AICA Statutes

Statutes revised 2022

Preamble

The International Association of Art Critics, or AICA International, is an international non-governmental association founded in 1950, governed by the law of 1 July 1901 and the decree of 16 August 1901, whose declaration was published in the Journal Officiel on 21 July 1950 and whose last revised version was published in the Journal Officiel on 26 February 2005, for an unlimited period.

Its headquarters are located at 32 rue Yves Toudic 75010 Paris.

Article 1 Aims and Activities

1.1 AICA Int., which was founded in 1948 with an official link to UNESCO, brings together art critics, whose professional activity is criticism in all media, teaching, or curating exhibitions. Its function is to promote the understanding and critical interpretation of the visual arts, in all their histories and manifestations. Its members are primarily, but not exclusively, concerned with the modern and contemporary visual arts of all cultures. The Association brings together art critics of all nations who wish to develop international cooperation and examine, and report on, the economic, political and social forces that shape art.

1.2 Its aims are:

a) to promote art criticism as a discipline and contribute to its methodology

b) to promote the ethical and professional interests of its members and co-operate in defending their rights

c) to maintain an active international network for its members, with the aid of available technologies and encouragement of face-to-face encounters

d) to contribute to mutual understanding of visual arts and aesthetics in all cultures

e) to stimulate professional relationships across political, geographical, ethnic, economic and religious boundaries

f) to defend and promote freedom of expression and thought

1.3 The Association may organise colloquia, lectures, seminars, discussions and other activities connected with the visual arts. It may also take the lead, in writing, translating, editing, filming, recording and publishing material. It may create temporary or permanent working groups and undertake surveys and research, either on its own initiative or in collaboration with other organisations whose aims are not incompatible with its own. Such activities are subject to the approval of the Board and the Secretariat.

1.4 The Association’s programme of cultural activities is determined in outline by the General Assembly and reported on in detail by the Secretariat and Board members at the Board and the General Assembly.

Article 2 Members

2.1 To become a member of the Association, candidates need first to join either a National Section, see Article 4.5, below, or the Open Section, see Article 4.6, below and Regulations Articles IV.3, IV.7-8and IX. All applications must be typewritten on the downloadable AICA Int. Biographical Form, written in one of the three working languages of the Association: English, French or Spanish. All applicants must produce evidence of sustained activity over the previous three years, in one or more of the following areas:

a) Daily/periodical press, or broadcasting on radio, TV or video, or in the electronic media

b) Publication of works of art history, aesthetics or criticism

c) Teaching of art criticism, art history, aesthetics, curating, or art, at higher or tertiary level

d) Curatorial work and analysis for educational or scholarly ends, including the production of scholarly or critical texts for museums or galleries, whose principal aim is not commercial

2.2 Applications to National Sections or the Open Section must be in strict compliance with the criteria for eligibility set out in Article 2.1, above. The Presidents of the Sections and the members of the Electoral and Membership Committee are responsible for scrutinising applications closely, with these criteria in mind.

2.3 Applicants to a National Section must send the AICA Int. Biographical Form, a CV and supporting documents to the President of that Section; applicants to the Open Section must send the AICA Int. Biographical Form, a CV and supporting documents to the Secretary-General. Applicants to join the Open Section must also submit the names of two sponsors who are members of the Board with voting rights in all matters only one of whom may simultaneously belong to the Secretariat, see Regulations Articles IV.3 and IX.2.

2.4 On election to a National Section or the Open Section, members are immediately entitled to receive a membership card and sticker for the current year, see Regulations Article IX.2. The card remains the property of the Association and must be surrendered, on request, see Article 2.9, 2.13 and 2.15, below and Regulations Article IX.5.

2.5 After a new member is elected to a National Section, the President of that Section sends a copy of that member’s completed AICA Int. Biographical Form to the AICA Int. Office. No other documents are required, at this second stage.

2.6 Applications to the Open Section, when accepted by two sponsors are forwarded by the Secretary- General to the President of the Open Section who forwards the AICA Int. Biographical Form only to the Chair of the Electoral and Membership Committee.

2.7 The names and completed application forms are then passed to the Electoral and Membership Committee for endorsement.

2.8 The Electoral and Membership Committee next prepares a consolidated list of approved new members.

2.9 Finally, the Chair of that Committee presents the agreed list of names to the General Assembly, with any accompanying comment that may be required, for confirmation, by majority vote, see Articles 2.12-14 and 5.6r, below and Regulations Article IV.7-8. The Assembly’s endorsement may not be withheld, other than for legal or procedural reasons.

