Heritage Field Resources
4Culture’s Heritage department serves organizations and individuals working with heritage in King County.
Heritage can mean a lot of things: ethnic history, indigenous and traditional culture, folklore, archaeological resources that exist within what is presently known as King County, and more. Here, we’ve compiled a suite of resources to complement our regular funding programs and support King County’s broad and diverse heritage field. The information you’ll find below is based on calls, emails, and in-person questions we frequently receive—please don’t hesitate to reach out if you don’t see what you’re looking for!
COVID-19 Resources for the Heritage Field
COVID-19 Resources for the Heritage Field
We encourage you to check out 4Culture’s ongoing resource list for local, regional, and national resources for the arts and cultural sector. We recognize that the Heritage field has unique needs as well as opportunities to respond in the Covid-19 public health crisis. We included some resources around collections, programming, and facilities that are specific to the needs of heritage field in “Looking for Best Practices?” below.
Looking to Promote Equity?
Looking to Promote Equity?
With a focus on racial equity, 4Culture funds, supports, and advocates for culture to enhance the quality of life in King County. We acknowledge that systematic inequity takes many forms—racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, heterosexualism, and more. Our focus on racial equity provides us with the tools we use to dismantle all oppressions. As we work to make our practices more racially equitable, we encourage all heritage practitioners to assess their personal knowledge of interpersonal and systemic racism and how it permeates the heritage field.
Here we compiled some resources to get you started.
- Take an implicit bias self-assessment through Project Implicit
- Take an organizational self-assessment developed by Of/By/ForAll
- Read about oppression in museums Oppression: A museum primer
- Learn about how structural racism is perpetuated in museums, Museums and Race
- Dig into these equity and social change resources from MASS Action, Nonprofit Learning Lab, and National Association of Interpretation
- Peruse AASLH’s newest resource Inclusive Historian’s Handbook
- Educate yourself about White Supremacist Culture
- Bookmark these blogs by local practitioners: Nonprofit AF, Incluseum
- Keep up to date with local news with lens of culture and equity
- Remember museums can have a voice: “YES, You Can Advocate! What Nonprofits Can and Can’t Do”
- Keep equity in mind in the moment of change and transformation, Cultural Competence and Learning Institute Public Webinars
- Learn about other EDI frameworks and movements: Empathetic Museum, Gender Equity in Museums Movement
Looking for Job or Volunteer Opportunities?
Looking for Job or Volunteer Opportunities?
Job Listings
- Western Museum Association Job Board
- Washington Museum Association Job Listings
- American Association for State and Local History Career Center
- American Alliance of Museums Job HQ
- Northwest Archivists Jobs in the Northwest
- 4Culture’s Other Listings page
Internship and Apprenticeship Programs
- 4Culture’s King County Heritage Internship Program
- Beyond Integrity
- Cultural and Creative Workforce Development Internships (Northwest Folklife)
- Diversity in Local History Internships (Washington State Historical Society)
- Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program (Center for Washington Cultural Traditions)
- In My Backyard (Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park)
There are several ways to get involved with 4Culture opportunities.
Submit the Inquiry Form today to be added the roster! Opportunities include:
- On-Site Reviewer of King County heritage organizations.
- Grant panel reviewer.
Are you interested in volunteering with a local heritage group or 4Culture Heritage, but not sure where to start? Send us an email at megumi.nagata@4culture.org with your contact information and areas of interest and we will get in touch with you!
Looking for Funding?
Looking for Funding?
4Culture Grant programs
We offer a variety of grant programs that are designed to support the work of heritage practitioners and organizations.
Please see our grants page for information on our regular grant programs. Here is a quick reference guide:
- Funding for a specific project? See Heritage Projects, Collections Care, Open 4Culture (new applicants only)
- Funding for operating expenses for your organization? See Sustained Support
- Funding for equipment? See Cultural Equipment, Collections Care
- Funding for cultural spaces? See Building For Equity, Emergency and Unforeseen Opportunity, Landmarks Capital
- Funding to attend or create professional development opportunities? See the Heritage Professional Development Stipend
Not sure which program is right for you? Our funding programs are separated by three disciplines: Arts, Heritage, and Historic Preservation. We understand that sometimes a project idea does not fit in one discipline or another—for example, a documentary about a historical event or a class on a traditional culturally-specific art form. Ultimately, you are free to apply for the program you think best aligns with your project. For Projects funding, you may request funding for different elements of your project through the multiple funding programs. Our program managers are happy to discuss your project idea before selecting a program.
Other Grant Opportunities
There are other agencies and organizations that provide funding for works related to heritage and history. You can view our Other Listings page for more funding opportunities, but here are some of the funding agencies and grants for heritage.
- Washington State Historical Society Heritage Capital Projects program
- Washington State Historical Society Diversity in Local History program
- Humanities Washington
- IMLS
- National Endowment for the Humanities
- National Railway Historical Society
- National Historical Publications & Records Commission
- Washington Digital Heritage Grants
- U.S. National Parks Service
- Maritime Washington National Heritage Area
Other Resources on Fundraising
- Association of Fundraising Professionals has newsletters and yearly conferences.
- Puget Sound Grantwriters Association has monthly lunches and quarterly workshops on grantwriting.
- Grantmakers in the Arts has helpful information from a perspective of funders.
- Philanthropy NW offers the Philanthropy News Digest and a newsletter.
- Fundraising for collections care? See resources compiled by the American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation.
Looking for a Service Provider?
Looking for a Service Provider?
