When calamity struck the Gulf Coast community two years ago, the human and financial tolls exacted were staggering. So, too, was the cultural toll.

As cities, small towns and parishes cared for their families and took stock of their personal losses, they also began looking at the cultural heritage either destroyed or at risk of being lost forever: the millions of documents, artifacts, works of art; the music, cuisine, and performances that for centuries have been central to this region’s unique identity.

Over the last two years, IMLS has made clear its commitment to the region, awarding more than $1.5 million in grants to help restore staff and service to museums and libraries ravaged by wind and water, and $670,000 to help prepare for future emergencies.

Last month, I had the privilege of returning to New Orleans, this time as a panelist in an international summit aimed at helping rebuild the region’s cultural economy. Organized by Louisiana Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu in the mold of Davos (with 23 countries represented), the World Cultural Economic Forum was an eye-opener. For the first time, artists, business leaders, educators, diplomats and government officials converged and shared ideas about how to attract new business, jobs, and investment to the Gulf region. The message that emerged was clear: that the area’s vast cultural wealth is, without doubt, its greatest key to sparking an economic renaissance, that all of us have a role to play in making it happen, and that there is plenty of work left to do.

IMLS remains committed to playing its role. While in New Orleans, I also had the privilege of announcing $350,000 in new Hurricane Relief Awards to help local museums return to normal and prepare for future challenges. Read more about these awards.

Whether it is through the conservation of brittle books and artifacts or in the restoration of cultural capital, IMLS recognizes the essential nature of these things in defining our place in history and as human beings.

The flood waters may have receded. But real challenges remain. Over the coming years, it will be up to all of us to let our neighbors in the Gulf states know that we haven’t forgotten them, and that we will stand tall with them each step of the way through this recovery.

- Anne-Imelda M. Radice, Ph.D., Director, IMLS

Site Visit to Hampton University Museum, Schroeder Cherry, Counselor to the Director, Hampton, VA, September 25.

"Making Your Museum Matter with IMLS Funding," Marsha L. Semmel, Deputy Director for Museum Services and for Strategic Partnerships, and Jennifer Headley, Museum Program Specialist, Southeastern Museum Conference, Little Rock, AR, October 2-5.

"Show Me the Money! Tapping Federal Funds for Historic Preservation," Christine Henry, Senior Program Officer, National Trust for Historic Preservation annual meeting, St. Paul, MN, October 3.

"Federal Grant Opportunities from the Institute of Museum and Library Services," Christine Henry, Senior Program Officer, National Trust for Historic Preservation annual meeting, St. Paul, MN, October 5.

Christopher J. Reich, Senior Program Officer and Mark Feitl, Program Specialist, National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Palm Springs, California, October 8-12.

National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers Conference, Schroeder Cherry, Counselor to the Director, Palm Springs, CA, October 8-12.

"Shake Up Your Museum with Grant Opportunities from the Institute of Museum and Library Services," Sandra Nava, Senior Program Officer, and Jennifer Headley, Program Specialist, Western Museums Association Annual Conference, Oakland, CA, October 9-14.

Mary Estelle Kennelly, Associate Deputy Director for Museum Services and Mark Feitl, Program Specialist, National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, Palm Springs, CA, October 10-14.

"A Quick Picture of IMLS Grants," Christopher J. Reich, Senior Program Officer, and Twinet G. Kimbrough, Program Specialist, Association of Science-Technology Centers, Los Angeles, CA, October 13-16.

"IMLS Museum Funding Opportunities," Sandra Narva, Senior Program Officer, and Mark Feitl, Program Specialist, Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums Conference, Oklahoma City, OK, October 23.

"Connecting to Collections: The Challenges of Collections Care," panel moderated by Sandra Narva, Senior Program Officer, Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums Conference, Oklahoma City, OK, October 23.

Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums Conference, Schroeder Cherry, Counselor to the Director, Oklahoma City, OK, October 23-25.

“Preparing Successful Native American Library Enhancement Grant Proposals,” Mary Chute, Deputy Director for Libraries, 2007 National Conference of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums, Oklahoma City, OK, October 24.

"Grant Opportunities from the Institute of Museum and Library Services" Dan Lukash, Senior Program Officer and Robert Trio, Program Specialist, MAAM Annual Meeting, Pittsburgh, PA, October 25-27.

"Making your Museum Work with IMLS Federal Grants," Christine Henry, Senior Program Officer, New England Museums Association annual meeting, Portland, ME, November 7.

"Arts and Humanities—Expert Q&A," Marsha Semmel, Deputy Director for Museums and Director for Strategic Partnerships, and Stephanie Clark, Senior Program Officer, American Association of Grant Professionals National Conference, Arlington, VA, November 7-10.

"Federal Funding for Cultural and Arts Institutions," Marsha Semmel, Deputy Director for Museums and Director for Strategic Partnerships, and Stephanie Clark, Senior Program Officer, American Association of Grant Professionals National Conference, Arlington, VA, November 7-10.