We are now offering virtual and limited in-person Preservation Assessments* for museums across the state interested in learning more about how to better preserve their collections. Utah Arts and Museum’s Preservation Assessment provides constructive feedback on areas of improvement through a facilitated onsite or virtual visit and itemized report. The visit and report are meant to provide feedback that will assist in identifying priority collections care needs and better assist museums interested in applying for museum grants through Utah Arts and Museums.

By going virtual, we are able to provide access to Preservation Assessments to a larger number of museums across the state in addition to adhering to social distancing guidelines. Please use the following checklist to get started on scheduling your next Preservation Assessment: 

• Contact Jennifer Ortiz at jenniferortiz@utah.gov to discuss your museum preservation needs. Together you will determine whether your museum is eligible for a virtual or in-person assessment. 
• Fill out the Pre-Assessment worksheet here. This is a google form that will need to be filled out in one sitting; the questions that you will encounter can be found here for your review. Once you submit your pre-assessment (and any other requested materials), the Preservation Assessment team will reach out to schedule your assessment. 
• Following your virtual or in person assessment, a Preservation Assessment report will be sent to you as a recap of your visit and of the preservation needs present in your organization. This assessment will be organized to address short and long-term collections projects found during the assessment. 
• Utilize your report! Use your report to advocate for improving preservation needs in your museum. Leverage the report for additional funding either through grants (use it for our grants!), private donors, and/or municipal funding. There are many ways to leverage this report to help improve collections conditions at your museum. 

*In-person assessments will be reviewed and approved as they are requested. All in-person assessments must be within a two-hour drive of Salt Lake City and will require all participants to adhere to strict social distancing and masking guidelines. If the site is unable to commit to these requirements, a virtual assessment can be utilized instead.

Do you have a historic house museum in your community that needs a historic interpretation plan? The interpretation of historic interiors can create a powerful interpretative experience for visitors to feel the history of your museum or historic structure’s space. Historic Interpretation can encompass a historic structure with original furnishings, a restored interior with some originals furnishings, or a recreated/reconstructed interior without non-original furnishings. A Historic Interpretation Plan can assist your museum with telling its story.

For more information and to schedule your site visit, please contact Alena Franco at 801-245-7233, afranco@utah.gov. 

Emergency Planning

• Heritage Preservation-Resources for Emergency Planning and Preparedness 
• American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works (AIC) Response resources
• Northeast Document Conservation Center 24/7 Collections Emergency Phone Assistance
• Western States & Territories Preservation Assistance Service (WESTPAS)
• Getty Conservation Institute: Build your own emergency plan PDF 
• Emergency Response and Salvage Wheel app for your smart phone 

Collections Management

• Developing a Collections Management Policy, American Alliance of Museums Resource Guide
• International Council of Museums–Deaccessioning bibliography 
• National Parks Service-Conserve O Grams 
• Collections Storage Techniques from STASH
• Collections Care assistance from Connecting to Collections (C2C) 

Fair Use and Copyright Issues

• Code of Best Practices in Fair Use for the Visual Arts from the College Art Association 

National

• Association of Registrars and Collections Specialists 
• American Association for State and Local History
• Small Museum Association 
• American Alliance of Museums
• Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
• Association of Children’s Museums
• Association of College and University Museums and Galleries
• Institute of Museum and Library Service
• Conservation Center for Art and Historical Artifacts
• Museum Education Roundtable

Regional

• Western Museums Association 
• Registrars Committee for the Western Region (RCWR)

State

• Utah Museums Association 
• Utah Division of State History
• Utah Humanities
• International Society – Daughters of Utah Pioneers