2008 Conservation Assessment Program Participants

For Immediate Release
April 29, 2008
For further information contact:
Kate Marks, Director
Conservation Assessment Program
202.233.0800

Conservation Assessment Program Announces 2008 Participants

2009 application to be released October 10, 2008

Washington, D.C. - The condition of collections in 101 museums in 39 states, the District of Columbia, and the Republic of Palau will be assessed this year through the Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). CAP helps small to mid-sized museums of all types, from art museums to zoos, obtain a general assessment of the condition of their collections, environment, and historic buildings. Following an on-site assessment by a conservation professional, the museum receives a written report recommending priorities to improve collections care. This report assists museums in educating staff and board members on conservation practices, creating long-range and emergency plans, and raising funds to improve the care of their collections.

Museums from across the country have been accepted to participate in the program. The diverse 2008 participants include the Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum (Jackson, WY), Erie Art Museum (Erie, PA), U.S. National Ski and Snowboard Hall of Fame and Museum (Ishpeming, MI), I.P. Stanback Museum and Planetarium (Orangeburg, SC), Polly Hill Arboretum (West Tisbury, MA), and the Alaska Museum of Natural History (Anchorage, AK). To view the list of 2008 CAP participants, visit www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP/08recipients.html.

Since 1990, over 2,500 museums have participated in CAP, including museums in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Heritage Preservation's CAP is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

"The Heritage Health Index survey of our nation's collections found that 64% of small historical societies and museums do not have a current, written, long-range preservation plan," said Lawrence L. Reger, President of Heritage Preservation. "For these kinds of institutions, the recommendations and priorities outlined in the CAP report can provide the framework for collections care."

Forms for applying to the FY2009 CAP will be mailed on Friday, October 10, 2008, to museums on the CAP mailing list and will also be available on Heritage Preservation's Web site at www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP. To be added to the CAP application mailing list or for more information, call 202-233-0800 or e-mail cap@heritagepreservation.org. The postmark deadline for applications is December 1, 2008.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a nation of learners by helping libraries and museums serve their communities. The Institute fosters leadership, innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the 15,000 museums and 122,000 libraries in America. The Institute also encourages partnerships to expand the educational benefit of libraries and museums. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

Heritage Preservation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving our nation's heritage. Its members include libraries, museums, archives, historic preservation organizations, historical societies, conservation organizations, and other professional groups concerned with saving the past for the future. To learn more about Heritage Preservation, please visit www.heritagepreservation.org.

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