[Anchasl-l] AIC Katrina Assistance

[Robert James]

AIC to assist in restoration of collections damaged by hurricane Katrina.

Robert James
Executive Director
North Carolina Preservation Consortium

Phone (919) 660-1157
Pager  (919) 970-2783
FAX     (919) 681-7599
Email   robert.james at duke.edu



The American Institute for                         Phone:  (202) 452-9545, 
ext. 14
Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works        Fax:  (202) 452-9328
1717 K Street NW, Suite 200                        E-mail: 
ewentworth at aic-faic.org
Washington, DC  20036                              http://www.aic-faic.org

Date:  September 9, 2005

Contact:  Eryl P. Wentworth, Executive Director

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works offers
Disaster Assistance

The American Institute for Conservation of Historic & Artistic Works 
(AIC),
the national association of conservation professionals, announces the
formation of a roster of conservators volunteering to assist museums,
libraries, archives, and other cultural institutions affected by hurricane
Katrina.  Conservators are specifically prepared and trained to do first
response, rapid conservation assessment, and disaster recovery.  Some
members are prepared to work with historic preservation specialists and
archaeologists.

"Over 120 AIC members have volunteered already," says AIC Executive
Director Eryl Wentworth, "and responses are still flowing in."   AIC is
working with a variety of federal and national organizations and agencies
to identify institutions in need of assistance, gather necessary supplies,
and solicit emergency funds.  As access becomes possible, teams of people
with a variety of expertise will be matched with appropriate volunteer
conservators to travel to assigned locations.

AIC also offers a number of resources for organizations and individuals on
its website, http://www.aic-faic.org.  In addition to information on
handling and preserving wet documents, textiles, objects, and other
treasures, the site offers important health and safety warnings and
procedures.

AIC has a long history of offering training in disaster preparedness,
response, and recovery.  Members were instrumental in saving the priceless
artwork after the 1966 floods in Florence, Italy.  Education sessions 
since
1991 have helped to prepare conservators to deal with
collections affected by fires, floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and other
disasters.  Workshops held in 2000-2001 trained over 90 individuals in
emergency response procedures.  Two courses offered by AIC in 2005 were
attended by an additional 27 individuals in the recovery of
wet materials following a disaster.  Both series of classes were funded in
part by Preservation and Access Education and Training grants from the
National Endowment for the Humanities.

For more information, contact the American Institute for Conservation at
202-452-9545 or e-mail info at aic-faic.org.


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