SB Maritime Museum to Participate in Conservation Assessment Program
SBMM joins the 2,800 museums that have participated in CAP in its twenty-two year history of serving museums. Heritage Preservation’s CAP is supported through a cooperative agreement with the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services. CAP assists museums by providing finds for professional conservation specialists to identify the conservation needs of their collections and recommend ways to correctly improve collections conditions. Heritage Preservation’s President, Lawrence L. Reger, praised SBMM for “making vital the work of caring for collections a priority of their institution, even in these challenging financial times, and helping ensure that they are available to present and future generations.”
CAP provides a general conservation assessment of the museum’s collections. A professional conservator will spend two days surveying the site and three days preparing a comprehensive report that will identify conservation priorities. The on-site consultation will enable SBMM to evaluate its current collections care policies, procedures and environmental conditions. The assessment report will help the museum make appropriate improvements for the immediate, mid-range and long-range care of their collections. SBMM expects to utilize this resource to accomplish preservation goals and to seek future project funding.
SBMM is located in the Santa Barbara Harbor, and maintains on off-site collections storage facility. The museum specializes in historical collections that represent the maritime history of the Channel Islands and California’s Central Coast. It is open every day except for Wednesdays from 10am-5pm. Current exhibits include Hans Skalagard’s Sea Battles, Purisima: the World’s First Commercial Lock-Out Diving Bell, and The Shipwreck of the California Gold Rush Steamship Winfield Scott. Upcoming events include Songs of the Sea Photography Slideshow by Ines Roberts, SBMM’s annual Sea Festival, and the Bill of Rights Tall Ship Marine Science Program. To learn more about SBMM, please visit www.sbmm.org.
Heritage Preservation is a national non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the cultural heritage of the United States. By identifying risks, developing innovative programs, and providing broad public access to expert advice, Heritage Preservation assists museums, libraries, and archives, historic preservation and other organizations, as well as individuals, in caring for our endangered heritage. To learn more about Heritage Preservation, please visit www.heritagepreservation.org.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute’s mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.