2.10 After receiving this endorsement, new members acquire the right to vote at subsequent General Assemblies, provided that both they and their Sections keep up to date with their annual subscriptions. They also acquire right of access to all information stored on those parts of the AICA Int. website which are reserved for the membership only.

2.11 Newly elected members start paying a regular annual fee to the Association from the beginning of the calendar year following that in which their election is endorsed by the General Assembly. This is in addition to, and irrespective of, any fees payable to their own Section, see Regulations Article IX.5-7.

2.12 Membership is forfeited:
a) by resignation
b) by non-payment of the membership fee for two years, see Regulations Appendix 1, paragraph 3.9

c) by expulsion at a General Assembly on grounds of serious misconduct, if so, recommended by the Board, on the advice of the Electoral and Membership Committee, see Articles 5.6s and 6.4j, below and Regulations Article XI.1

2.13 If an application for membership of a National Section is rejected by the Section, the applicant may seek review of the decision by that Section or apply to the Secretary-General for membership of the Open Section. In either instance, the Section concerned must provide the candidate with a written explanation of the grounds for rejection. If an application for membership of the Open Section is rejected by the Section, the applicant may seek review of the decision by that Section. The Open Section must provide the candidate with a written explanation of the grounds for rejection.

2.14 The Secretary-General must inform the Presidents of all Sections of the names of all their candidates who have been approved or rejected by the Electoral and Membership Committee and the General Assembly. The Secretary-General must also immediately provide Section Presidents with the Electoral and Membership Committee’s brief written statement of the reasons for the rejection of any individual candidates. Presidents of the Sections must promptly inform individuals of the outcome of their applications, see Regulations Articles IV.7-8 and IX.4.

2.15 A candidate whose application is not subsequently endorsed by the General Assembly may be asked to return her or his membership card and sticker to the President of their Section.

Article 3 Honorary Members

3.1 There are two kinds of Honorary Members: International Honorary Members and National Honorary Members, including International and National Honorary Presidents. Honorary Members are nominated for their outstanding distinction in the field of art criticism or in other areas related closely to the Association’s critical concerns or for rendering exceptional services to art criticism or to AICA, see Article 5.6o, below. For AICA Int.’s Honorary Presidents, see Article 5.6n, below and Regulations Article V.11-12.

3.2 All Honorary Members are appointed by election and continue to hold that distinction until resignation, or death. They are entitled to receive most of the benefits of the Association, as specified in the International Statutes and Regulations. However, only Honorary Members whose dues are paid for by their Sections or by the Secretariat, will be accorded membership cards and stickers, along with the right to vote, see Articles 5.2 and 6.1h, below.

3.3 International Honorary Members will not exceed seven in number, at any given time. They must be willing to represent the Association and promote its interests in public and must themselves represent both the highest standards of professional excellence and the geographical spread and cross-cultural ambitions of the Association.

3.4 International Honorary Members must be nominated and seconded by two members, with voting rights in all matters, of the Board, only one of whom may be from the Secretariat and elected by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Electoral and Membership Committee and the Board.

3.5 Individuals selected in this way by the Electoral and Membership Committee must give their written consent to allowing their names to go forward to the General Assembly, for endorsement.

3.6 The fees enabling International Honorary Presidents and International Honorary Members to be provided with a card and annual sticker will be covered by the Secretariat, see Regulations Article V.12.

3.7 National Honorary Members (or ‘Honorary Members of AICA Int. – [Name of National Section]’) must be willing to represent the Association and promote its interests in public.

3.8 National Honorary Members are nominated and elected by the Section to which they belong, or which they now join. The President of the Section must register their details with the AICA Int. Office.

Article 4 Governance and Administration

4.1 The Association is administered by the Board and the Secretariat, see Articles 6-7, below and Regulations Articles VI and X.

