When a catastrophic fire burned through artists' studios and galleries,
National Heritage Responders provided crucial support
Following a devastating 5-alarm fire in Red Hook in September, hundreds of artists were left wondering what, if anything, would remain of their work. The 150-year-old warehouse in Brooklyn was home to artists’ studios, gallery spaces, and community organizations. The fire ripped through the building, creating one wave of damage, followed by the necessary work of putting the fire out, which leads to water damage and hazards like mold.
To a community reeling from the possible loss of years, decades worth of artistic growth and practice, support showed up from neighbors, colleagues, and from the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation’s National Heritage Responders . When responding to emergencies where water is involved, time is of the essence–NHR members were on site as soon as the space was cleared for the artists to return.
NHR members & volunteers were able to use the dock outside of the warehouse to triage artworks, including this painting. The painting has been intentionally edited in this image to protect the artist's work.
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New York City is home to several of our National Heritage Responders, a nationwide network of professionals trained to respond to emergencies impacting cultural heritage. They were able to respond quickly upon request from the community, setting up procedures and protocols for salvage. With NHR members onsite and deploying virtually to share their expertise, NHR was able to provide leadership, experience, knowledge, and skills to support the artist community.
“I honestly don't know what we would have done if you and NHR hadn't stepped up and dug in like you did. There are no words to convey my appreciation for your leadership and collaboration in the Red Hook response. NYC and our nation are truly fortunate to have such steady, thoughtful and dedicated keepers of culture.” - Anne del Castillo, Senior Policy Advisor, Creative Sector Strategy, NYC Create in Place, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs
Ashley Bowersox & Alice Orthmann documenting materials salvaged from the fire.
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The salvage and response efforts required extensive collaboration, not only within NHR, but with local and city officials and organizations. Two of the NHR members who helped lead the response shared their thoughts on working in Red Hook with us:
“Assisting with the Red Hook response was an amazing experience. As volunteer coordinator, it was inspiring to see so many people repeatedly offer their time and expertise to help the Red Hook artists. I enjoyed helping and it truly felt like my efforts were making a difference for the team. It felt especially rewarding knowing that my efforts helped reunite artists with their irreplaceable artwork. I am grateful that NHR provided the opportunity for me to help, even from a distance.” - Kasey Calnan, NHR & Red Hook Art Recovery Volunteer Coordinator
“It was also a very rare opportunity for NHRs to work directly with so many creators and artists. This very personal aspect of the project turned into such a bright spot in an otherwise dark situation. For the most part, we received warm support and gratitude from artists who had been through such a terrible experience. It was rewarding knowing we had a positive, direct impact on people affected, even if it is a small step on their long road toward recovery. It was clear that the NHRs had a critical role to play in supporting these locals and in offering our expertise on a high level, with virtual support, and with an in-person deployment. Those of us involved had a really hard time wrapping up our work there, which speaks to how dedicated NHRs are to our work and how meaningful this project was to us personally.” - Annie Rubel, NHR & Red Hook Art Recovery Incident Commander
While work to recover from this fire is far from over, salvage and response efforts have drawn to a close. This doesn’t mean that NHR is out of the picture–the relationship with the artist community that was built through the course of the deployment remains strong. As the artists continue to stabilize and care for their surviving works, they know the door is open to contact NHR for assistance.
Our team of NHR members were honored to be recognized for their work by the City, with responders and organizers receiving official thanks from the Mayor's Office. This recognition is well-deserved and FAIC is incredibly proud of the work NHR did in Red Hook–and of the way NHR shows up every day for individuals, organizations, and communities in need.
NHR members received personal thanks and recognition from the City of New York.
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This response was completely funded through the support of individuals who believe in the mission of NHR. We launched a GoFundMe campaign last summer, not knowing what was coming next, but knowing that there would be a need. The funds raised in that campaign allowed NHR to deploy in Red Hook, which would have been impossible otherwise.
NHR services are provided exclusively by donations. You can help ensure that these necessary on-the-ground resources are available for communities experiencing emergencies. If you would like to be part of making our next deployment happen, supporting training for our responders, and preparing cultural heritage organizations for emergencies, you can donate here. To donate to the National Heritage Responders, select "Emergency Programs, incl. NHR" in the dropdown menu.