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Historic Preservation conference scholarship funds available

4/22/04

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History is accepting applications for scholarships, offering up to $500 for individuals to attend one of two annual conferences. Members of historic landmark commissions, community leaders, elected officials, planning staff, Main Street Program volunteers and other organizations involved in historic preservation issues are encouraged to apply.

The two conferences are the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, Forum 2004, which will be held July 15-18 in Indianapolis, Ind., and the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference which will meet Sept. 28 - Oct. 3 in Louisville, Ky. Funding is available to support registration and lodging expenses for the conferences.

The scholarship program provides individuals an opportunity to study historic preservation issues by attending the conference, learning from nationwide examples and networking with others. Applications will be awarded on a competitive basis.

Eligible applicants must be West Virginia residents who can demonstrate an interest in historic preservation by at least one of the following criteria: volunteering on preservation-related projects; holding a membership on a local preservation commission, planning board, Main Street organization, or other preservation related organization; holding an elected office; being a government employee dealing with planning/preservation issues; and owning or developing historic properties in West Virginia. In addition, applicants must demonstrate how they will be able to develop historic preservation in their community, and agree to attend at least two days of sessions at the conference.

Priority will be given to applicants who demonstrate that participation will assist in addressing a local issue, training will be provided to the novice or professional in the field of historic preservation and attendance at the conference is not possible without the scholarship funds.

Applications for the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions, Forum 2004, must be postmarked by June 14 and for the National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference by July 26.

For more information about the conference scholarships or to receive an application, contact Chris Knorr, structural historian and certified local government coordinator for the SHPO, at (304) 558-0240, ext. 156, or from our website at www.wvculture.org/shpo.

The West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture and History, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. The Cultural Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. Visit the Division’s website at www.wvculture.org for more information about programs of the Division. The Department of Arts, Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.

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