Here are some lists of local providers to get you started:
Nonprofit Consultants
- Nonprofit Consultants & Other Specialists Directory, 501 Commons
Collections Care
- Find A Conservator, American Institute for Conservation and the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation
- Consultants, Northwest Archivists
- Directory of Archival Consultants, Society of American Archivists
Exhibit, Programs, Education
- Vendors Exhibit Design – Washington, Museums USA
Research
- The NCPH Consultants Directory, The National Council on Public History
Legal Services
- WLA Services, Washington Lawyers for the Arts
Looking for Guidance on Best Practices?
Looking for Guidance on Best Practices?
Professional networks like AKCHO and AASLH often offer training for those working in the heritage field. Below are useful free resources on best practices for various aspects of heritage works. Notice something missing? Let us know!
Resources from 4Culture-hosted workshops
When 4Culture Heritage hosts a workshop, you can find the resources and recordings (if available) here.
- Recordings and resources from Digital Collections Webinar Series, April 10-24, 2023 (Presenter: Marie Williams Chant).
Administration
- “Thinking about starting a museum,” Alberta Museums Association, 2003
- “Developing a Disaster Preparedness/ Emergency Response Plan,” American Alliance of Museums, 2018
- “Roberts Rules of Order Toolkit,” BoardEffect, 2020
- “Boards in Gear Toolkit,” Washington Nonprofits Institute, 2019
- “Washington Nonprofit Corporation Act” The new law goes into effect on January 1, 2022.
- “Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Consultation Program,” confidential, no-fee, professional advice and assistance to Washington businesses
Collections Management
- “Developing a Collections Management Policy,” American Alliance of Museums, 2012
- “Resources | Connecting To Collections Care,” Foundation for Advancement In Conservation
- “Audio and Video Guidance: Resources,” National Archives, last reviewed 2019
- “The Film Preservation Guide,” National Film Preservation Foundation, 2004
- “We Are History Keepers! A Free Workshop on Preserving the Historical and Cultural Record of Our Ethnic Communities, University of Washington Libraries and Ethnic Heritage Council
- Managing Collections Care During Pandemics, American Alliance of Museums
- Pandemic Preparedness, American Library Association
Exhibitions
- “Standards for Museum Exhibitions and Excellence,” American Alliance of Museums, 2012
Small Museums and Historical Organizations
- “Sustaining Places: An Encyclopedia of Resources For Small Historical Organizations,” The University of Delaware Museum Studies Graduate Program
- Museum Learning Hub has expert tips, online trainings, and digital toolkits.
- Washington State Historical Society YouTube channel, A collection of recorded webinars and conversations on various topics hosted by Washington State Historical Society.
- “DIY Strategic Planning for Small Museums,” American Association for State and Local History, 2008.
Assessment Programs
- “Museum Assessment Program,” American Alliance of Museums
- “Collections Assessment for Preservation Program,” Institute of Museum and Library Services
- “Standards and Excellence Programs for History Organizations,” American Association for State and Local History
Facilities
- Closing a Museum for the Winter, Canadian Conservation Institute
Community Engagement
- How Your Museum Can Use Social Media During COVID-19, American Alliance of Museums
Volunteer Management
- Volunteer Match Learning Center, Volunteer Match
- Resources for Volunteer Engagement Professionals, Energize Inc.
- Standards and Best Practices for Museum Volunteer Professionals, American Association for Museum Volunteers (AAMV), 2011 (revised 2012)
- A Conversation with a Purpose: A practical guide to interviewing prospective volunteers, Kathleen McCleskey and Cheryle N. Yallen, 2009
Looking for Professional Development?
Looking for Professional Development?
Networking in the Heritage Field
Starting out in the heritage field? Want to know what like-minded professionals are up to? Joining and participating in professional networks is a great way to expand your connections and the reach of your organization.
Please inquire with each group for registration, membership dues, meeting information, etc.
Local & Regional
- Association of King County Heritage Organizations (AKCHO)
- Ethnic Heritage Council
- Heritage League of Pierce County
- League of Snohomish County Heritage Organizations
- Museum Educators of Puget Sound
- Northwest Archivists
- Pacific Northwest Historians Guild
- Puget Sound Emerging Museum Professionals Network
- Puget Sound Grantwriters Association
- Seattle Area Archivists
- South King County Cultural Coalition (SoCo)
- Washington Museums Association
- Washington State Historical Society Affiliate Program
- Western Museums Association
- Maintance Culture: an NEH grant-funded project to grow community around preserving digital creative works
National
- American Alliance of Museums
- American Association for State and Local History
- History Leadership Institute – professional development opportunities for mid- and advanced-career professionals at history organizations of all types and sizes
- American Association for Museum Volunteers
- American Public Gardens Association
- Association of Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museum
- Council for Certified Volunteer Administration
- Digital Preservation Outreach & Education Network
- National Association for Interpretation
- National Council on Public History
- Small Museum Association
- Preparation, Art Handling, Collections Care Information Network
Contact 4Culture Heritage
Contact 4Culture Heritage
Please get in touch with us if you have any questions or requests. We look forward to getting to know you and your work in the heritage field!
You can contact us about:
- Questions regarding Heritage grants (Application, contracting, reimbursement)
- Questions about our Field Services offerings
- Review of Heritage grant application draft
- Request to view past applications
- Scheduling a site visit or a meeting
- Doing a presentation about our funding programs
- Volunteering with King County heritage organizations
- Paid and volunteer opportunities at 4Culture
- Finding professional development opportunities
- Getting in touch with King County heritage organizations
- …and much more!
Chieko Phillips, Heritage Program Director, chieko.phillips@4culture.org
Megumi Nagata, Heritage Support Specialist, megumi.nagata@4culture.org