IMLS Awards Over $3M in Grant Funding through Museums Empowered Program

Funded projects will engage staff, leadership, and volunteers in building more agile, sustainable museums.

Washington, DC-The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has announced a $3,327,912 investment in museums through the Museums Empowered grant program. Eighteen institutions will receive funding to engage staff, leadership, and volunteers in a series of training activities designed to generate systemic change or organizational growth that results in a more agile and sustainable museum.

In the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, many museums have struggled with staff turnover. Museums Empowered is an important tool in helping museums make the transition from crisis response to a rebuilding phase. The need for such support is evidenced by a 49% increase in funding requests since the program's 2023 cycle.

"Like the rest of the world, the museum field continues to navigate its response to the pandemic and its impact on the workforce," said IMLS Acting Director Cyndee Landrum. "IMLS is dedicated to providing research, funding, and support to museums as they navigate the challenges of today."

All awarded ME projects can be found on the IMLS website. Three of this year's awardees are detailed below:

• Wisconsin Historical Society will create a professional development project to cultivate a staff culture centered around visitors and to strengthen the ability of staff to embed evaluation in program planning and execution. Project activities include hiring a museum evaluation expert to train and coach public programming staff on visitor-centered design and implementation, within a framework of culture change combined with skill-development. This consultant will also work with the IT team to create a data repository and reporting system that supports evaluation data informing future decision-making and programming. As a result of this project, a permanent evaluation-related position will be created, as well as a resource library of evaluation training materials and tools, and an evaluation plan to be implemented across programs and services. In addition, staff will have the skills to conduct effective evaluation and continuously improve visitor-centered programming.

• Peabody Essex Museum will create a professional development initiative that will improve the workplace environment and fill gaps in expertise, while creating an environment that supports staff in their professional growth and varied learning, working, and management styles. Project activities will include developing and implementing a learning agenda for approximately 243 staff as well as establishing a leadership program, which will be made up of 53 managers and staff interested in becoming managers. A series of customized skill-building workshops for all staff that include managerial, communication, and project management training will be composed by senior staff from Employee Experience. Executive Office, Collection Management, and Education and Civic Engagement divisions. As a result of the project, staff will be better able to navigate public expectations and provide museum experiences that respond to a wide range of diverse audiences needs and interests.

• University of California - Lawrence Hall of Science will develop institutional capacity to use data-driven approaches to serve and engage with communities in the East Bay. Project activities will include hiring advisors to work with staff to assess and refine current data collection and co-design processes, and to create embedded evaluation processes to receive programmatic feedback. The project will train staff in data collection and analysis as well as in collaborative design practices with communities to develop exhibits and programs. Through this staff development, the university will be able to use data to identify high-impact initiatives that will benefit target audiences. By developing iterative feedback through evaluation, the university will be better able to assess program success as well as improve visitor participation.

Museums Empowered is the sixth IMLS Museum Services program to announce its FY24 awardees.

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 libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.