Conservation Assessment Program Announces 2010 Participants
CAP marks twenty years of conservation improvements in 2010
Washington, D.C. – In 2010, 184 conservation professionals are visiting 106 museums in 40 states to assess the condition of their collections and historic structures through the Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). The wide array of 2010 recipients includes Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona; the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo in Palo Alto, California; Hilltop Arboretum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; the Eyaawing Museum and Cultural Center in Peshawbestown, Michigan; the Longyear Museum of Anthropology in Hamilton, New York; and the Hampton History Museum in Hampton, Virginia. To view the complete list of 2010 CAP participants, click here.
"Heritage Preservation is proud to mark the twentieth anniversary of providing general assessments through CAP. These general assessments have inspired many small institutions to improve collections care practices, strengthen long-range and emergency planning, and educate both their staffs and the general public about the importance of preservation," said Lawrence L. Reger, President of Heritage Preservation.
In 2010, Heritage Preservation is celebrating CAP’s twenty years of helping museums improve care of collections. To mark the occasion, stories featuring the conservation and collections care improvements of twenty former CAP participants, one from every year of the program’s existence, have been posted on CAP’s Web site, www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP/20thAnniversary.html. Museums of all types and from all over the United States have been proud to share their achievements in order to inspire other museums to make collections care a high priority.
Since 1990, 2,534 museums have participated in CAP, including museums in all 50 states and the U. S. territories of the District of Columbia, U.S. Virgin Islands, Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, and Puerto Rico. Heritage Preservation’s CAP is supported through a cooperative agreement with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
"Small museums are vital community resources," said Marsha L. Semmel, Acting Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. "America’s small museums and historical societies provide employment and attract diverse visitors through their stewardship of over 198 million artifacts. I am proud that the Institute’s partnership with Heritage Preservation, through the Conservation Assessment Program, provides small museums with the professional assessment services they need to maintain their collections for generations to come."
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.
Participation in CAP takes one year. CAP recipients are notified of their approved status on a rolling basis, beginning as early as six weeks after the receipt of their completed applications. Participants can then begin scheduling their site visits, which may take place after January 1 of the program year. The final CAP reports must be submitted to Heritage Preservation by November 1. The one-year schedule provides CAP museums quickly and efficiently with practical recommendations to improve their preventive conservation practices.
Forms for applying for the 2011 program will be mailed in October 2010, to museums on the CAP mailing list and will also be available on Heritage Preservation’s Web site at www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP. Applications will be evaluated in the order in which they are received, so applicants are encouraged to submit their completed application as soon as possible. The postmark deadline for applications will be in December 2010. To be added to the CAP application mailing list or for more information, call the CAP office at 202-233-0800 or email cap(a)heritagepreservation.org.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development.
Heritage Preservation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States. By identifying risks, developing innovative programs, and providing broad public access to expert advice, Heritage Preservation assists museums, libraries, archives, historic preservation and other organizations, as well as individuals, in caring for our endangered heritage.
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