Welcome to the November edition of This Month in NYS Museums! In this newsletter... | | | | | | | | | Dear MANY Members, In this season of gratitude and community, family, friends, and neighbors, we want to say thank you to our museum community. The magnificent work of our members, individuals, and organizations speaks to the incredible work of MANY. Over the last couple of years, we have seen the reopening of the new Buffalo AKG Art Museum, the groundbreaking in Albany of the Underground Railroad Education Center’s new Interpretive Center, and the launch of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Museum on Main Street “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America” and “A New Agora for New York” humanities discussion series. We are so grateful to be part of these and other exciting moments in service to our communities and audiences. We also feel very privileged to serve our members. MANY’s work is not only focused on today but also on tomorrow. Our Annual Conference, this year where over 400 museum professionals were able to gather in person, strengthen connections, learn together, and witness an eclipse, our virtual programs for more than 1,500 people from more than 800 organizations in 20 countries and 46 states and our Museum Institute at Great Camp Sagamore last fall, bringing together twenty museum professionals from across New York State anchor our deep commitment to securing the future of museums through leadership development. “The Museum Institute reinforced how much intersectionality there is between cultural organizations across disciplines, and how important it is to seek out those various perspectives to make your own work better,” –Museum Institute attendee Our advocacy in Albany has led to a million dollars in appropriation to complete a comprehensive Museum Study. The work to secure this resource has been ongoing. They will take a deep dive into the need of museums across the state, small to large, rural to urban, in every discipline, art, science, history and children’s museums throughout our state. We are excited to share the news that the work on The Museum Study has begun with the summer release of an RFP to identify the contractor. We are excited to see this study begin in 2025. “Thank you for being an articulate voice for the importance of museums in New York…MANY ensures that our museum community stays strong and united by showing innovation and persistence. I am grateful to MANY for being a beacon of positivity and purpose.” –MANY Member All this work is vital and transformative for our members. We are thankful to our funding partners who make our work possible. But more is needed to continue these efforts. We need your support to continue this important and impactful work and expand what we do. As we have shared in the past, we want to continue to create new ways to support museums and broaden our conversations to shape a shared vision for the future of museums in New York. So the work continues… If you have visited a museum in New York State, attended our conference, virtual programs, or meetups, called the office for assistance, or used our website to find resources, we know you value the work we do. I hope you can help us now with a donation to our annual appeal to sustain our work into 2025 and create opportunities for us to help you for years to come. With thanks, | | | Sheila McDaniel, Interim Executive Director | | | Submit an Award of Distinction Nomination | | | We've extended the deadline! Help us recognize the exception achievements of New York's museums and museum professionals with an Award of Distinction! Awards celebrate museums and honor museum professionals who create transformative experiences for visitors, shape innovative programs, and use collections to tell the stories of everyone who calls New York home.
Nominations are due Friday, December 6. | | | | 2025 Awards of Distinction | | Excellence in Design This award acknowledges extraordinary achievement in design in three categories: Publications/Graphics, Media/Marketing, and Exhibition Design. Engaging Communities These awards celebrate organizations that use exceptional and resourceful methods to engage their communities and build new audiences. Nominated projects can include innovative preservation or digital technology to increase public access to museum collections or programs that broaden community partnerships. Individual Achievement The Individual Achievement Award honors a dedicated museum professional or volunteer that played a significant role in advancing their organizations. Award winners are selected for their valuable contributions to expanding audience reach, increasing the number and types of staff, successful campaigns for endowment or capital projects, or instilling financial stability at their organization. Rising Star and Scholarship* Given in honor of Erika Sanger, the Rising Star Award and Annual Conference scholarship will celebrate a museum professional working fulltime in a museum who has five years or less professional experience in a museum or a related field. Awarded to a museum professional who displays creative thinking, inspires institutional change, demonstrates innovation, professionalism, and leadership. *The Rising Star award recipient will receive complimentary conference registration, one workshop or special event registration, two nights at the conference hotel, up to $400 in travel reimbursement, and one year MANY Individual Membership.
