Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) Application Announcement

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The application period is now open for free Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART). This competitive application is open to participants from cultural heritage and first responder/emergency management organizations or agencies in the United States, U.S. territories, or Indian Country.

Date: September 17, 2024 - September 26, 2024

Important Date

Event Details

The Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a partnership between FEMA and the Smithsonian Institution, HEART trains emergency managers and cultural stewards to gain the skills and hands-on experience needed to protect, evacuate, and salvage the irreplaceable objects that bring meaning and understanding to their community. 

Thanks to generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, The National Endowment for the Humanities, and The Bank of America, participation in HEART is free

Lodging expenses in Washington, D.C., will be covered for all selected participants. Lunch will be provided during the in-person training; however, participants will be expected to cover the rest of their meal costs, all incidental expenses, and local travel. Please note that participants will also be expected to cover travel to and from D.C. Limited travel funds are available to subsidize travel costs; you will be able to request assistance if selected for the program. 

View more about the training and learn about the program by visiting: Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART).

How to Apply

A selection of 25 participants will be made on a competitive basis from cultural heritage and first responder/emergency management organizations or agencies in the United States, U.S. territories, or Indian Country. Please note that FEMA and Smithsonian Institution staff are ineligible to apply.

All applicants must apply for the HEART course through the Smithsonian’s online application portal, SOLAA. Please do not send any application material directly to SCRI or HENTF. The application deadline is Thursday, September 26, 2024, 11:59 pm EDT.

Event Contact

For additional information, email the Heritage Emergency National Task Force at fema-hentf@fema.dhs.gov or hentf@si.edu. For questions about other Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative programs, please contact culturalrescue@si.edu.  

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