Federal Update

Federal Formula Grant Coalition
 

Did you know that the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) provided $210.5 million to libraries in 2006, while museums received only $36.5 million?  Why the difference?  Federal formula grants given from IMLS directly to the states accounted for $163.7 million of IMLS’ library authorization.

Service organizations representing museums at the state, regional, and national level have joined forces to seek reauthorizing legislation for IMLS in 2009 that includes federal formula grants for museums.  This web site is dedicated to informing the museum community about the work of the Coalition, receiving comments from the field to help drive its work, and asking the museum community for strategic assistance in achieving the 2009 goal.

The Work of the Federal Formula Grants for Museums Coalition:

• Federal Formula Grants Coalition Members
   
• FAQ – learn more about the initiative and how it works

• A State Museum Association Perspective

• Articles published by The American Association for State and Local History

Comments from the museum field
 

Summer Update - 2007

AAM to Convene Meeting on Federal Funding of Museums – Representatives from the  Federal Formula Grant Coalition Will Attend At its meeting in May, the AAM Board of Directors approved a framework that articulates AAM's position on increasing federal funding as part of a larger goal to expand financial resources for museums. The framework denotes AAM's support of creating a legislative package to reauthorize IMLS, a primary target for increasing federal dollars. As part of this process, AAM will convene a meeting this month to discuss ways to increase federal funding of museums.  Representatives of state, regional, and national organizations will attend as well as members of the Federal Formula Grant Coalition. (MANY is a member of the Federal Formula Grant Coalition.) Meeting participants are expected to discuss ways to address funding needs such as conservation, traveling exhibitions, research, and professional development. The goal of the meeting is to develop a funding package that may be widely supported by the museum field. 

On a Parallel Front: IMLS Gets Urban Institute to Study Museum Funding
In a new cooperative agreement with IMLS, the Urban Institute, a non-partisan economic and social policy research organization based in Washington, D.C., will study the mechanisms of public support for museums in the United States and possible alternative funding methods. The goal of the research project is to identify:

·         the mechanisms currently used to deliver public funding to museums from federal and state governments in selected states;

·         the purposes for which state and federal public funds are allocated to museums in those states;

·         the impact of delivery mechanisms on the quality of services and possible service gaps left by those mechanisms; and

·         alternative funding models, such as a population-based state grant, and their potential impact on any identified gaps in museum services.

After the study’s completion, IMLS will host up to three regional hearings to collect opinions and perspectives about the impact and effectiveness of museum services from museum professionals, community leaders, educators, public officials, and representatives of regional, state, and local organizations. For more info: http://www.imls.gov/news/2007/060807.shtm.