TX-CERA's Blue Sky Initiative Trains Texans to Protect Cultural Heritage in Emergencies

Kathleen Kiefer, a representative of the Texas Collections Emergency Resource Alliance (TX-CERA), discusses the organization's shift from on-site disaster response to a proactive focus on training and education. TX-CERA, a volunteer-run nonprofit with roots in 1980s disaster response groups, now emphasizes preparedness through resources and workshops. A recent National Endowment for the Humanities grant funds the three-year Blue Sky Initiative, which aims to train Texans statewide. The initiative includes in-person workshops, webinars, and tabletop exercises. The first workshop, held in San Antonio, accepted 50 participants for a two-day introduction to emergency preparedness. Year two will feature a six-week online course with a hands-on session in Waco, and year three will involve a collaboration with the Harris County Fire Department to simulate a collection storage fire in a burn locker. Kiefer, a textile conservator, highlights the unforgiving nature of paper and textiles, making prevention crucial. She advises artists to store items off the floor and collaborate with fellow studio tenants on emergency plans. TX-CERA also deploys to disaster sites for triage, prioritizing absorbent materials like paper and textiles. Kiefer emphasizes the link between cultural heritage and community resilience, citing her post-Katrina work in Mississippi. She encourages readers to engage via TX-CERA's website and social media.