Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative

04/20/2026

Our latest report documenting impact to cultural heritage in Ukraine between February 2022 and November 2025: https://bit.ly/42iJDE8

Our data shows that memorials and monuments along with places of worship are the categories of sites most frequently sustaining potential damage.

This work is the result of collaboration between MCI-SCRI, Penn Cultural Heritage Center, University of Maryland Center for International Development and Conflict Management, the Cultural Heritage Monitoring Lab (CHML) at the Virginia Museum of Natural History, and НеМо: Ukrainian Heritage Monitoring Lab.

04/08/2026

Pre‑registration for this in-person event in Washington D.C. and the Call for Abstracts are open through April 17th!

Join practitioners, researchers, and emerging professionals from cultural institutions across the DC region for this inaugural two‑day event on November 9-10, 2026 focused on preparedness, response, and resilience in cultural heritage emergencies.

🌐 Check out our website for details: https://s.si.edu/4vbIJ9N

03/25/2026

We were honored to be part of this event and to share information about working with our dedicated Ukrainian colleagues.

03/05/2026

A triumphant conclusion to the 7th Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) in Washington DC! We would like to thank our instructors and volunteers from The Library of Congress, Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Libraries and Archives, National Portrait Gallery USA, Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian's National Collections Program, Curae Collections Care, LLC, and 2019 HEART grad Jared Yax who contributed to making this program a success. We could not have done it without you!

Smithsonian

02/27/2026

On our final day of , participants turn their eyes to the future. They began the morning honing their crisis communication skills. They then engaged with capacity building organizations to discuss mobilizing resources and conducting effective outreach. These skills will return with them to their home communities.

We would like to thank our HEART cohort and their organizations for participating in this program and for their commitment to protecting the objects and stories of their communities for this generation and the next.

Smithsonian

02/26/2026

The goal of the HEART program is to increase understanding of disaster preparedness and response strategies to protect heritage under threat from disaster. Learn more: https://s.si.edu/3VpRagQ

Day Four is a busy one as the participants are using what they have learned in a day-long practical exercise.

We take this moment to acknowledge the hard work of the 24 heritage stewards and emergency management professionals from 18 states and 2 territories who have joined us at the Smithsonian this week.

We cooperate with communities, government agencies, philanthropic organizations, cultural institutions, professional associations and non-profits to save heritage in the most responsive and effective ways.

02/26/2026

This afternoon was HEART’s traditional Salvage Day! Participants immersed themselves in a hands-on exercise focused on object handling and stabilization methods for collections impacted by water emergencies.

Smithsonian

02/25/2026

Day Three of HEART! The cohort spent the morning applying what they’ve learned during a risk mitigation walk-through of several exhibits at National Museum of the American Indian. Staff shared their daily checks and how they coordinate with facilities and security to keep the public and collections safe.

Smithsonian

02/24/2026

Day Two for the participants emphasized different aspects of preparedness and response. They visited our colleagues at The Library of Congress to learn about its collections emergencies procedures. Back in the classroom they heard from the Smithsonian’s Preparedness and Response in Collections Emergencies team and participated in a session on the Incident Command System.

02/23/2026

Day One for the Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) participants is underway! 24 heritage stewards and emergency managers braved the snow to join us at the Smithsonian. Today the cohort took a deep dive into risk and assessment topics to enhance their preparedness skills.

Smithsonian

02/20/2026

Looking forward to Monday! The MCI-SCRI staff is finishing preparations to greet the next cohort of 25 Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) participants.

Smithsonian