MISSION

Partners in Tourism: Culture and Commerce is a coalition of cultural service organizations, the travel industry, and federal agencies that provides a forum for collaborative research, education, promotion and advocacy with the common goal of advancing the role of culture and heritage in the travel and tourism industry.

- Alliance of National Heritage Areas

- American Association of Museums*

- Americans for the Arts*

- Cultural and Heritage Tourism Alliance

- Federation of State Humanities Council*

- National Assembly of State Arts Agencies*

- National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers*

- National Geographic Society

- National Trust for Historic Preservation*

- Travel Industry Association of America – Tourism Works for America

- Advisory Council on Historic Preservation

- National Endowment for the Arts*

- National Endowment for the Humanities*

- Institute of Museum and Library Services*

- President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities*

- U.S. Department of Agriculture

- Forest Service

- Natural Resources Conservation Service

- U.S. Department of Interior

- Bureau of Land Management

- National Park Service

* founding member

© 2005 Partners in Tourism: Culture and Commerce

Editor: Carolyn Brackett

Assistant Editors: Kimber Craine, Verna Romero & Amy Webb

GOT NEWS? Send program updates, new initiatives and case studies to cht@nthp.org

Supported by the American Express Company

Hurricane Katrina Special Edition

Recognizing the extensive devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina to the irreplaceable cultural and heritage resources in the Gulf Coast region, the cultural heritage tourism community has responded with technical assistance, funding and other resources to aid the region’s recovery. Numerous organizations, representing federal agencies and nonprofits which provide services to museums, historic preservation, arts and tourism, have announced plans for assistance. Following is a sample of the services being provided. Please check the web sites for each organization for regularly updated information.

www.aam-us.org

AAM has developed a Hurricane Recovery section on its website. Information is included on available assistance from many organizations along with links to web sites. AAM has also extended its membership renewal period for affected areas through April 2006.

www.aaslh.org

AASLH has established the AASLH Historical Resources Recovery Fund. They are also organizing a national database of contributed services, temporary storage and transportation. AASLH has hired a project director to work on recovery efforts and is developing a plan to match up historical organizations with volunteers.

www.AmericanForTheArts.org

Americans for the Arts has established an Emergency Relief Fund, a permanent fund developed to provide timely financial assistance to victims of a major disaster to help rebuild arts in the affected communities. The fund was initiated with $100,000 from Americans for the Arts reserves to assist local nonprofit arts groups and artists in the Gulf Coast states.

www.imls.gov

IMLS has announced the agency will expedite the grant review process in two grant categories, Conservation Project Support and Museums for America , and release awards early to museum applicants throughout the country whose project proposals meet needs resulting from Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, the application deadlines for museums in the declared disaster area has been extended for one month, to November 1 and December 15.

www.arts.gov

The NEA extended application deadlines for organizations in the affected states, and is now working with state and local arts agencies in those states to develop a relief plan. In the meantime, the NEA has made available a booklet entitled “Before and After Disasters.” Created by the NEA, FEMA, and Heritage Preservation, it is a guide to federal resources for disaster relief. The booklet, along with other disaster recovery information, is available at http://www.heritagepreservation.org/PROGRAMS/TFHurricaneRes.HTM; copies of the booklet may be obtained at no cost by calling the NEA at 202-682-5400.

www.neh.gov

NEH is providing $1 million in grants for Gulf Coast cultural resources. The Chairman’s Emergency Grants will help libraries, museums, colleges, universities and other cultural and historical institutions affected by the hurricane. The Endowment has also offered $30,000 grants to the state humanities councils in Alabama , Mississippi and Louisiana to assist in assessing damage and recovering cultural resources.

www.nthp.org

The National Trust has established the 2005 Hurricane Relief Fund to be used in saving damaged historic resources. Plans include working with state and local officials in Alabama , Mississippi and Louisiana to assess damage to historic buildings and to prevent the demolition of buildings that can be saved. The Trust is organizing volunteer assessment teams and is recruiting persons with skills in preservation, architecture, engineering and small business development. Additionally, the Trust will provide assistance through the National Main Street Center and provide grants to local organizations working toward recovery and has prepared a legislative package which can be accessed at http://www.nationaltrust.org/hurricane/Disaster_Assistance_Package.pdf.

www.nps.gov

The National Park Service began providing assistance prior to the hurricane by securing the New Orleans Jazz Visitor Center and packing and removing cultural resources from the Jean Lafitte headquarters. NPS is now assisting in many areas including clearing debris from neighborhoods, providing security in New Orleans and other communities, providing assistance information to visitors to the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center visitor center.

www.ncshpo.org

The State Historic Preservation Offices in Louisiana , Mississippi and Alabama are coordinating with FEMA to complete 106 reviews and to assist with the recovery of historic resources. Additionally, SHPOs across the country are making in-kind donations: Texas , North Carolina , Arkansas are coordinating historic preservation professional damage assessment teams, and Maryland and New York are providing equipment to conserve water-damaged archival material.

www.southarts.org

SAF has established an Emergency Relief Fund to assist the Gulf Coast states’ arts organizations and artists. Additionally, SAF has compiled a list of relief plans by organizations within the affected area and assistance by organizations outside of the area. SAF will continually update the list as more information is received.

www.semc.net

SEMC has established a fund to assist museums in the affected region. Additionally, SEMC is working with AASLH to assess the needs of museums damaged by the hurricane. SEMC is coordinating assistance from the AIC Emergency Preparedness, Response and Recovery Committee and the Southeast Regional Conservation Association.

www.tia.org

TIA is coordinating an effort to assist workers displaced by the hurricane to find new jobs in the tourism industry. A web site, www.katrinajobs.org was developed by TIA in partnership with the Travel and Tourism Coalition and the Travel Business Roundtable. The web site allows employers across the country to post open job positions and workers can search the site for job opportunities.