The following is a text-only press release from the federal Institute of
Museum and Library Services (IMLS). An HTML version of this release can
be viewed on the agency's Web site at
http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/072109.shtm
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2009
Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, [log in to unmask]
Mamie Bittner, [log in to unmask]
IMLS Announces 2009 African American History and Culture Grants,
Convenes Annual Meeting of Grantees
Washington, DC-On July 21, the Institute of Museum and Library Services
(IMLS) awarded $1.31 million to 11 organizations dedicated to preserving
the history of African American life from the period of slavery to the
present day as part of the Museum Grants for African American History
and Culture (AAHC) program.
Since 2006, AAHC grants have helped African American museums and
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) build capacity by
supporting professional training, technical assistance, internships, and
expert consultations. The grant program is authorized by the National
Museum of African American History and Culture Act and developed in
consultation with the Council and Director of the Smithsonian's National
Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAHHC).
"African American history is American history, and the recipients of
this year's African American History and Culture grants understand that
they are cultivating the next generation of stewards of our collective
American story," said Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of IMLS. "IMLS is
proud to support their work."
This year, awardees that have proposed significant projects that will
strengthen the African American museum field include:
* The B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, Indianola, MS,
will support professional training and development for key members of
its staff through participation in national conferences, a series of
management seminars, and enrollment in the Jekyll Island Management
Institute.
* The Ohio Historical Society/National Afro-American Museum and Cultural
Center, Wilberforce, OH, will send staff to formal training in archival
processing, database management, and digitization to help them build a
sustainable program for the ongoing care of the museum's collections.
* The Weeksville Heritage Center, Brooklyn, NY, will establish a
department of preservation and collections to more effectively interpret
the site of one of the first free African American communities in the
nation.
Click here for more information about this year's grantees.
http://www.imls.gov/news/2009/072109_list.shtm
In addition to grant making, IMLS works closely with the National Museum
of African American History and Culture to convene an annual meeting for
past grantees to share lessons learned and strengthen networks. On June
25-26, representatives of 16 current AAHC grantee institutions met in
Washington to share the successes and challenges in implementing their
IMLS-funded projects with their peers and IMLS staff. Kinshasha Holman
Conwill, Deputy Director of the National Museum of African American
History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution, and IMLS Director Radice
both spoke to the group.
Projects highlighted at the meeting included a national profile of
African American Museums; a project to build institutional capacity and
sustainability of African American museums throughout Florida; and a
series of workshops and a summer internship program designed to benefit
African American museums in the Baltimore area.
Following the convening, Jane Penn and Sheila McDaniel of the Studio
Museum in Harlem, New York, NY, wrote IMLS staff to say, "We found the
gathering extremely fruitful - meeting our colleagues, hearing the
stories and sharing the lessons. We also appreciated the care and effort
your team put forth ensuring that our experience was a rewarding one."
The next deadline for the Museum Grants for African American History and
Culture program is January 15, 2010. Click here for more information.
http://www.imls.gov/applicants/grants/AfricanAmerican.shtm
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 17,500 museums.
The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that
connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the
national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to
sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and
innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about
the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov..
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