Western Region Field Service Program

FAIN: PE-50010-07

Balboa Art Conservation Center (San Diego, CA 92163-1755)
Janet E. Ruggles (Project Director: July 2006 to December 2009)

A regional preservation field service program that provides preservation surveys, workshops, technical consultations, and educational materials to museums and historical organizations in California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington.

Funding is requested for the Western Region Field Service Program (WRFSP), which serves over 1,000 museums and historical organizations in the Western Region (California, Arizona, Oregon, and Washington) that hold collections of values to the humanities. WRFSP was established in 2001 with NEH funding as the first program in this region to serve these institutions. The program was re-funded by the NEH in 2003 and 2005 and in its first five years of operation WRFSP exceeded stated objectives. Funding for 2007-09 will enable BACC to address preservation needs with even greater effectiveness through a more strategically directed program (built on past experience) that is staffed by a field service officer and field service manager. Principal program objectives for improving preservation of material culture holdings are 1) Workshops on preservation practices at "leader" institutions; 2) Subsidized planning surveys; 3)Mentorship Program; 4) Consultations/Technical Assistance.