FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2006

Conservation Assessment Program Announces 2006 Participants

2007 application to be released October 6, 2006

Washington, DC—The condition of collections in 110 museums in 39 states and the District of Columbia will be assessed this year through the Conservation Assessment Program (CAP). The 2006 recipients include the Michigan Maritime Museum, Arizona State University Center for Meteorite Studies, the Mississippi Museum of Art and the Adams Museum and House in Deadwood, South Dakota. Click here to view the list of 2006 CAP grant recipients.

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.

“True treasures are often contained in the collections of small museums,” said Dr. Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “The 198 million artifacts cared for by the 12,000 small museums and historical societies across America collectively hold the stories of our rich and diverse cultural heritage. 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.”

Since 1990, almost 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, 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 America’s collections found that 80% of institutions do not have paid staff dedicated to collections care,” said Lawrence L. Reger, President of Heritage Preservation. “For these kinds of institutions, a visit from a professional conservator who can point the way to improved care of collections can be invaluable.”

Forms for applying to the FY2007 CAP will be mailed on Friday, October 6, 2006, to museums on the CAP mailing list and will also be available on Heritage Preservation’s Web site at www.heritagepreservation.org/CAP. Eligible participants will be accepted into the program on a first-come, first-served basis, and applicants are encouraged to mail their completed application as soon as possible. The postmark deadline for applications is December 1, 2006. To be added to the CAP application mailing list or for more information, call 202-233-0800 or email cap@heritagepreservation.org.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. Its mission is to grow and sustain a “Nation of Learners” because life-long learning is essential to a democratic society and individual success. Through its grant making, convenings, research and publications, the Institute empowers museums and libraries nationwide to provide leadership and services to enhance learning in families and communities, sustain cultural heritage, build twenty-first-century skills, and increase civic participation. To learn more about the Institute, please visit: http://www.imls.gov.

About Heritage Preservation
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.