The CCAHA family hopes you are safe and healthy at this time. During this shutdown, CCAHA staff has been busy with research and professional development projects that will inform how we serve you, and we are beginning to pilot new services, including remote preservation and collections assessments. We plan to share our knowledge by adding new technical leaflets to our Guides & Facts Sheets page . Our Preservation Services Office is developing new online educational programs , and we are expanding our list of COVID-19 resources for cultural institutions.
 
We will continue to monitor the latest health and safety recommendations. In the meantime, CCAHA staff is available by email to answer questions and discuss new and ongoing projects. While our offices will remain closed until it is safe to reopen, we look forward to serving you again in person as soon as possible.
Treatment FOCUS: A 19th-century Woodcut Print of Kali & Durga

In the mid-1800s, the Northern Calcutta neighborhood of Battala was the site of a flourishing scene of engravers and printers. These artists illustrated books and produced India’s first religious prints from large-scale woodcuts of Hindu gods and goddesses, continuing a tradition that had begun at the turn of the century with hand-painted watercolors. Learn more about Senior Paper Conservator Heather Hendry's treatment of a strikingly illustrated c. 1850 print featuring the deities Kali and Durga engaged in battle.

CCAHA Preservation Services Extends Remote Office Hours Through June

Date: Thursdays through June
Time: 1:00-3:00 PM (ET)
Contact: (484) 854-3420

Do you have questions about starting a preservation project while working at home or social distancing from your staff? Or a conservation concern during physical distance from your collections? If you have limited access at this time to email or the internet, or prefer a conversation with a CCAHA staff person, phone call-in office hours are available with CCAHA Education Program Manager & Preservation Consultant Stephenie Schwartz Bailey , who can answer questions, refer you to educational resources, and connect you to other CCAHA staff as necessary.
Funding Opportunities: NEH, NEA, and IMLS

The NEH Humanities Collections and Reference Resources (HCRR) program supports projects that provide an essential underpinning for scholarship, education, and public programming in the humanities. Funding from this program strengthens efforts to extend the life of such materials and make their intellectual content widely accessible, often through the use of digital technology. Updated guidelines will be posted in advance of the next deadline. In the meantime, use the previous guidelines to get a sense of what is involved in assembling an application.

Applications available: Friday, May 15, 2020
Deadline: Wednesday, July 15, 2020

The second cycle of Grants for Arts Projects funding is currently open. The National Endowment for the Arts is committed to supporting museum activity that demonstrates exceptional aesthetic investigation and meaningful community engagement. The nation's museums face a tall and challenging order, increasingly called upon to be civic anchors, community gathering places, and stewards of our most prized artistic and cultural heritage. Cost share/matching grants for museums will generally range from $10,000 to $100,000.

Deadline: Thursday, July 9

The goal of the FY2020 IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries program is to support the role of museums and libraries in responding to the coronavirus pandemic. Grant amounts range from $25,000-$500,000 with a grant period of up to two years and no cost sharing requirement.

Deadline: Friday, June 12


Thinking about applying for a project involving CCAHA? Email  Lee Price, Director of Development , to get started.
Upcoming Programs
At CCAHA, we understand that the COVID-19 crisis is causing many individuals and cultural institutions financial hardship. We're committed to making all of our online programming free during this time in order to ensure that you have access to valuable information, helpful resources, and opportunities to develop and grow, no matter your circumstances.
ONLINE FORUM
P reservation of Photographic Collections
Date: Wednesday, May 20th
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Presenter: Zach Long, Photograph Conservator, CCAHA

Join CCAHA's Photograph Conservator, Zach Long, for free forum at which he will address questions such as:

  • What protective measures should be taken when exhibiting original photographs?
  • How should negative collections be stored?
  • What precautions should be used when handling photographic prints?
WEBINAR
The Sealed Package and Preservation Framing
Date: Wednesday, May 27th
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Presenter: Zac Dell'Orto, Manager of Housing & Framing, CCAHA

Paper is especially sensitive to environmental fluctuations in temperature and humidity, airborne pollutants, particulate matter, pests, and mold. Preservation housing and framing of paper art and artifacts protects against these threats. The sealed package in particular creates a microclimate ideal for storage and display, especially when handling and transport may be frequent. This webinar will address how sealed packages are constructed at CCAHA, the materials used, and benefits of the various types of sealed packages.
WEBINAR
Housing Basics
Date: Thursday, May 28
Time: 11:00 AM MT (1:00 PM ET)
Presenter: Stephenie Schwartz Bailey, Education Program Manager & Preservation Consultant, CCAHA

This webinar guides you through the process of understanding housing materials marketed as “archival” or “conservation-grade.” Additional recommendations will also be shared for choosing appropriate housing constructions for artifacts with particular conservation concerns, with a peek at some examples.


WEBINAR
Introduction to Digitization
Date: Wednesday, June 3
Time: 12:00 PM MT (2:00 PM ET)
Presenters: Gina Strack, Digital Archives Manager, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service; Mahala Ruddell, Archivist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service

In this webinar, Gina Strack , Digital Archives Manager, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service, and Mahala Ruddell , Archivist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service, will give an introduction to digitization. The course will focus on comparing in-house with outsourced digitization by balancing best practices with case-study presentations. Content will include information about specifications, available technology, long-term digital preservation, and financial considerations.
WEBINAR
Caring for Archives
Date: Thursday, June 18
Time: 12:00 PM MT (2:00 PM ET)
Presenter: A lan Barnett, Local Government Archivist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service

In this webinar, Alan Barnett , Local Government Archivist, Utah Division of Archives and Records Service, will present on the fundamental principles of managing archival materials. Content will be geared toward training staff of museums and other institutions for whom archival collections may be an important but secondary function of the institution. The course will cover the function of archives, basic archival principles, organizing and housing materials, and providing access to materials.

Our Regional Heritage Stewardship Program (RHSP) brings vital preservation services to three regions of the country:
  • The Intermountain West: Nevada, Utah, and parts of Idaho, Arizona, Colorado, and New Mexico
  • Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia
  • The Deep South: Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida

Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities , RHSP was created in consultation with the American Association for State and Local History, which helped identify these regions as areas with limited access to conservators and preservation expertise.
Documentary Heritage and Preservation Services for New York (DHPSNY) Program Updates

The New York State Education Department’s Office of Cultural Education contracts with CCAHA to deliver statewide services supporting organizations that safeguard New York's historical documents and library research materials.

Join DHPSNY for Conversations on Local History in the DHPSNY Community Facebook Group ! In the most important stage of the Statewide Documentation Planning project, DHPSNY has invited the historical records community to engage in conversations on local history in order to identify under-documented topics and peoples in New York State history. So far, DHPSNY has held three virtual conversations that have provided invaluable insight from individuals in the Capital District, Western NY, and Northern NY. Before they pick back up with live sessions in early June, they're moving the conversation online to the DHPSNY Community Facebook group!

From May 11-30 , DHPSNY invites individuals from all regions of the state to join as they examine a new prompt each week. To participate, simply join the DHPSNY Community and share your thoughts below the prompts . Your input will be used to help direct future NY State Archives Documentary Heritage Program activities and ensure a more equitable historical record.
Founded in 1977, the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is a one-stop shop for every conservation and preservation need. CCAHA specializes in the treatment of works on paper, photographs, and books, as well as state-of-the-art digital imaging services. CCAHA’s preservation services staff present education programs and conduct preservation assessments nationwide. CCAHA also offers conservation fellowships, fundraising support, disaster assistance, and more.
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