Preparedness and Response in Collections Emergencies
Preparedness and Response in Collections Emergencies (PRICE) is the Smithsonian's first central collections emergency response team. Established in 2016, the team was created to encourage collaboration across the Smithsonian’s 21 museums, libraries, and archives, as well as 14 research centers, the National Zoo, and Smithsonian Gardens. A program of the NCP, PRICE provides a sustainable emergency preparedness program that empowers leaders at each unit to create a culture of collections emergency preparedness. PRICE also supports unit collections emergencies and emergency response teams.
Our Mission
To strengthen and support unit-level and pan-Institutional collections emergency policy, procedures, training, and logistics. Serving as a leadership committee with the flexibility to draw upon a team of Smithsonian-wide subject-matter experts who can assist in an emergency, PRICE collaborates with Smithsonian units, including the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (SCRI), the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and the Office of Safety, Health, and Environmental Management (OSHEM) to create and disseminate information to Smithsonian staff.
Our Purpose
To advise and provide subject-matter expertise, consultation, and assistance to NCP, Smithsonian units and senior management and, when activated, provide collections support, response, and recovery as requested by NCP as part of the Smithsonian’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM).
Our Team
In addition to the Core Team, PRICE has three Action Teams that implement and strengthen collections emergency mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery through the lens of policy, procedures, training, and logistics.
Policy & Procedure Action Team
Provides a foundation for staff in all collecting units to understand their responsibilities and have tools to plan and act on behalf of the collections in all phases of the disaster life cycle.
Training Action Team
Reaches out to Smithsonian staff across all collecting units and professions to train for preparedness and response in a collections emergency by providing many hands-on experiences, lectures, and case studies to build confidence.
Logistics Action Team
Works to increase the capacity for coordinated collections recovery in the event of a large-scale emergency, acting as liaisons between resources and the collecting units who need them.
Outreach & Projects
PRICE is honored to participate and contribute to the field’s ongoing emergency management efforts. PRICE members are active participants in a number of national initiatives, committees, and working groups, regularly attend conferences and give presentations, and share original training materials, tools, and research results.
Explore presentations, research projects, training materials, and tools sponsored by the PRICE Team:
Internship Opportunities
PRICE regularly hosts interns and supports/works with fellows. Past internship/fellowship projects include:
- Pan-Institutional survey of collections emergency kits
- Developing virtual and in-person training programs
- Creating an open access database for information on collections-based hazards
Interested in an internship with PRICE? Visit the Smithsonian Online Academic Appointments Portal to see current opportunities.
