New Program Helps Museums Develop Emergency Plans
Small and mid-sized museums in Mississippi, Ohio, and Texas can now apply to participate in Heritage Preservation’s new pilot project, the Risk Evaluation and Planning Program (REPP). The program provides each participating museum with a professional evaluation of risks to its collections, priorities for mitigating those risks, and assistance in creating or updating an emergency plan. Five institutions from each state will be selected in May 2008.Applications can now be downloaded and must be submitted electronically no later than March 31, 2008.
The project supports a two-day site visit by a team of assessors—a preservation professional and emergency responder. The assessors will identify hazards to the museum’s collections and facilities, work with staff to develop priorities for mitigation, and offer resources to help develop a new or improved emergency plan. Assessments will take place between July and October 2008, and emergency plans must be submitted to Heritage Preservation within six months of the site visit.
Eligible institutions in the three pilot states include aquariums, arboreta, art museums, botanical gardens, children/youth museums, general museums, historic houses and sites, history museums, nature centers, planetariums, science/technology centers, specialized museums (limited to a single distinct subject), and zoos. Institutions must have at least one professional staff member or the full-time equivalent and remain open to the public at least 90 days a year. See the application for more detailed requirements.
Heritage Preservation is also accepting applications from interested assessors until March 14, 2008. Information on becoming an assessor, as well as the short application, is available at www.heritagepreservation.org/repp.
The Risk Evaluation and Planning Program is funded with a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. For further information, visit www.heritagepreservation.org/repp or contact program staff at 202-233-0800 or repp@heritagepreservation.org.