Nominations to the Oklahoma’s Top Ten Endangered Artifacts are due on Tuesday, April 1 – go to www.culturalheritagetrust.org to participate.
Now in its second year, Oklahoma’s Top Ten Endangered Artifacts program raises awareness about the importance of the State’s heritage and the role that individual artifacts play. Sponsored by the Oklahoma Cultural Heritage Trust with funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Top Ten program provides organizations with enhanced opportunities to engage the community, attract donors, and garner media attention. Of significance, organizations accepted into the Top Ten program receive over $1,000 in benefits.
Organizations accepted into the program receive the following benefits:
- Recognition at the Oklahoma State Capitol in the Governor’s Blue Room on May 1 as a part of OCHT’s May Day Celebration. Organizations will receive recognition from their Legislators and the Governor. Photos will be taken for distribution to local media.
- Celebratory Luncheon following the May Day event.
- One complimentary registration ($30 per workshop or total of $240) to attend eight day-long workshops in Oklahoma City during August and September. Workshops are built around a series of expert webinars produced by Heritage Preservation. Local experts will be on hand to answer questions and provide additional information.
- Registration fees for the Oklahoma Museums Association’s Annual Conference in Idabel and two nights lodging. Organizations will be recognized with a Good Steward Award at the conference.
- Marketing materials, including a portable banner-stand display promoting the organization, its Endangered Artifact, and building a case for financial support for the organization.
- Priority consideration to host the traveling exhibit “Caring for Family Treasures” traveling exhibit. More info on the FREE exhibit is available at http://culturalheritagetrust.org/node/36
Here are key dates (workshop dates are preliminary):
- Tuesday, April 1 – All nominations must be submitted online by 5:00 PM CDT. Items nominated should be important to Oklahoma history, have a compelling story, and be in need of conservation.
- Tuesday, April 15 – Organizations will be notified of the status of their nomination. An expert panel of conservators, historians, and cultural heritage specialists will review the items and select the Top Ten.
- Thursday, May 1 – Top Ten Most Endangered Artifacts will be named at a special media event at the Oklahoma State Capitol
- Monday, July 14 – Outreach Activities for Collections Care Workshop
- Tuesday, July 15 – Fundraising for Collections Care Workshop
- Monday, July 28 – Risk Evaluation: First Step in Disaster Planning Workshop
- Tuesday, July 29 – Protecting Your Collections: Writing a Disaster Response Plan Workshop
- Monday, August 4 – Collections Care Basics: Where Do I Begin? Workshop
- Tuesday, August 5 – Caring for Digital Materials: Preventing a Digital Dark Age Workshop
- Monday, August 18 -Caring for Audiovisual Materials Workshop
- Tuesday, August 19 -Caring for Photographic Materials Workshop
- September 24-26 – Oklahoma Museums Association Annual Conference in Idabel
While the Trust does not provide funds to support the care of item, several of last year’s participants were able to raise new funds. As Jennifer Holt with the Will Rogers Museum in Claremore stated, “The Top Ten program was incredibly helpful to us. Due to the PR involved, the Arrowhead Polo Club has stepped up and is underwriting the conservation treatment for Will Rogers’ polo suit. The suit is with the textile conservator now.”
Nominations are due on or before Tuesday, April 1. To nominate an item, go to www.culturalheritagetrust.org You will need a description of the item and at least one high-resolution photograph.