I'll try and post this reply again - I tried to respond to the request for ideas but it sounds like it did not go through... To Katie, Morris and Candace -- The question is not "who gives grants to acquire new artifacts," but rather "how do we build our collections based on our mission, programs, current holding and goals." Or to put it more simply--what do you hope to do in the future and why? The only detail offered in the initial post is that you are a historic house museum. Given that, what you may want to collect and exhibit may vary greatly depending on your geographic location and time period of emphases--unless you are using your site as a catalyst for change to promote community discussions of contemporary issues-which may be both a reinterpretation of the collections you possess and collections you may need to acquire. Based on my personal experience as a both a grant recipient with support from NEH, state humanities councils and a variety of community and family foundations, (and as a grant reviewer) you need to integrate collections development and expansion as a component of a larger project to document and exhibit "historical event "x" or " cultural event "y," or to preserve the last remaining "z" as examples of some regionally or community based significant event tied to where you museum is located. When I worked on the coast of Maine for a maritime museum I could and did argue that it was important to document, acquire, exhibit and preserve significant works of art produced by the daughters of sea captains because of what those objects (hand work to formal portraits) of material culture could tells as of both the self-taught artists and their time. Or based on my time in Colorado I would argue that it was important for a town historical society on the Western Slope to collect modern ski industry related materials due to rapid changes within that industry and the impact skiing has had on former ways of life. That said, my advise for you is to look at the opportunities you are creating for yourself with your new building and ask yourself - "What exhibits can I mount over the next 5 years that highlight the importance of my site (in all its various ways) that would allow me to conduct new originally historical and cultural research that would drive my exhibition program and which would then help me to identify what I should add to my collections?" But "How do I do that?" Again based on my experience, go talk to your state humanities council first and get them: 1. To identify scholars in a variety of disciplines in your state who may be interested in your site. 2. See if the council will help introduce you to a few of these academics. 3. Seek a small planing grant (Less than $1,000--that make it easier to get) from the Council to convene a planning meeting with your scholars to coalesce them into a new advisory committee and to get their help in brain storming what research and exhibits might be possible (or even redirect their own research interests). 4. Get further "buy in" from the state humanities or arts councils by seeking an exhibit planning grant to move the conversation with you new scholar advisers further and to get your first exhibit up. With this base established- other donors, foundations and even NEH or NEA would be interested in funding exhibits and the need to acquire new objects for the collections. Using this method, I generated over $500,000 dollars for collections and exhibition in one span of 6 or 7 years, mounting 3 to 4 new shows/ year. I also started from a worse place than you. I had a new institutional self study funded by NEH (when they use to do those things) that said to our museum, "change or die." I have shared this method with colleagues at conferences of Maine Archives and Museum, New Brunswick Museum Association, the New England Museum Associations and at an AAM conference. A object - either artistic, cultural or historical - does not exist in a vacuum. It is part of a larger whole that is the flow of history and culture change. By building your story, seeking new interpretations and presentations of both contemporary and historical issues confronted by your historic house museum and community, you will attract the objects you seek and be able to incorporate their acquisition into your collections as one component of a larger integrated program plan. I would be happy to help keep this tread going if the list is interested in a longer discussion. And Katie, if you or anyone else on the list has a question, email me on the list, at my email below or give me a call, I'll be happy to share my experience. Sam Shogren MPA Shogren Consulting Former ED Aspen Historical Society & Working Waterfront Museum Former Curator, Penobscot Marine Museum, Maine Former Member, Advisory Committee, Northeast Documents Conservation Center Founding Member, National Conference of State Museum Associations Founding President, Maine Archives and Museums ------- Sam Shogren Shogren Consulting [log in to unmask] 503-504-0770 (mobile) 15410 NW Oak Hills Drive Beaverton, OR 97006 On Tue, Mar 4, 2008 at 6:16 AM, Candace Perry <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > I see no one replied to the list so I guess I will just say there aren't > grants for acquisition unless perhaps you find a private foundation > somewhere… > > Candace Perry > > > > > ------------------------------ > > *From:* Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] *On > Behalf Of *m witten > *Sent:* Monday, March 03, 2008 5:18 PM > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: grants for collections > > > > Please reply to list. Thanks. > > > > *Morris Witten** ** > **Executive Director** > Taos Historic Museums** > * > Every calculation based on experience elsewhere fails in New Mexico. > ~Lew Wallace > > ------------------------------ > > Date: Mon, 3 Mar 2008 12:59:43 -0800 > From: [log in to unmask] > Subject: [MUSEUM-L] grants for collections > To: [log in to unmask] > > Hi > > I work at a historic house museum that is in the process of building a new > visitors center this year. We are looking to expand our museum's > collections and once the building is complete, the will be proper exhibit > space. > > I was wondering if anyone know of a grant that funds acquisition of new > artifacts for up and coming exhibits? I have thought about looking at the > Amer. Assoc of Museums, National Humanities Council or Museum and Library > Services. Does any one have any other suggestions? > > Anything would be appreciated. > > Thank you > > Katie Tate > ------------------------------ > > Never miss a thing. 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