[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2025-12-19

Fri Dec 19 11:15:20 PST 2025

Oregon Heritage News 2025-12-19
In this Issue:

  *   Resources for heritage organizations impacted by flood and water damage
  *   Business Oregon's new Arts & Culture Director shares vision with Oregon ArtsWatch
  *   Oregon Humanities Beyond250 conversations
  *   Youth250 Toolkit
  *   ICCROM opens it’s 34 General Assembly with heritage value statements
  *   How Funding Cuts are Affecting Oregon Nonprofits - Nonprofit Association of Oregon
  *   NPI: NAGPRA Online Training – Free
  *   Ethics, AI, and the Public Humanities Speaker Series
  *   Association for Preservation Technology releases new publication: Improving Rehabilitation Codes for Historic and Existing Buildings
  *   Happy Birthday Oregon Historical Society!

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Resources for heritage organizations impacted by flood and water damage
For areas impacted by floods, the following resources are available to help aid in recovery:
General Health & Safety During Flood Events <https://www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/resources/emergency-resources/tips-sheets/health-and-safety-for-the-public-tip-sheet.pdf?sfvrsn=a9a0120_2>
Treatment for Flood Damaged & Older Buildings<https://forum.savingplaces.org/HigherLogic/System/DownloadDocumentFile.ashx?DocumentFileKey=0a57fa53-ebf2-90d5-205e-c1d7e8732ca2>
Drying Wet Collections & Buildings<https://www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/resources/emergency-resources/tips-sheets/drying-wet-collections-and-buildings.pdf?sfvrsn=9dab0c20_4>
What to Do When Collections Get Wet (LOC)<https://www.loc.gov/preservation/emergprep/dry.html>
Salvaging Water-Damaged Herilooms (FEMA)<https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_salvaging-water-damaged-family-valuables-heirlooms_06142023.pdf>
Salvaging Water-Damaged Herilooms (AIC)<https://www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/resources/emergency-resources/guides/tips-for-the-care-of-water-damaged-family-heirlooms-and-other-valuables.pdf?sfvrsn=e2a60f20_2>
Salvaging Water-Damaged Photograph (CCAHA)<https://ccaha.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2018-07/technical-bulletin-salvaging-photographs.original.pdf>
Emergency Salvage of Wet Photographs (NEDCC)<https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/3.-emergency-management/3.7-emergency-salvage-of-wet-photographs><https://ccaha.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2018-07/technical-bulletin-salvaging-photographs.original.pdf>
Salvaging Water-Damaged Textiles<https://www.culturalheritage.org/docs/default-source/resources/emergency-resources/guides/salvaging-water-damaged-textiles.pdf?sfvrsn=35a60f20_2>
Salvaging Water-Damaged Books (CCAHA) <https://ccaha.org/sites/default/files/attachments/2018-07/technical-bulletin-salvaging-books.original.pdf>
Emergency Salvage of Wet Books & Records (NEDCC)<https://www.nedcc.org/free-resources/preservation-leaflets/3.-emergency-management/3.6-emergency-salvage-of-wet-books-and-records>
Drying Techniques<https://www.archives.gov/files/preservation/records-emergency/pdf/drying-techniques.pdf>
National Heritage Responders - Call 202-661-8068

  *   They are ready and prepared to field calls from those who need some guidance on response and recovery of their lost or damaged collections and archives. This group of preservation trained volunteers usually can deploy to areas affected by natural disasters as they have done in the past with floods and/or able to talk through guidance on the phone and possibly do virtual walk throughs with folks once they can safely access their building with clearance from local authorities. For more information about this group of volunteers visit here<https://www.culturalheritage.org/resources/emergencies/national-heritage-responders?fbclid=IwAR1bvImP4au7PGvbqTtn4i2vH7geI9csQbVFvYXklgTptJPZGR0cqWHEGCg>.

