Training for Disaster: Preparedness and Response for Humanities Collections

FAIN: PE-309543-26

FAIC (Washington, DC 20005-1704)
Christina M. Cain (Project Director: June 2025 to present)

A series of advanced training and capacity building activities for participants in the National Heritage Responders and Alliance for Response programs in disaster preparedness and emergency response for cultural heritage.  

The Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC) will administer an advanced training program to enhance the capacity of the National Heritage Responders, a team of preservation experts who are trained in emergency response and recovery for humanities collections. This training will be provided for all active responders with the goal of updating information, refreshing skills, and strengthening the experience of the team. New additions to the curriculum include specialized training in trauma response, as well as recovery for fire-impacted collections. The project will also allocate funding to support access to mental health care for deployed responders. Additionally, FAIC will provide microgrants to Alliance for Response networks to facilitate training and education at the local level. Together, these initiatives create a stronghold of experts uniquely qualified to respond to emergencies for humanities collections held in museums across the nation.