The BC Heritage Emergency Response Network is a growing consortium of art, culture and heritage professionals and volunteers in BC who feel morally and professionally obliged to plan for emergency situations and to support other cultural institutions in the event of localized emergencies that impact collections. The initiative was born from the identified lack of a unified support plan for disaster response and collections salvage in the province in light of the growing risk to collections due to climate change.
The BC HERN aims to build confidence to ensure the successful recovery of heritage collections. The formation of the network is based on two principles: establishing connections between institutions, and training individuals in these institutions on collections salvage procedures. Once staff are trained in salvage and recovery, their institutions will be incorporated into the growing number of response zones throughout the Province.
The success of this network model depends upon input and coordination from a variety of collections care professionals from all reaches of the Province. Support from the network may look different depending on the nature of the emergency, where the emergency is located in the province, and how close the impacted institution is to trained network members. If hands-on support is not possible, then phone or online support would be offered. Through the BC HERN, you will have access to information and training, resources and support at times that are impossible to predict. You will be proactive and connected so that risks and damage are minimized.
Click the following link to see the BC HERN poster presented at the 2018 CAC Annual Conference.