Connecting to Collections – Call for Workshop Participation

Connecting to Collections is looking for individuals who are interested in attending three disaster planning and response workshops presented by the Midwest Art Conservation Center (MACC) as part of the Wisconsin IMLS Connecting to Collections Implementation Grant.  While the cost to attend this training would typically be $425 per person, grant funding has made it possible to offer these workshops free of charge to all participants. These workshops are open to any collecting cultural institution (museums, historical societies, archives, libraries) in Wisconsin.

About the Workshops:

Participants of these workshops will craft a disaster plan for their institution and gain hands-on experience in disaster response and salvage. Participants will also take part in regional networking to assist local peers in disaster planning and implementation, and should consider their ability to commit to fielding questions from regional peer institutions who are drafting plans and the ability to share the expertise gained from this training on site for peers in the event of an emergency.  Attendees are expected to share their questions and disaster planning and response experiences by means of participation in the newly-created Wisconsin Cultural Heritage Emergencies & Disaster Response listserv.

Dates and content for the workshops are:

Workshop 1: Conducting a Risk Assessment

A 1-day workshop on how to conduct an institutional and collections risk analysis for both natural and man-made disasters, and how to mitigate risks to collections

• Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire – Tuesday, May 20, 2014
• Prairie du Chien City Hall, Prairie du Chien – Wednesday, May 21, 2014
• UW-Parkside, Kenosha – Thursday, May 22, 2014
• UW-Oshkosh, Oshkosh – Friday, May 23, 2014
• Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland – Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Workshop 2: Writing a Disaster Plan

A 1-day workshop on how to write a Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plan, including incorporating the concepts and completed risk assessment from the previous Conducting a Risk Assessment workshop. Attendees will leave with a draft plan ready for final completion and adoption at their own institution.

• Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland – Monday, August 4, 2014
• Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire  –  Tuesday, August 5, 2014
• Prairie du Chien City Hall, Prairie du Chien – Wednesday, August 6, 2014
• UW-Parkside, Kenosha – Thursday, August 7, 2014
• UW-Oshkosh, Oshkosh – Friday, August 8, 2014

Workshop 3: Disaster Response: The Critical First 48 Hours

A 1-day workshop on how to respond to a disaster during the first 48 hours. This will cover such topics as: implementing the institution’s disaster plan; documenting a disaster; staff safety versus collections salvage; and responding to and informing the public.

• Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland – Tuesday, October 21, 2014
• Chippewa Valley Museum, Eau Claire  –  Wednesday, October 22, 2014
• UW-Oshkosh, Oshkosh – Thursday, October 23, 2014
• UW-Parkside, Kenosha – Monday, October 27,2014
• TBD, Prairie du Chien – Tuesday, October 28, 2014

How to Apply:

If you are would like to participate, please prepare a brief email addressing the following: your ability and commitment to attend all three workshops in your area, what your institution’s disaster planning needs are, and how you or your institution might be able to assist other cultural institutions in your area with disaster planning and response. This information should be sent to by Friday, March 21^st.

Please contact the Grant Coordinator, Sarah Hopley, with any questions at or 608-264-6407.