The ongoing wildfires across British Columbia and Alberta are undeniable evidence of the imminent risk that natural  disasters pose to arts, culture, and heritage institutions, the collections they safeguard, and the communities they serve.

Museums, galleries, and heritage organizations care for tens of millions of objects, photographs, archival records, and irreplaceable cultural heritage in British Columbia which are vulnerable to disasters like floods, fires, and other climate emergencies. A 2023 survey by the BC Museums Association found over 50% of museums believe that the risk facing their collections is moderate or higher to severe.  When faced with an emergency, even minutes of response time can make the difference between preservation and destruction.

The BC Heritage Emergency Response Network (BC HERN) and the BC Museums Association (BCMA) partnered in 2021 to create a new contingency fund that will allow skilled heritage emergency responders to mobilize and begin recovery and salvage efforts for museums, galleries, and cultural organizations across BC when emergencies strike.

To date, nearly $20,000 has been raised in preparation for future emergency responses.  Each dollar you donate helps museums to prepare for the worst and helps to protect irreplaceable heritage from being lost forever.

Learn how BC HERN helped the Lytton Chinese History Museum and Lytton Museum & Archives salvage their collections after one of the most damaging wildfires in Canadian history here.

DONATE

The BC Museums Association is a provincially incorporated non-profit society and a registered charitable organization that works to create a bright future for BC’s museum, gallery and heritage sector through networking, advocacy, innovation and professional development. Donations of $20 or more receive a charitable tax receipt.

Note: Gifts received from another registered charity are ineligible to receive a tax receipt.

Donate online

Make a secure donation through CanadaHelps.org.

By cheque

Please make cheques payable to “BC Museums Association”, indicating that the donation is in support of the Emergency Response & Recovery Fund and mail to:

BC Museums Association
675 Belleville Street
Victoria, BC V8W 1A1

Want to make a lasting impact?

Learn about Legacy Giving.

IMPACT

Your donation directly supports BC HERN’s ability to quickly mobilize and respond to emergencies by funding the purchase of PPE supplies that help responders stay physically safe; tools and supplies to create a safe workspace for triage and salvage; and packing materials to help safely refrigerate and freeze collections that need to wait for specialized care. Specific equipment needed includes:

• Goggles
• Boots
• Tyvec suits
• Respirators
• Heavy gloves
• Headlamps
• Buckets and basins
• Bankers boxes

Your contribution ensures that collections impacted by fires, floods, and destructive storms are not lost due to the lack of funds necessary to mobilize BC HERN after emergency strikes. Suggested amounts are provided to demonstrate the financial needs of responders, but any amount makes a big difference and we are grateful for your contribution!

About BC HERN

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.