4.2 The Association organises a General Assembly every year, see Article 5, below and Regulations Article II.

4.3 The Association is composed of:

a) The General Assembly, see Article 5, below and Regulations Article II.

b) National Sections and an Open Section, see Article 4.5-6, below and Regulations Articles VIII and XII

c) Regional Secretariats (optional), see Article 13, below and Regulations Article XIII

d) The Board, see Article 6, below and Regulations Article X

e) The Secretariat, see Article 7, below and Regulations Article VI

f) Permanent and temporary Committees, see Article 14, below and Regulations Articles IV and XIV

g) AICA’s Archive at the Archives de la critique d’art, Rennes, Brittany, see Articles 6.1g and 8.9, below andRegulations Article X.1

h) The AICA Int. Office, comprising all permanent, part-time and contractual employees of AICA, see Article 7.3, below and Regulations Appendix 1

4.4 The members of the Board, including the Secretariat, are not remunerated for the work they do for AICA.

4.5 The National Sections write their own Statutes. These should be compatible with the Statutes of AICA Int. and with the laws and customs of the Sections’ respective countries. They must be written in one of the working languages of AICA, see Article 4.7, below, in addition to any version in the languages of the Sections’respective countries. They are subject to approval by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Board and the Electoral and Membership Committee, see Regulations Articles IV.3-4, 6 and VIII.

4.6 The Open Section is composed of members who, for valid reasons acceptable to the Board, do not wish, or are unable, to join one of the National Sections. The Board of the Open Section is made up of the International President, the Secretary-General and the Treasurer, ex officio. The Statutes and Regulations, if any, of the Open Section are subject to the same conditions and constraints as those of the National Sections of AICA, see Articles 2.1 and 4.5, above, 19.4-5, below and Regulations Article III.5 and V.3.

4.7 The working languages of the Association are English, French and Spanish.

4.8 The AICA Int. Office, the headquarters of the Association, is in Paris. The location may be changed to another city or country if three quarters of the total fully paid-up membership vote in favour of a formal recommendation by the Board to this effect, in accordance with the procedures in operation for the election of the International President, see Regulations Article V.4, or if three quarters of those attending the General Assembly vote for such a motion on two successive General Assemblies, only one of which can be an Extraordinary General Assembly. In these circumstances, the Association shall take such steps as are necessary, and appropriate, to obtain such privileges and benefits as may be available under the laws of the country in which the new AICA Int. headquarters is to be located.

4.9 AICA Int. may be dissolved by the General Assembly, if three quarters of the total fully paid-up membership vote in favour of a formal motion by the Board to this effect, in accordance with the procedures in operation for the election of the International President, see Regulations Article V.4, or if three quarters of those attending the General Assembly vote for such a motion at two successive General Assemblies, only one of which may be an Extraordinary General Assembly.

4.10 In the eventuality of AICA Int. being dissolved, its assets should be transferred to an organisation with aims similar to its own.

Article 5 General Assembly

5.1 The General Assembly is the main policy-making and legislative body of AICA.

5.2 It is composed of the sum total of the Association’s membership, including Honorary Members, with or without voting rights, see Article 3, above and Regulations Article II.1. Only registered, paid-up members and Honorary Members, whose Sections are up to date with their payment and International Honorary Members paid for by the Secretariat are entitled to vote. See the exception in Article 5.5, below.

5.3 At the beginning of the Annual Congress, the Secretary-General and the Treasurer make available to the Electoral and Membership Committee, and, through them, to other bona fide enquirers, the details of those members in National Sections or in the Open Section who are paid-up and entitled to vote, see Regulations Article IV.9.

5.4 The General Assembly, acting on the advice of the Electoral and Membership Committee and the Board, has the power to decide on the creation and expulsion of National Sections, see Regulations Articles IV.3-4, 6 and XII.

5.5 In exceptional circumstances, where a National Section has fallen in arrears with its payments, an individual member may be permitted to pay her or his annual subscription direct to the AICA Int. Treasurer and to negotiate temporary voting and other rights with the Chair of the Electoral and Membership Committee, see Articles 5.2-3, above.

