FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 7, 2005

Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Eileen Maxwell, emaxwell@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

$2 Million Requested for New Program for African American Museums

Washington, DC— The Administration's budget request for 2006 includes $2 million for a new program to benefit African American museums throughout the United States and to support individuals pursuing study and careers in African American history and culture.

In December 2003, Congress passed and President Bush signed the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act. In addition to providing authority to create a new Smithsonian museum for African American History and Culture, the Act provides new authority for IMLS to support African American museums.

In the coming year, IMLS will work in consultation with the council of the new Smithsonian museum and its director to develop the new program.

The Association of African American Museums estimates that there are about 117 African American museums in the United States. While these museums are eligible for existing IMLS grant programs, the new program will explore new ways of working with African American Museums. Specifically, the purpose of this program is to enhance the vitality and sustainability of these institutions and encourage scholarship and careers in African American history and culture.

Dr. Schroeder Cherry, Deputy Director of IMLS noted, “African American museums in the United States are at an important crossroads. Their numbers continue to grow and their contribution to sustaining cultural heritage is as important as ever. Today they are seeking to tell the story of African American culture to new generations of American society in which African American contributions are increasingly recognized and increasingly complex. We look forward to the development of this new program and to building the capacity of these museums to continue to tell the multifaceted, multidimensional story of African American culture and history.”

In July 2004, IMLS convened a group including leaders of African American museums and a range of national museum associations. They spoke about the challenge and necessity of reinventing and retooling themselves for the changing landscape of the 21st century. Key issues of concern included the need to formulate and update strategies for enhancing long range capacity building, clarifying mission, demonstrating public value, and building new management tools and development expertise. The IMLS web site will post information about the new grant program as it becomes available.