A grant award to Colonial Williamsburg will fund a three-year study into the effects on museum collections from fire extinguishing agents.
A $213,477 National Leadership Grant will cover the research in partnership with the Hughes Associates and Fire Protection Research Association from Nov. 1 to Oct. 31, 2016; the grant comes from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
“We are delighted to receive a National Leadership Grant from the IMLS,” said Colin Campbell, president and CEO of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation, in a news release. “We look forward to sharing the critical knowledge we learn about the conservation and protection of rare cultural treasures with the museum community at large.”
Scientifically, fire extinguishing agents are effective, but the effects of the agents on artifacts have not been explored nor has the ability to remove the agents from artifacts’ surfaces, according to the release.
A workshop and ceremony on Capitol Hill on Sept. 18 will feature IMLS Director Susan Hildreth, who will recognize the grant winners, applicants and awards.
IMLS serves as the primary source of federal support for 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums across the nation.