5.6 With the support of the Board, and working to its recommendations, the General Assembly’s functions are:

5.6a to approve, and vote on, the minutes of the previous General Assembly. The Chair, or Acting Chair, signs the minutes, as correct, see Article 9.2, below and Regulations Article VII

5.6b to receive, approve, and adopt reports from the President, Secretary-General and Treasurer, and/or their Deputies and reports from Committees established by the General Assembly. These reports are posted by the Secretariat on the AICA Int. website and communicated to individual members of National Sections and of the Open Section not later than fourteen days before the General Assembly

5.6c to approve, and vote on the accounts of the previous financial year, the budget for the current year and the draft budget for the following year, see Regulations Article XV and Appendix 1. AICA’s financial year is the calendar year 1 January to 31 December

5.6d to decide any adjustment to membership fees that may be required for the following year, see Articles 6.4e, 17.1a and 17.2, below

5.6e to consider, and decide on, matters on the agenda presented by the Board and the Secretariat 5.6f to approve the programme for AICA Int. for the following year

5.6g to adopt such resolutions as it considers appropriate, in relation to all matters which are of relevance to the professional concerns of its members

5.6h to give such directions to the Board and the Secretariat as it considers necessary, for the Association to function effectively

5.6i to determine on a preliminary basis the time and place of the next General Assembly and Congress, and the theme of the Congress, see Articles 5.7-8 and 16.1, below and Regulations Articles I and III.6-7

5.6j to amend and adopt, as necessary, its own Statutes and Regulations, see Articles 18-19, below and Regulations Article IV.5

5.6k to elect the President, nine Vice-Presidents, Secretary-General, Treasurer and ten International Board Members, and to ensure their renewal

5.6l to elect the Regional Secretaries, if any, and ensure their renewal, on the recommendation of the Board, see Articles 13, below and Regulations Article XIII

5.6m to ratify the appointment of the Deputy Secretary-General and Deputy Treasurer, where applicable, on the recommendation of the Board

5.6n to elect Honorary Presidents, see Article 3.1, above and Regulations Article V.11
5.6o to endorse International Honorary Members, on the recommendation of the Electoral and Membership

Committee and the Board, see Article 3.1, above
5.6p to appoint Chairs of Committees and their membership on the recommendation of the Board and to

ensure their renewal
5.6q to receive reports from the National Sections and the Open Section

5.6r to endorse or reject applications for membership, on the advice of the Electoral and Membership Committee, see Article 2.9, above and Regulations Article IV.7-8

5.6s to warn, formally to reprimand or, in extreme circumstances, to expel National Sections or individual members who are in breach of the Statutes and Regulations, or who stand accused of serious misconduct, see Article 2.12c, above and Regulations Articles XI and XII. Such cases will be published in the members’ access section of the AICA Int. website

5.6t to endorse Statutes of new National Sections and to request changes to National Statutes on the recommendation of the Board and the Electoral and Membership Committee, see Regulations Articles IV.3- 4 and 6 and VIII.1

5.7 The General Assembly takes place every year, on a date determined by the Board and notified to all members not less than two months in advance. The Secretariat may alter the date and place of the General Assembly, in case of force majeure.

5.8 An Extraordinary General Assembly may be convened at the request of at least five Sections, one of which may be the Open Section. At least two months’ calendar notice shall be given to members of the date, time and place of the meeting. The Board may also convene an Extraordinary General Assembly, on the same conditions.

5.9 The General Assembly is organised by the Secretary-General and chaired by the President or, in her or his absence, by the Secretary-General or a Vice-President designated by the Board.

5.10 The draft agenda for the General Assembly is established by the Secretariat, emailed or mailed direct to all individual members of the National Sections and to the members of the Open Section, and posted on the AICA Int. website, two months before the opening of the Assembly, but see Regulations Article II.4.

Article 6 Board

6.1 The Association is run by the Board, which is composed of, see Regulations Article X.1:

a) The Secretariat: The President, Secretary-General and Treasurer and their Deputies, if any

b) The Presidents of the National Sections c) The nine Vice-Presidents

d) The Regional Secretaries, if any

e) Ten International Board Members

f) The Chairs of Committees set up by the General Assembly

g) A representative of Archives de la critique d’art, see Articles 4.3g, above, 8.9, below and Regulations Article X.1, with voting rights for matters concerning the Archives only

h) The Honorary Presidents, former International Presidents and International Honorary Members, without voting rights

i) The former Secretaries-General and Treasurers, without voting rights

j) The former Vice-Presidents, without voting rights

6.2 The Board determines the broad outline of AICA’s cultural agenda, for submission to the General Assembly.

6.3 The Board studies, and approves, all matters concerning the organisation, management and cultural programme of the Association.

