Foundation for Advancement in Conservation

This national program (Collections Assessment for Preservation, or CAP) helps small and medium-sized museums of every type receive prioritized recommendations for improving the care of their collections. A CAP assessment is a study of all the institution's collections, buildings, and building systems as well as its policies and procedures relating to collections care. The assessment involves a site visit by a collections assessor and a building assessor, who spend two days touring the museum and interviewing staff and governing officials and then prepare a comprehensive report that outlines their recommendations tailored specifically to the participating institution. A CAP assessment assists small museums by identifying short- and long-term priorities for preventive conservation, facilitating the development of a long-range preservation plan, and/or serving as a fundraising tool for future collections projects. Outcomes-based evaluations inform improvements to the program.