For Immediate
Release
September 24,
2003
MUSEUMS
RECEIVE $15 MILLION TO ADVANCE PUBLIC
SERVICE:
Federal
Institute of Museum and Library Services Announces Learning Opportunities Grants
for Museums
WASHINGTON, DC – The Institute of Museum and
Library Services, the primary federal funding agency for the nation’s museums
and libraries, today gave $15,464,815 to 169 outstanding museums across the
country to use collections, resources, and technology for public outreach.
Today’s recipients of the Institute’s highly competitive national Learning
Opportunities grant competition (933 museums, from art galleries to zoos,
requested $82,773,147) will match the awards with an additional $25,259,949. For
a contact list of today’s grant recipients organized by State, please
see http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/stategrants0903log.htm You may also read an html version of this press
release at: http://www.imls.gov/whatsnew/current/092403-2.htm
“Museums use the power of real things to connect us
to history, science, and the creative process,” said Robert Martin, Director of
the Institute. “These grants will help museums do just that by building
public access, expanding educational services, and reaching out to families and
children. The Learning Opportunity grants we make today furthers IMLS’ mission
to help museums create and sustain our nation of lifelong
learners.”
Learning Opportunities grants encourage museums to
use their collections, expertise, and technology to create public value and
strengthen learning in schools, at home, and in partnership with other community
organizations. Designed to advance the museum’s mission and strategic
goals, activities funded today range from interactive virtual gallery tours of
museums around the world, to classroom teachers adopting raptors to inspire
students about veterinary and animal husbandry careers, to traveling exhibits
that reach underserved families and schools.
Grants are awarded to all types of museums, from
anthropological to zoological, fine art and folk art, urban and rural, large and
small. Museums as diverse as the Whitney Museum of American Art in New
York City, the Sci-Port Discovery Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, and the
Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming, are among today’s
recipients.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is an independent
Federal grant-making agency dedicated to creating and sustaining a
nation of learners. The Institute fosters leadership,
innovation, and a lifetime of learning by supporting the nation's 15,000 museums
and 122,000 libraries. The Institute also encourages partnerships to expand
the educational benefit of libraries and museums. To learn more about the
Institute, please log onto: http://www.imls.gov.
Eileen Maxwell
Public Affairs Specialist
Institute of
Museum and Library Services
1100 Pennsylvania Ave.,
N.W.
Suite 510
Washington, DC 20506
202-606-8339
202-606-8591 (fax)
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