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Business Oregon's new Arts & Culture Director shares vision with Oregon ArtsWatch
Amy Lewin, the new Arts & Culture Director for Business Oregon which includes overseeing the staff and programs of the Oregon Arts Commission and the Oregon Cultural Trust, shares her vision in this article by Oregon ArtsWatch.  Read more<https://www.orartswatch.org/amy-lewins-vision-for-oregon-arts/?fsp_sid=13883&fbclid=IwY2xjawOyfClleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFuUkpyb3hoaEZVMjBQejBjc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHiA_A542ntSXZQS4g5txM7W9-0pmqOu23cdzVy2e15jGnlh-6K6teBzIGA88_aem_0EClvdPQiEn7hs38D5E6dg>.
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Oregon Humanities Beyond250 conversations
Throughout 2026, Oregon Humanities will get Oregonians together to talk about democracy, freedom, and what it means to be an American—today and into the future.
Beyond 250 conversations will take place at libraries, colleges, museums, and other venues across the state. There are sixteen conversations to choose from, each led by a trained facilitator. These 90-minute programs are spaces to share thoughts and experiences, listen to and learn from one another, and think together about the future of our democracy and our communities. Conversations are offered with a sliding-scale fee to help cover facilitators' costs.
Learn how you can bring a conversation to your community: https://oregonhumanities.org/programs/conversation-project/beyond-250-conversations-about-democracy-and-community/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOyfbRleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeNSfRK4rXeE_NHjC-QJMrIhv02rWHtd62o7Y-h59rOECV52X-kmOwum50a6U_aem_FtdZHYJiNMpl5J3Kbz3L0Q
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Youth250 Toolkit
History Co:Lab and Made By Us have partnered to create this Youth250 Toolkit, collating best-in-class data from science, psychology, history, young people themselves, and real, on-the-ground tested programs and activities. This toolkit is designed with and for museums, historic sites and cultural institutions that want to better serve teens and young adults, but its lessons are broadly applicable to nonprofits, government, community organizations, media and corporations. The Youth250 Toolkit will serve as your organization's roadmap to reach, understand, and empower today's youth.
Learn more about the toolkit here<https://historymadebyus.org/youth250/toolkit>.
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ICCROM opens it’s 34 General Assembly with heritage value statements
ICCROM opened its 34th General Assembly in Rome, welcoming delegates from 139 Member States for three days of dialogue and decision-making on the future of cultural heritage. Guided by the CARE Framework – Conserve, Activate, Recognize, the Strategic Plan charts a six-year vision for a more agile, modern and globally connected ICCROM, reinforcing heritage as an essential foundation of societies.
ICCROM Director-General, Aruna Francesca Maria G., affirmed:  “Our heritage is not a luxury – it is a lifeline. It connects generations, fosters peace, and drives social cohesion, resilience and development. In a world of uncertainty, it is our anchor, enlightening our most profound sense of belonging and care.”
The International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property is an intergovernmental organization dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage worldwide through training, information, research, cooperation and advocacy programmes.
Learn more here<https://www.iccrom.org/>.
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How Funding Cuts are Affecting Oregon Nonprofits - Nonprofit Association of Oregon
A new pulse survey from NAO and the Coalition of Communities of Color (CCC) finds that 84% of Oregon nonprofits have experienced or expect government funding cuts since January 2025. The result? Reduced services, staff layoffs, depleted reserves — all while demand for support keeps rising and equity-focused work faces direct suppression.

NAO’s newest report, “How Funding Cuts Are Affecting Oregon Nonprofits,” shares what organizations are facing and the strategies they’re using to navigate this crisis.

Download the full report or summary sheet at:  https://nonprofitoregon.org/resources/how-funding-cuts-are-affecting-oregon-nonprofits/
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NPI: NAGPRA Online Training - Free
The Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) is a federal law that was passed in 1990. NAGPRA focuses on the return of Native American human remains and cultural items, and the protection of Native American burial sites.

As part of a cooperative agreement with the National NAGPRA Program, National Park Service, focused on NAGPRA training, the National Preservation Institute developed seven in-depth training videos on various issues related to NAGPRA implementation. These online training courses were designed to provide participants with practical knowledge and tools needed to support their NAGPRA efforts. These free videos offer six hours of new training content to NAGPRA practitioners from Indian tribes, Alaska Native villages, and Native Hawaiian organizations to museums and federal agencies.
1 - NAGPRA 101: The Basics Under the Law<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/4220531/0/1001784/?x=04da8901> —Eric Hemenway (95 minutes) - This NAGPRA training will cover the basics of the law, who the law applies to, and background into why the law was created.
2 - NAGPRA Consultation<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/4220532/0/1001784/?x=23c0aae0> —Eric Hemenway (79 minutes) - This NAGPRA training will cover when consultation occurs, the legal mandates for consultation, and who the consulting parties are under NAGPRA.

3 - NAGPRA Consultation in a Virtual Setting<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/4220533/0/1001784/?x=7995711e> —Sarah O'Donnell, Jane Richardson, and Claire Wilbert (24 minutes) - This NAGPRA training will explore the ways in which meaningful consultation can take place in virtual settings as part of compliance with Subpart C of NAGPRA.

4 - NAGPRA Inventories<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/4220534/0/1001784/?x=362baef2>—Eric Hemenway (57 minutes)- This NAGPRA training will cover what an inventory is and who must compile one, the legal definition of categories under an inventory, and why an inventory is necessary under NAGPRA.

5 - NAGPRA Summaries<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/4220535/0/1001784/?x=92d47dc8> —Eric Hemenway (58 minutes) - This NAGPRA training will cover what a summary is and who must compile one, the legal definition of categories under a summary, and why a summary is necessary under NAGPRA.

6 - Aboriginal Land Under NAGPRA<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/4220536/0/1001784/?x=d94e0b08> —Jan Bernstein and Jane Richardson (16 minutes) - This NAGPRA training will review available resources for identifying aboriginal land, demonstrate their uses, and review case studies.