6.4 The functions of the Board are, furthermore:

6.4a to approve, and vote upon the minutes of the previous Board meeting. The Chair, or Acting Chair, signs the minutes, as correct, see Article 9.2, below and Regulations Article VII

6.4b to receive, and adopt, the reports from the Secretariat on the organisational and financial management of the Association
and from Committees established by the General Assembly

6.4c to receive, approve, and vote upon the audited accounts for the preceding year, the draft annual budget for the current year and the draft budget for the following year, presented by the Treasurer

6.4d to nominate candidates for Committees, including the Chairs, for the appointment of the General Assembly

6.4e to recommend to the General Assembly the level of the membership fees for the following year, see Articles 5.6d, above and 17.1a and 17.2, below

6.4f to recommend Regional Secretaries, if any, to the General Assembly

6.4g to propose International Honorary Members, for subsequent endorsement by the General Assembly

6.4h where applicable, to appoint the Deputy Secretary-General and Deputy Treasurer, subject to ratification by the General Assembly

6.4i to advise the Secretariat and the General Assembly on any matter relating to the policy, programme, procedures or finances of the Association

6.4j to recommend the General Assembly to expel, formally to reprimand, or to warn National Sections or individual members, see Articles 2.12c and 5.6s, above and Regulations Articles XI-XII

6.4k optionally to recommend that the General Assembly endorses applications for membership, on the advice of the Electoral and Membership Committee

6.4l to recommend the General Assembly to endorse the Statutes of new National Sections and changes to Sections’ National Statutes, on the recommendation of the Electoral and Membership Committee

6.4m to determine on a preliminary basis the date, time and place of the next Board meeting and the next General Assembly, see Articles 5.7, above and 6.5, below

6.5 The Board meets at least once a year, normally at the time of the General Assembly and at any other time. It may also be convened by the President at the request by email of one quarter of its members with voting rights in all matters. One quarter of its members with voting rights in all matters must be present, see Article 6.7, above and Regulations Article XI, or represented, see Article 6.6-1, below, to make up a quorum. This requirement for a quorum may be lifted at the request of the President, subject to a vote in favour by a majority of those members with full voting rights who are present at the time. For further requirements, see Regulations Article X.4.

6.6 A President of a National Section who is unable to attend a meeting of the Board may, in advance, and in writing, nominate one other member of her or his Section to attend this meeting in her or his place and to vote, on that Section’s behalf, see Regulations Article X.3.

6.7 A Regional Secretary who is unable to attend a meeting of the Board may, in advance, and in writing, nominate one other member from the Region to attend this meeting in her or his place and to vote, on that Region’s behalf.

Article 7 Secretariat

7.1 The Secretariat of the Association consists of the President, the Secretary-General, the Treasurer and, where applicable, their Deputies. Deputies have one vote each only when the Secretary-General and/or the Treasurer are absent. It meets at least once a year, and whenever the President deems necessary. Minutes will be kept of all meetings and will be signed, as correct, by the President.

7.2 Decisions on actions taken by the Secretariat between sessions of the General Assembly and the Board are subject to ratification by each, at the next available session.

7.3 The Secretariat is responsible for the appointment of (an) Administrative Assistant(s) and for the job description(s), remuneration and conditions, see Article 4.3h, above.

Article 8 President

8.1 All paid-up members are eligible to stand for the Presidency, upon nomination by their National Section or by one other Section, in the event of their being unable to secure the nomination of their own Section, or if they belong to the Open Section. Election procedures are laid down in the Regulations Article V.1-10.

8.2 The President is the chief representative of the Association.

8.3 The President convenes and chairs the General Assembly and the meetings of the Board and is a member ex officio of all Committees established by the General Assembly, see Regulations Article XIV.5.

8.4 The President may nominate the Secretary-General, the Deputy Secretary-General, if any, or one of the Vice-Presidents to act as her or his representative.

8.5 If the President steps down prematurely or is seriously incapacitated for a period of more than four weeks, the Secretary-General will assume interim control of the Association’s affairs, until such time as the President is restored to her or his full capacity or until the Board resolves at one of its meetings, or by majority postal vote, in a secret ballot, see Regulations Articles V-VI, either to elect an Acting President, from among the ranks of the nine Vice-Presidents, or to bring forward the date of the next Presidential elections. The term of office of an Acting President shall not exceed the term of office of the elected President.

