Equity and Inclusion
Equity and Inclusion is at the core of Anya’s work. She continuously advocates for DEIA (diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility), anti-racist policies, and decolonization in art conservation. People of all backgrounds should be welcomed into the conservation field, and the perspectives of Indigenous and descendent communities must be prioritized. Conservation must broaden its definition to incorporate non-western ways of thinking about preservation and to eliminate antiquated notions of ownership.
Anya has worked on diverse, community-based projects and has seen firsthand that conservation can thrive in conjunction with communities of color. She advocates for the preservation of diverse material culture, for structural change, and for the inclusion of people from historically excluded communities in cultural heritage work.
Anya gives lectures and leads trainings on DEIA in art conservation. Please contact her if you are interested in having her speak at your institution.
Anya is a co-founder of Black Art Conservators
She is a member (former co-chair) of the American Institute of Conservation’s (AIC) Equity and Inclusion Committee (EIC). Resources on DEIA in conservation can be found on the EIC wiki page.
Anya with colleague, Rashmi Ail, at the CSMVS, Mumbai
Anya Dani examining lacquerware with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya (CSMVS) conservators and curatorial staff. Photo credit: Onkar Abhyakar/CSMVS
With the AIC Equity & Inclusion Committee, Anya promotes structural change in conservation, seeks to support conservators from underrepresented groups, and helps organize inclusive programming/learning opportunities such as FAIC’s Social Justice and Conservation webinar series.