Philadelphia Stewardship Program Track 7: Update or Revisit Previous Reports

Standard guidance suggests that preservation needs assessments and other similar documents tend to expire after around 10 years, but it seems like resources, situations, and needs are changing ever more quickly. Through Track 7 of the Philadelphia Stewardship Program, the Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is offering expertise and assistance to museums, libraries, archives, and other collecting institutions that have completed a Stewardship project in the past in the interest of revisiting, revising, and updating those documents. 

Does your institution have a Preservation Needs Assessment from 2010 that no longer describes your staffing situation?  A Risk Assessment from 2006 that does not include critical information about recurrent leaks?  We can work together to make sure the assessment and planning documents you have that may be necessary for training, grant applications, resource allocation, and practical preservation planning are as relevant as possible.  

Any projects completed through the Philadelphia Stewardship Program since its launch in 2002 are eligible to revisit. If you are not sure if or when your institution has participated, please let us know and we can access the original documents. 

Institutions interested in applying for Track 7 are welcome to consult with CCAHA staff before submitting an application to ensure this track fits your organization’s needs. 

Participants in Track 7 of CCAHA’s Philadelphia Stewardship Program are eligible to receive a free 1-2 hour consultation with CCAHA’s Director of Development specifically about development, resource allocation, and fundraising to implement preservation strategies. 


Criteria for Participation

To be considered for participation in Track 7 of CCAHA's Philadelphia Stewardship Program, an organization must be located within the counties of Bucks, Camden, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, or Philadelphia, and have a historic collection available to the public.  The program requires a commitment throughout the rest of 2022. A staff member must be identified who will work with the CCAHA consultant.  Preference will be given to organizations that:

  • have collections that are unique or of significant historical or artifactual value; and
  • demonstrate a willingness to develop and maintain a preservation program.

This program is intended for organizations that have previously participated in the Philadelphia Stewardship Program but need to update or revisit the documents that were originally produced. If you are not sure if or when your institution has participated, please let us know and we can access the original documents. 


Application Process

Applications for the Philadelphia Stewardship Program are currently closed.


Established in 1977, the mission of the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts (CCAHA) is to provide expertise and leadership in the preservation of the world’s cultural heritage.  CCAHA is a non-profit conservation laboratory serving other non-profit cultural, educational, and research institutions, as well as private individuals and organizations.  CCAHA specializes in the treatment of works of art and historic artifacts on paper.  It also offers on-site consultation services; educational programs and seminars; internships, fellowships, and apprenticeships; and emergency conservation assistance.

The Philadelphia Stewardship Program is funded by the William Penn Foundation which strives to improve the quality of life in the Greater Philadelphia region through efforts that foster rich cultural expression, strengthen children’s futures, and deepen connections to nature and community.  In partnership with others, the William Penn Foundations works to advance a vital, just, and caring community.