8.6 The President is responsible for the financial conduct of the Association, see Article 8.2, above and Regulations Appendix 1.

8.7 The President may be assisted by an Advisory Group of members of her or his choice, see Regulations Article VI.2. The names of the members are published on the AICA Int. website. A summary of all meetings will be signed, as correct, by the President.

8.8 The President is elected by the General Assembly for a period of three years and may be re-elected only once with or without a break, in between, see Regulations Article VI.1.

8.9 The President may designate one member of the Board to represent the Association on the Board of the Archives de la critique d’art, Rennes. In exchange, the President of the Archives de la critique d’art may designate a representative of that institution to sit on the Board of AICA, with voting rights concerning the Archives only, see Article 4.3g, above and Regulations Article X.1. The role of these two nominees is to look after the interests of their respective institutions, in all relevant negotiations and debates.

Article 9 Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General

9.1 All paid-up members are eligible for election to the post of Secretary-General. They must submit their candidature, with an outline programme, to the President, with copies to the Chair of the Electoral and Membership Committee and to the AICA Int. Office, one month in advance of the General Assembly at which the election will be held.

9.2 The Secretary-General is responsible for the overall administration of the Association according to the Statutes and Regulations. S/he is responsible for implementing the decisions of the General Assembly and the Board; for the internal operations of the AICA Int. Office, the website and updating of the membership directory; for facilitating the work of all Committees; for providing a service to the National Sections; for publishing regular information about the Association’s activities, worldwide; for presenting reports on activity to the Board and the General Assembly; for archiving signed minutes in original versions on paper of all meetings of AICA Int. and of all correspondence and other documents in hard copies and in digital form; and for archiving old versions of the website in hard copies and in digital form. The implementation of her or his administrative decisions requires the approval of the President and the Treasurer. Any exercise of her or his legal and administrative responsibilities which entails any form of financial decisions or expenditure that exceeds pre-agreed limits requires the approval of the President and the Treasurer, see Regulations Appendix 1. S/he may represent the Association on official occasions and in all official acts and legal affairs, at the request of the President.

9.3 The Secretary-General is elected by the General Assembly for a period of four years and may be re- elected for a maximum of two further periods of four years, with or without a break, in between, see Article 15.4, below and Regulations Article VI.

9.4 The General Assembly may ratify the Board’s appointment of a Deputy Secretary-General on the same terms, see Regulations Article VI.

Article 10 Treasurer and Deputy Treasurer

10.1 All paid-up members are eligible to apply for the post of Treasurer. They must submit their candidature, with an outline programme, to the President with copies to the Chair of the Electoral and Membership Committee and to the AICA Int. Office, one month in advance of the General Assembly at which the election is to be held.

10.2 The Treasurer is the Trustee of the Association’s finances, see Regulations Appendix I. S/he controls the funds and is responsible for book-keeping and accounting. S/he assesses the financial situation of the Association. At each General Assembly, and at the Board preceding this, s/he presents the audited accounts for the preceding financial year, submits a draft budget for the current financial year, and proposes a draft budget for the following financial year.

10.3 The Treasurer is elected for a term of four years and may be re-elected for one further term of four years, with or without a break, in between, see Article 15.4, below and Regulations Article VI.

10.4 The General Assembly may ratify the Board’s appointment of a Deputy Treasurer on the same terms, see Regulations Article VI.

Article 11 Vice-Presidents

11.1 Nine Vice-Presidents are elected by the General Assembly for a period of three years. One third of them are replaced each year. A Vice-President leaving her or his post before the end of her or his term of office will not be replaced before the appointed date, see Regulations Article VI.1.

11.2 All paid-up members are entitled to present their candidature for one of the posts of Vice-President and must submit a written statement of the platform on which they wish to be elected to the President of the Association with copies to the Chair of the Electoral and Membership Committee and to the AICA Int. Office, one month in advance of the General Assembly.

11.3 Vice-Presidents are elected by the General Assembly and may only be re-elected after a period of one year has elapsed since s/he last held the post.

11.4 Vice-Presidents may only serve a total of four three-year terms, with or without more than the obligatory break of one year between each term.

11.5 Vice-Presidents should submit to the Secretary-General an annual report on their activities, one month in advance of the General Assembly, see Regulations Article X.2.

