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Emergency Preparedness & Response Workshops This Summer Across Louisiana

Emergencies are a fact of life, and the realities of climate change will make them even more likely to affect our state’s cultural heritage institutions. This June join the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities, the Louisiana Association of Museums, and cultural heritage specialist Rebecca Elder for Culture Ready LA, a series of day-long workshops that will be held across the state on planning for emergencies involving nonprofit cultural organizations.

  • Monday, June 26, in Ruston
  • Tuesday, June 27, in Lafayette
  • Wednesday, June 28, in New Orleans (this workshop is now full)
  • Thursday, June 29, in Houma (full schedule with locations and times below)

Each workshop is free and open to staff from nonprofit cultural organizations based in Louisiana. Recipients of Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities Emergency Planning Grants are especially encouraged to attend.

By the end of these workshops, attendees will know how to:

  • Assemble an emergency planning team within their institution.
  • Choose the appropriate template for a plan that suits their needs.
  • Assess the risks to their collection.
  • Determine their salvage priorities.
  • Write and implement their plan.
  • Train their staff on using the plan.
  • Maintain a cache of emergency supplies.
  • Re-enter the building safely after a disaster.

Attendees will leave motivated to create a new emergency plan or revise their existing one, with the resources needed to make sure their plan is successful.

Culture Ready LA Workshops are open to staff from museums, libraries, historic sites, archives, tribal historic preservation offices, arts councils, and other cultural nonprofits based in Louisiana. Space is limited, and organizations are asked to register no more than two individuals per organization. Lunch will be provided, and the full schedule of sites and dates is below.

 

Workshop Locations and Dates (attendees select ONE date upon registering)

 

Ruston

Monday, June 26 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Louisiana Tech University
Prescott Memorial Library, Room 334
1312 W. Railroad Avenue
Ruston, LA 71272

 

Lafayette

Tuesday, June 27 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Hilliard Art Museum at the University of Louisiana-Lafayette
710 E. St. Mary Boulevard
Lafayette, LA 70503

 

New Orleans

Please note, this workshop is now full, but those interested in attending may sign up for the workshop in Houma.

Wednesday, June 28 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
The Helis Foundation John Scott Center at the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities
938 Lafayette Street
New Orleans, LA 70113

 

Houma

Thursday, June 29 | 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
South Louisiana Wetlands Discovery Center
7910 Park Avenue
Houma, LA 70364

 

Register Now

 

Facilitator

Rebecca Elder has been helping cultural institutions prepare for emergencies for over 15 years. She holds an MSIS and a Certificate of Advanced Studies for Conservation of Library and Archival Materials from the School of Information at the University of Texas at Austin and serves as coordinator for the National Heritage Responders, a team of volunteer conservators and allied professionals who respond to disasters.

 

Culture Ready LA Workshops are an initiative of the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the Louisiana Association of Museums made possible by funding from the State of Louisiana.