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VolunteerToday.com ~~ The Electronic Gazette for Volunteerism |
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| SPECIAL EDITION: NEWS and Information
for Arts, Museums and Animal Welfare Organizations
Below are links and articles provided to help volunteer managers with disaster recovery efforts from Hurrican Katrina, specifically related to the Arts, Museums and Animal Welfare organizations. So far, all articles and links have been submitted by Connie Pirtle from Maryland. |
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Americans for the Arts Establishes
Emergency Relief Fund
Americans for the Arts has established an Emergency Relief Fund, a permanent fund to provide timely financial assistance to victims of a major disaster for the purpose of helping them rebuild the arts in their community. One hundred percent of relief funds will be distributed directly to local arts agencies for the purpose of assisting with their own recovery and their provision of needed services and funding to nonprofit arts organizations and individual artists, as well as to other cultural relief efforts. Americans for the Arts is initiating this fund with a $100,000 contribution from their reserves to immediately help those assisting with the recovery of their local arts agency or providing needed services and funding to local nonprofit arts groups and individual artists affected in the Gulf Coast states. Americans for the Arts has established this fund in response to the individuals and organizations who want to help local cultural organizations and artists affected by Hurricane Katrina and other disasters but do not know where to direct such donations. To make a contribution to the Emergency Relief Fund or to learn more about how to apply for financial assistance, visit their website at: http://www.AmericansFortheArts.org/EmergencyRelief, or contact them toll-free at 866.471.2787 and ask for the Americans for the Arts Emergency Relief Fund. The national performing arts service organizations (American
Symphony Orchestra League, Dance USA, Opera America, Chorus America, and
National Assembly of State Arts Agencies) are working together rather
than individually to find ways to pool resources (both human and financial).
For example, members of all these groups received an email announcing
an arts journal blog where people can post messages offering housing,
a job, transportation, whatever to the musicians of the Louisiana Philharmonic
in New Orleans. http://www.artsjournal.com/adaptistration/archives/2005/09/louisiana_phil.html.
American Association of Museums has comprehensive information about museums, zoos, science centers, etc. in the region. They list information in three categories:
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is assessing needs; identifying available freezer space, storage facilities, and triage areas; receiving donations of cash, goods, and services for distribution to affected museums. Checks should be made payable to SEMC with Hurricane Katrina Fund noted in the memo field. The mailing address is:
The SEMC board will make decisions regarding distribution of the funds. To offer use of space or equipment, donate salvage supplies, or volunteer for salvage and recovery, contact Richard Waterhouse, SEMC executive director, at 404-378-3153 or by email: director@SEMCDirect.net. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) has established the 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund. Since much of the Gulf Coast's economy is tourism based -- especially historic travel -- historic places will play a critical role in the region's revival. Donations will support assessment teams, assist small businesses through the National Main Street Center, and disperse critical grant monies to organizations on the ground in affected communities The Times-Picayune reports on 8/31/05 that the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) survived Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath without significant damage. Six NOMA security & maintenance employees had remained on duty during the hurricane. FEMA wanted them to move to a safer location, but there was no way to secure the artwork inside so the staff continues to stay on site. Museum workers had taken down some pieces in the sculpture garden before the storm, but a towering modernist sculpture by Kenneth Snelson was reduced to a twisted mess in the lagoon. The Wall Street Journal reported on 9/2/05 that the climate-control system was operating at half-power on a backup generator. The museum may relocate some of its more fragile works, if generator fuel can't be obtained soon. Best Friends Animal Society in Knab, Utah, the first no-kill shelter in the U.S., is now working on site with the St. Francis Animal Sanctuary in Tylertown – about 100 miles north of New Orleans. They consider them a sister sanctuary. They have facilities for about 400 dogs and cats. And they are being inundated! 80 more from the Humane Society of Louisiana. And 100 more from Jefferson Parish (New Orleans) Animal Control. They have food for less than 24 hours. And they have a well, but no power to pump water. But they do have the basic facilities to operate as a sanctuary for adoptable animals from New Orleans. So, Best Friends is working with them to build up their facilities and run a joint project as base camp for adoptable animals being evacuated from New Orleans. Their site provides lists of people/animal/general supplies needed and where they can be shipped as well as a cash donation link. They are also looking for volunteers who can spend a week on-site doing general tasks as well as animal care. Visit: http://www.bestfriends.org -- click on "what you can do." Submitted 9/5/05 A Service of MBA
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