Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART)

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

Dates: November 13 –17, 2017

Place: Washington, DC

Application deadline: September 15, 2017

Organized by: Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative and FEMA’s Office of Environmental Planning & Historic Preservation, co-sponsors of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF) has created a new training opportunity for U.S.–based professionals to gain skills and experience in disaster response for cultural heritage. Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) will combine the important principles of the internationally recognized First Aid for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis training model with context-specific information for a U.S. audience. The goal is to strengthen U.S. disaster response networks and connect participants to the wider international “First Aider” network of people trained to document and protect cultural heritage in times of crisis.

The Training

The course consists of three parts. Accepted applicants will be required, before the start of the program, to complete FEMA’s online course “Introduction to the Incident Command System (ICS 100).” Participants will travel to Washington, DC, for a week of hands-on training at the Smithsonian Institution from November 13–17, 2017. Sessions will provide realistic, hands-on training in damage assessment, rapid documentation, emergency evacuation and salvage, rehousing and storage, crisis communication, team building, and more. Starting in January 2018, a five-part webinar series will build upon the in-person training, reinforcing concepts covered in the November training.

Who should apply?

Selection of participants will be made on a competitive basis. The course team will select 25 participants from cultural heritage and first responder/emergency management organizations or agencies who work in the United States, U.S. territories, or Indian Country. Since the successful recovery of heritage collections is based on collaboration among many different types of professionals, the goal of HEART is to train a group with diverse backgrounds. Therefore both cultural heritage professionals and first responder/emergency management professionals are encouraged to apply for the training.

Travel, Accommodation and Living Expenses

There is no fee for participating in this training. Thanks to generous support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation , travel to and from DC, local transportation, and lodging expenses for all selected participants will be covered.

How to Apply

For a complete description of the program and the application process, please see: https://culturalrescue.si.edu/resources/hentf-training/

Questions?

Contact the Heritage Emergency National Task Force at hentf@si.edu or the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative at culturalrescue@si.edu.