On September 19, 2006, the GCI and the J. Paul Getty Trust Security department welcomed the California Alliance for Response at the Getty Center. Since 2003 the California Alliance for Response has organized a series of forums on cultural heritage and disaster management, bringing together institutions, emergency managers, and first responders to forge working relationships before disaster strikes.

The objectives of the recent forum were to provide education to cultural institutions on local disaster management issues and protocols, raise first responders' awareness of the need to protect cultural and historic resources, encourage disaster planning and mitigation coordination among cultural institutions and their local first responders, and develop strong networks to facilitate effective response.

Forums were also hosted at the Crocker Art Museum in Sacramento, the Prado at Balboa Park in San Diego, and the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Coorganizers of the event include the California Preservation Program, the Heritage Emergency National Task Force, the Cultural Property Protection Group, and the Office of Emergency Services.

The GCI's participation as a hosting institution reflects the Institute's continuing interest in safeguarding museum buildings and collections from the effects of natural and human-made emergencies through projects like the Museums Emergency Program Education Initiative.

For more information about the forum, please see the California Alliance for Response Web site.