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Giuliana Bullard gbullard@imls.gov
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IMLS Awards More Than $19 Million to Help Museums Serve Their Communities
Washington, D.C.—Through the agency’s largest competitive grant program, Museums for America, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced $19,189,929 in grants for museums across the nation. A total of 132 projects were selected from 558 applications requesting $104,538,159 in funding, and the institutions receiving the awards are matching them with $29,122,788 in non-federal funds. Of the 132 recipients this year, 45 museums are each receiving funds of $25,000 or less through the program’s category for smaller projects with no cost share requirements.
“Museums for America is instrumental in helping museums of all disciplines, all sizes, and all budgets across the country address opportunities identified by their organization as central to achieving their missions,” said IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “It is humbling to read the many applications about the varied ways museums are improving quality of life in communities large and small, and responsibly caring for culturally significant objects.”
The Museums for America program supports projects that strengthen the ability of an individual museum to serve its public. The program’s three project categories are learning experiences, community anchors, and collections stewardship. The IMLS website lists all projects funded through this year’s Museums for America program, including:
- Old Sturbridge Village’s project to migrate approximately 55,000 database records to a new collections management platform and launch a searchable online database, making the entire collection accessible to the general public for the first time.
- An expansion of the Women in Science and Engineering Network by the Da Vinci Science Center by partnering with community organizations, colleges, and universities to enhance the STEM learning and support ecosystem for women and girls in eastern Pennsylvania. The museum will map opportunities for cross-sector collaborations to support girls and women in STEM and pilot STEM programs for them at the museum.
- The project of the Peralta Hacienda Historical Park to mentor teens from the diverse, low-income community of Fruitvale in academic, civic, and leadership development. For refugee, immigrant, and African American high school youth, the museum will provide on-site internships to help them research their own stories in a global context. The stories will be shared with the Bay Area public as they plan and produce public events, indoor and outdoor exhibitions, receive training to serve as tour leaders, and organize community forums.
IMLS soon will begin accepting applications for the FY 2018 Museums for America funding program. Check the IMLS website or subscribe to IMLS news releases for updates. The next deadline to apply for these grants will be December 1, 2017.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.