Article 12 International Board Members

Ten International Board Members are elected from the membership by the General Assembly, see Regulations Article VI.1, on the grounds both of geographical balance and of the platform they present, as a basis for election. The International Board Members are elected annually and may only be re-elected up to three more times, with or without breaks in between. All paid-up members are entitled to present their candidature for one of the posts of International Board Member and are invited to submit a written statement of the platform on which they wish to be elected to the President of the Association, with copies to the Chair of the Electoral and Membership Committee and to the AICA Int. Office, one month in advance of the General Assembly, see Regulations Article X.2.

Article 13 Regional Secretaries

13.1 The Board and the General Assembly may decide, on occasion, to set up a Regional Secretariat. The geographical divisions on which Regional Secretariats are based are subject to periodic review by the Board, reporting to the General Assembly.

13.2 A Regional Secretary acts as liaison officer with all the National Sections in her or his Region and with members in Nations in the Region without National Sections. S/he is required to keep the Secretary-General informed of her or his Region’s activities, at regular intervals, see Regulations Article XIII. S/he is elected for three years and may be re-elected only once with or without a break, in between.

Article 14 Finance Committee

See Regulations Appendix 1 Financial Standing Instructions

14.1 The financial activities of the Association are supervised by the members of the Finance Committee, composed of at least three members appointed by the General Assembly, on the recommendation of the Boardforatermofthreeyearsrenewableonlyonce. Allpaid-upmembersoftheBoard,withorwithout voting rights are eligible to serve on the Finance Committee and to propose their own candidature to the Secretary-General, in the first instance. See Regulations Article XIV.3.

14.2 The Finance Committee exercises its right of control by examining the accounts and records, including the Accountant’s report and supporting documents, one month before the General Assembly. It reports to the Secretariat on a regular basis, to the Board and to the General Assembly, see Regulations Appendix 1, paragraphs 3.8, 5.2, 6.2 and 6.4.

Article 15 Voting

15.0 If the circumstances require it, all voting procedures that govern the life of the association can be organised by E-Vote. All the articles of the Statutes and the Regulations which refer to them are likely to be affected by this type of vote, which is organised according to the control rules applicable in the matter and following a proposal from the Secretariat.

15.1 The decisions of the General Assembly and the Board require endorsement by an absolute majority of the members who are present and eligible to vote, except as in Articles 4.8-9 and 8.5, above, 15.3, 18.3
and 19.1-2, below and Regulations Article V.11. The votes of the Chairs of the Board and the General Assembly are decisive, in case of a tie in the voting. If there is a tie in a secret ballot, the Chair of the meeting will decide the outcome by tossing a coin. An exception is the elections of Presidents and Vice-Presidents when further rounds of voting are required, see Article 15.2, below.

15.2 Voting for the posts of President, Honorary President, Secretary-General, Treasurer and their optional Deputies, Vice-President, and Regional Secretary, if any, for the ten International Board Members and Chairs of Committees, is by secret ballot. Voting is on the basis of an absolute majority, including No votes and Abstentions except for the posts of Vice-President, International Board Member and Chairs of Committees when a relative majority is admissible. If three candidates in the election of Vice-Presidents do not win outright, in the first round of voting by secret ballot, further rounds of voting will be held by secret ballot until a result is achieved. If there is a tie in the election of International Board Members, the Chair of the meeting will decide the outcome, by tossing a coin. Voting on all other issues not relating directly to individual members of the Association will be on the basis of an absolute majority, including No votes and Abstentions and may be carried out on a show of hands. Only paid-up members have the right to vote in the General Assembly. See Regulations Article11.1.

15.3 Each member is allowed one vote, in each round of voting. Absentee voting is allowed only in the cases of the Presidential elections, a change in location of the AICA Int. Office or a resolution to dissolve the Association, see Article 4.8-9, above and Regulations Article V.1-10.

15.4 In the event that there are no candidates for the post of Secretary-General or Treasurer, the President, acting on the advice of the Secretariat, may solicit applications from the Board for an Acting Secretary- General or Acting Treasurer and propose an alternative temporary solution to the problem that must then be formally voted upon at the next Board meeting. The election of the Secretary-General or Treasurer will then take place at the next General Assembly after a call for candidates. The same procedure should be followed by the Secretary-General, if no eligible candidates come forward for election of the Presidency. If the AICA Int. Office does not receive enough applications for the post of Vice-President before the deadline, or a renewed deadline before the General Assembly, there will first be a vote on the applications received. If there are not enough candidates in the first round, supplementary candidates will be called from the floor at the General Assembly for a second voting. The same procedure should be followed for the Regional Secretaries, if any, and International Board Members.

