The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced it will be giving various grants over the next few years including $6.3 million for Museum National Leadership Projects, more than 200 grants to help museums meet community needs through the Museums for America program, The Museums Empowered program and Inspire! programs. Also, an additional $2.9 million will be given as part of the IMLS CARES Act Grants for Museums and Libraries program. Of those awarded, 28 recipients are currently AASLH institutional members.
The Museum National Leadership Project Grant is to support projects that are addressing needs in the museum field and concepts that can advance practices to improve services and offering for the American public.
AASLH members awarded:
- History Colorado, Denver, CO
- Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
- New England Museum Association, Arlington, MA
There are three grant programs specifically to support community needs. These include Museums for America, The Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff, and Inspire! Grants for Small Museums. From the 758 applications, 208 projects were selected for funding.
The Museums for America program grant supports community engagement projects which are providing inclusive learning experiences based on community needs and providing access to collections that preserve local history.
AASLH members awarded:
- Fort Ticonderoga, Ticonderoga, NY
- Grand Rapids Public Museum, Grand Rapids, MI
- Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses, New Orleans, LA
- History Colorado, Denver, CO
- Indiana State Museum & Historic Sites, Indianapolis, IN
- Memphis Museums (Museum of Science & History-Pink Palace), Memphis, TN
- Missouri Historical Society, Saint Louis, MO
- Museum of Boulder, Boulder, CO
- Shadows-on-the-Teche (National Trust for Historic Preservation), New Iberia, LA
The Museums Empowered: Professional Development Opportunities for Museum Staff grant is dedicated to supporting projects that generate systemic change for their organization and focus on one of four categories: digital technology, diversity and inclusion, evaluation, or organizational management
AASLH members awarded:
- Hermann-Grima + Gallier Historic Houses, New Orleans, LA
- Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence, RI
- Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, WA
- Carnegie Science Center, Pittsburgh, PA
Inspire! Grants for Small Museums are designed to support smaller institutions to help them address priorities in their strategic plans focusing on learning experiences, community partnerships, collections stewardship, or expanding access to collections and resources.
AASLH members awarded:
- Brown University (David Winton Bell Gallery), Providence, RI
- Great American Songbook Foundation, Carmel, IN
- Milwaukee County Historical Society, Milwaukee, WI
- Arlington Historical Society, Arlington, MA
- City of Moses Lake (Moses Lake Museum & Art Center), Moses Lake, WA
- County of Sheboygan (Sheboygan County Historical Museum), Sheboygan, WI
- Tudor Place Historic House and Garden, Washington, DC
- Sharon Historical Society & Museum, Sharon, CT
- Trumbull County Historical Society, Warren, OH
- Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County, Moorhead, MN
- St. Joseph Museums, Saint Joseph, MO
The IMLS CARES Act Grant supports both museums and libraries to prepare and respond to challenges of accessibility to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic.
AASLH members awarded:
- Dyer Library and Saco Museum, Saco, ME
- Conner Prairie Museum, Fishers, IN
- State Historical Society of Missouri, Columbia, MO
