Stewardship of America’s Legacy:
Answering the Call to Action
Program Information Announced

"Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action," a forum in the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Connecting to Collections series, takes place June 16 and 17 in Buffalo, New York. This forum will bring together front-line leaders in the movement to save America’s collections for future generations. At the forum’s conclusion, participants will have concrete information and fresh inspiration for keeping the health of collections, in their own institutions and in their communities, central at a time of reduced resources.

Heritage Preservation has organized these forums in partnership with IMLS. Additional partners in this forum are the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works and the Art Conservation Department of Buffalo State College, State University of New York. "Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action” is the fourth in the series of IMLS forums in the Connecting to Collections National Tour. Panel sessions will take place at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, with a reception and Connections Lab at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Participation in the forum is free, and registration is available here.

"Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action," will explore how committed individuals, ranging from small town librarians to directors of national conservation training programs, can work together to improve collections care and to inspire and inform others, both nationally and in their communities. Speakers will address ways to make the case for collections funding, cutting-edge topics in collections care, using networks to tap into expertise, and engaging the public in sustaining the nation’s collections. The keynote speaker will be Maxwell L. Anderson, The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum of Art.

Participants in this forum will:

• Attend plenary sessions of panels with speakers who have successfully addressed issues of significance for smaller institutions.
• Participate in a complimentary lunchtime “Connections Lab” with opportunities to engage speakers, representatives of funding agencies, and other resource representatives.
• Take home a specially prepared resources packet.
• Learn about IMLS funding programs by meeting with IMLS staff and representatives of institutions that have received IMLS grants.
• Receive complimentary admission to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Burchfield Penney Art Center.
• Have the opportunity to tour the conservation labs at the Art Conservation Department of Buffalo State College.

Buffalo’s cultural institutions look forward to welcoming participants. Information on historic downtown Buffalo can be found at www.walkbuffalo.com.

This forum has received generous support from the Samuel Kress Foundation and the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. For more information and to register for the forum, visit www.imls.gov/collections.