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IMLS Announces Grants of More Than $2 Million for U.S. Museums

Awards will fund projects under three major grant programs

Washington, DC - The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) today announced thirty-seven grants totaling $2,450,102 for three programs: Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC), Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums, and Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services (NANH). Grantees in 20 different states will receive awards that range from $18,000 to $150,000. They will match these awards with $2,073,102 in non-federal funds.

Click here to view the list of funded projects: http://www.imls.gov/news/july_2014_museum_grant_announcement.aspx

“These grant projects have immense potential to serve local communities and the nation in advancing education and preserving cultural heritage,” said IMLS Director Susan H. Hildreth. “Programs that are being funded will strengthen museum services through professional training, improved care of collections, and the testing of creative solutions to challenging problems. We are delighted to announce these awards, and we are eager to see the visions for these unique opportunities and experiences brought to life.”  

Museum Grants for African American History and Culture provide professional training, technical assistance, internships, and outside expertise to museums that focus on African American life, art, history, and culture. Examples of projects that will be funded by the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program include:

• The documentation of African American accomplishments in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) fields by the Amistad Research Center in New Orleans, LA
• Educational activities to increase access to arts and culture programming for students and their teachers through on-site programming and off-site learning by the California African-American Museum in Los Angeles, CA

More information about the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program can be found here.

Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums is a funding opportunity within the IMLS National Leadership Grants for Museums program. Five grants will support the testing and evaluation of innovative tools and services that advance museum practice. Examples of projects that will be funded include:

• “Seeing as a Scientist,” a design-based research initiative at The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA,  to develop and test gallery interventions that have the potential to increase scientific observation skills for family groups
• Testing and launching of Chicago’sLincoln Park Zoological Society Wildlife Endocrinology Information Network (WEIN),one of the first wildlife endocrinology databases, which will help sustain healthy zoo populations

More information about the Sparks! Ignition Grants for Museums program can be found here.

Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services provides opportunities to federally recognized Indian tribes, Native Alaskan villages and corporations, and organizations primarily representing Native Hawaiians to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge through strengthened museum services.  The funding of twenty projects will support activities including exhibitions, educational programming, and professional development. Examples of projects that will be funded include:

• A five-part cultural event series in Kaneohe, HI, from the Hula Preservation Society on hula and musical traditions of four islands (O‘ahu, Maui, Moloka‘i, and Hawai‘i) to address the need for greater collaboration and understanding of these cross-island customs
• Teaching the language of the Tonkawa Tribe in Tonkawa, OK to youth through outreach and development of books, a pronunciation guide, and audio CDs

More information about the Native American/Native Hawaiian Museum Services program can be found here.

Use the IMLS grants search tool to view our archive of grants awarded by the Institute. Search grants by grant name, institution, or project type.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 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 and Twitter.