Article 16 Congress

16.1 The Association organises an annual Congress. At this, the location for the next Congress is chosen. If no decision is taken at the General Assembly, or if the decision has to be changed subsequently, the Board is qualified to determine the location, see Regulations Article III.

16.2 The National Section(s) or Region that host(s) the Congress also provide(s) the Secretariat and headquarters of the Congress. The Secretariat of the Congress is independent from the Board, but collaborates with it, in preparing for the Congress. The Secretary-General takes part in the activities of the Secretariat of the Congress.

Article 17 Resources

17.1 The resources of the Association consist of:

17.1a Annual fees from members and contributions from International Benefactors, see Articles 2.11, above, 17.4, below and Regulations Articles VIII.2d, VIII.5, IX.5, XII.2 and Appendix 1

17.1b Contributions from National Sections, according to their means and revenue generated by legally authorised activities

17.1c Contributions to the Fellowship Fund

17.1d Grants the Association may be legally entitled to receive

17.2 Acting on the advice of the Board, the General Assembly sets the level of the annual membership fee for the coming calendar year, payable into the Association’s euro or US dollar account, see Articles 5.6d and 6.4e, above. This fee is collected by the National Sections from their members, paid into one of the Association’s accounts and recorded by the Treasurer. National Sections are entitled to set a fee which is higher than that stipulated by the General Assembly and use the additional revenue thus raised, to finance their own activities. The members of the Open Section pay their fees directly to the Association’s accounts.

17.3 Other resources to which the Association may exceptionally be entitled must receive the approval of the President, who is answerable in this respect to the Board.

17.4 International Benefactors may be proposed by the Secretariat of AICA Int. or by Presidents of National Sections and formally registered with the AICA Int. Secretariat. They must be formally approved by the Board and the General Assembly. Benefactors may be given benefits such as invitations to the AICA Int. Annual Congress and to Section events and to receive AICA publications at the discretion of the AICA Int. Secretariat and the President of the Section.

Article 18 Regulations

18.1 The administrative functions of the Association, as well as the provisions for unforeseen circumstances, are mainly covered in the Regulations. The Board draws up the Regulations, on the recommendation of the Electoral and Membership Committee, which are in turn adopted by the General Assembly, see Statutes Article IV.5.

18.2 The Board may propose modifications to the Regulations. All such proposals must be forwarded, in writing, to all members of the Board with voting rights in all matters and must be published on the members’ section of the website at least two months prior to the General Assembly, at which they are to be discussed and voted upon. All modifications to the Regulations which are proposed, in this way, must be approved by the General Assembly.

18.3 The General Assembly may itself also initiate proposals to modify the Regulations. In order for any such proposal to succeed, it must receive the support of two thirds of the members who are present, and eligible to vote, on two successive General Assemblies, only one of which may be an Extraordinary General Assembly.

18.4 Any changes of the Regulations shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the General Assembly.

Article 19 Statutes

19.1 The Board may propose modifications to the Statutes. All such proposals must be forwarded, in writing, to all members of the Board with voting rights in all matters and must be published on the members’ section of the website at least two months prior to the General Assembly at which they are to be discussed and voted upon. All modifications to the Statutes proposed in this way must be approved by two thirds of the General Assembly.

19.2 The General Assembly may also propose modifications to the existing Statutes. In order to succeed, any such proposal must receive the support of two thirds of the members who are present and eligible to vote, on two successive General Assemblies, only one of which may be an Extraordinary General Assembly.

19.3 Any changes of the Statutes shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the General Assembly.

19.4 The Statutes and Regulations are published in English, French and Spanish on the Association’s website, see Article 4.7, above. The published version indicates the dates of successive amendments and of their adoption. All versions are archived at the AICA Int. Office for reference and consultation.

19.5 The Statutes and Regulations are subject to French law in all respects and are translated and available in English and Spanish. Any questions concerning the official position of AICA Int. in relation to the Statutes should refer to the French version.

Statutes reviewed and approved during the General Assembly of AICA International, on 4 November 2022.

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