7 - Establishing a NAGPRA Data Management System for Museums<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/4220537/0/1001784/?x=db6ed519> —Jane Richardson and Claire Wilbert (25 minutes) - This NAGPRA training will discuss how best to establish and maintain a robust data management system as part of compliance with NAGPRA.

Related NPI Trainings:
• NAGPRA and ARPA: Applications and Requirements<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/7975800/0/1001784/?x=a29b9bab>
(2 days / in-person seminar)
• NAGPRA Essentials<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/7975801/0/1001784/?x=038dfd20>
(2 days / in-person seminar)
• Native America 101<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/7976345/0/1001784/?x=8f7c2a74>
(90-minute on-demand, online course)
• Native American Cultural Property Law<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/7976346/0/1001784/?x=2084c8f2>
(2 days / in-person seminar)
• Tribal Cultural Monitors: An Introduction<https://www.ne16.com/t/9993698/120777445/8027258/0/1001784/?x=a976b4c9>
(90-minute webinar, 2026 offerings: TBA)

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Ethics, AI, and the Public Humanities Speaker Series
Ethics, AI, and the Public Humanities Speaker Series
Register at https://community.ncph.org/event/AIHumanities<https://458rl1jp.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fcommunity.ncph.org%2Fevent%2FAIHumanities/1/0100019b22f5bdee-ac4fcef5-4e81-46d5-acf5-8dc4f1c4cf52-000000/GOzgC-RZE6d_iPOtY-k89f1Inl4=456>
In this upcoming four-part speaker series, the National Council on Public History (NCPH) and the American Conservation Experience (ACE) Mellon Humanities Program will bring together experts to help us consider the ways that artificial intelligence is reshaping our world and our work.

As generative AI (colloquially, “gen AI”) technology rapidly improves, it becomes more difficult to detect understand, and manage for responsible use. This is especially critical for public historians and public humanists whom the public trusts to share information that is ethical, factual, and fundamentally human. We must get our heads around this technology and how it impacts the work we do.

This series will tackle questions like: what do we mean when we talk about gen AI? How do we recognize it, and what AI tools have potential use cases for the public humanities? How can we ethically engage with generative AI tools as public historians, museum practitioners, writers, archivists, and educators?
Visit the NCPH website to learn more about the series and our speakers. <https://458rl1jp.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2F%2Fncph.org%2Fconference%2Fethics-ai-and-the-public-humanities%2F/1/0100019b22f5bdee-ac4fcef5-4e81-46d5-acf5-8dc4f1c4cf52-000000/xr0BDdKWv9_lOrbQCp0dXntyfzk=456>

Part 1: Defining and Demystifying “AI” and “Machine Learning”
Thursday, January 29, 2026 | 4:00 pm Eastern

Part 2: The Ethics of AI: What’s the Harm?
Thursday, February 12, 2026 | 12:00 pm Eastern

Part 3: Ethical AI Use in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, and Museums (GLAM)
Thursday, February 26, 2026 | 2:00 pm Eastern

Part 4: AI and History Education
Tuesday, March 17, 2026 | 2:00 pm Eastern
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Association for Preservation Technology releases new publication: Improving Rehabilitation Codes for Historic and Existing Buildings
New Publication: Improving Rehabilitation Codes for Historic and Existing Buildings<https://apt.memberclicks.net/assets/Publications/APTI_CodesReport_251205_Digitalweb.pdf>
After two years of work and thanks to funding provided by NCPTT (the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training), APT’s Committee on Codes and Standards<https://www.apti.org/codes-and-standards> released “Improving Rehabilitation Codes for Historic and Existing Buildings,” a 110 page digital publication. This document provides detailed information to advance modifications to the model construction codes in the U.S. that can better serve historic and other existing buildings.
Learn More and Download Your Copy<https://www.apti.org/codes-and-standards>
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Happy Birthday Oregon Historical Society!
Since its founding on December 17, 1898, OHS has worked to preserve Oregon's past and make the stories of all Oregonians visible.
In a video shared on social media, go behind-the-scenes with OHS Museum Director Nicole Yasuhara as she walks through the Oregon Vault, the 100,000 foot warehouse that holds the majority of the objects, belongings, and archival materials in our care. Hear about why she loves her work to make OHS’s extraordinary collections accessible now and for future generations.
View the video on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/reel/25554445827527578
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Follow us on Facebook at @oregonheritage, on LinkedIn<https://www.linkedin.com/company/oregon-parks-and-recreation-department/>, on the Oregon Heritage Exchange blog<https://oregonheritage.wordpress.com/>.
Oregon Heritage News is a service of Oregon Heritage, a division of the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department that includes the State Historic Preservation Office. Learn more about our programs at www.oregonheritage.org<http://www.oregonheritage.org/>. The news editor can be contacted at heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov<mailto:heritage.info at oprd.oregon.gov>.

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