives Fund Guidelines and AAH Initatives Fund Application Form.

AAH Initiatives have included the Artists’ Papers Register (APR) – a finding list of archival documents relating to artists, designers and craftspeople in publicly-accessible collections in the UK. The APR is available online, for free.

Other AAH activities include; the Voluntary Work Fund, which provides financial support for undergraduate and postgraduate students on internships within the UK, the John Fleming Travel Award, which is a travel bursary for students enrolled in UK universities wishing to travel as part of their research, the Student Dissertation Prize, which offers nominated students on either practice-based or theoretical courses the opportunity to receive a cash prize, present their essay at an AAH conference and publish their essay in the Bulletin, and the Online Directory of Independent Art Historians, which offers independent, freelance members the oportunity to promote their professional services.

The AAH is affiliated with the U.S College Art Association (CAA) and supports the Comité International d’Histoire de l’Art (CIHA). We have links with other UK and international institutions and art organisations.