The Cultural Heritage Risk Manager is a highly specialized professional whose skills draw from various academic fields, ranging from engineering and architecture to social, environmental, and climate sciences, and from art history to economics and management.
This combination of expertise enables them to:
- Identify and assess risks threatening heritage;
- Implement mitigation strategies to reduce the probability and impact of risks;
- Manage emergencies through the creation and activation of clear, defined operational plans.
These activities are part of an integrated approach that combines prevention and protection to minimize the impact of harmful events and preserve the value of the heritage.
For effective risk management, the Risk Manager operates on two complementary fronts:
Prevention represents the set of activities and measures aimed at avoiding the onset of new risks and reducing exposure and vulnerability to existing ones. In other words, the goal of prevention is to eliminate or mitigate risk to such an extent that the possibility of an adverse event turning into a disaster is removed. Preventive strategies include continuous environmental monitoring, building maintenance, and the implementation of advanced security systems.
In contrast, protection comes into play when a risk materializes, with measures designed to limit damage and ensure the safety of both people and artworks. Protection strategies include interventions such as the installation of flood barriers, the use of protective display cases, or the activation of evacuation procedures.
There is no protection or mitigation without prevention. Risk management is a dynamic and continuous process that flows from prevention to protection. For this reason, integrating the figure of the Risk Manager into cultural institutions and investing in prevention strategies is the key to ensuring the long-term conservation of cultural heritage.
The Museum Security and Emergency Plan (MSEP)
One of the most important tools for a Risk Manager’s work is the Museum Security and Emergency Plan (MSEP), a document that contains information regarding:
- The composition of the emergency team, specifying the tasks and responsibilities of each member;
- Detailed operational procedures to secure the works during an emergency;
- Necessary materials and resources to handle the emergency and restore normality.
This plan is essential to ensure a rapid and effective response in the event of disastrous occurrences that could damage both the heritage and the facilities.