Anne Ackerson Innovation in Museum Leadership
The Anne Ackerson Innovation in Museum Leadership Award honors a museum professional who during their career made significant contributions to the museum field or to their organization. This award commends a staff leader or board member that saw their organization through a critical challenge or significant opportunity in a creative and effective manner over a sustained period. Award winners are selected for their commitment to accessibility, equity, and inclusion, and their dedicated work towards community engagement, relevance, and sustainability. Board of Directors Special Achievement Award Members of MANY’s board of directors will consider nominations for awards that do not fall into the above categories or for nominated projects that deserve exceptional attention. | | | | | Nominations are due by 5 PM on Friday, December 6 | | Any museum or individual may nominate an organization, person(s), or project completed in 2024 at a museum, heritage, or cultural organization in NYS. Nomination of oneself or one’s organization is permissible and encouraged. Award recipients will be recognized on Monday, April 7 at the 2025 annual conference "Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out" in Ithaca, NY. For any questions about award categories or about the nominating process, please email conference@nysmuseums.org or call 518-273-3400 | | | | Apply for a conference scholarship | | | We're excited to share 12 conference scholarship opportunities to attend the 2025 annual conference “Cultivating Community: Looking In, Reaching Out” in Ithaca, NY, April 5 -8. Scholarships include conference registration, travel reimbursement, hotel accommodation, workshop or special event registration, and complimentary individual MANY memberships for one year.
Applications are due Friday, December 13. | | | | 2025 Scholarships | | BIPOC Museum Professional in Museum Administration | - Awarded to a Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color working in museum administration who has played a leadership role in advancing the capacity and sustainability of their museum. Scholarship includes conference registration, conference meals, one workshop or special event registration, two nights at the Ithaca Marriott, up to $400 transportation/parking reimbursement, and complimentary individual MANY membership for one year.
Cassetti Annual Conference Scholarship - Awarded to a museum professional who has demonstrated creative leadership and has affected significant, positive change in the ways in which their museum engages with audiences. Scholarship includes conference registration, conference meals, one workshop or special event registration, two nights at the Ithaca Marriott, up to $400 transportation/parking reimbursement, and complimentary individual MANY membership for one year.
Robert D. L. Gardiner Foundation - Ten scholarships sponsored by the Robert D. L. Gardiner Foundation for museum professionals employed by museums and historical societies on Long Island, including Brooklyn and Queens, with an annual operating budget of $250,000 or less. Scholarship includes conference registration, conference meals, one workshop or special event registration, two nights at the Ithaca Marriott, up to $400 transportation/parking reimbursement, and complimentary individual MANY membership for one year.
| | | | Applications are due Friday, December 13. | | Those eligible for a Conference Scholarship must be employed full time at a NYS museum. You may be eligible to apply for multiple scholarships but only one scholarship will be awarded. More scholarships may be announced. For more information, email conference@nysmuseums.org. | | | | Speak up for NYS Museums! Museums Advocacy Day 2025 | | | Registration is now open for Museums Advocacy Day, which will be held in Washington, DC, on February 24 – 25. Will you join us to speak up for museums in the new Congress? Research has shown that 96% of people across party lines think that lawmakers should support museums. Over the last decade, advocacy efforts, including Museums Advocacy Day, have resulted in an 80% increase in funding for the Office of Museum Services at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). In his first term, President Trump proposed eliminating IMLS, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the National Endowment for the Arts in each of his budget proposals. All three agencies provide vital funding for museums and historic sites. The proposed Department of Government Efficiency is looking to make $2 trillion in cuts to the federal government, including eliminating entire agencies. However, Congress has the final say on the budget. That’s why it’s important for you to join us at Museums Advocacy Day. We need to make our voices heard in Congress to maintain funding for museums! MANY members can register at the AAM member rate. Email info@nysmuseums.org | | | | | Governor Hochul Announces $62 Million in Arts and Culture Grants Awarded by the New York State Council on the Arts across New York State | | | The Buffalo Museum of Science was awarded $25,000 in Support for Organizations | | | | | | | | | | | | | Hiring? MANY Organizational and Industry Members post museum jobs for free. For other job posting opportunities, please contact the MANY office at info@nysmuseums.org or call 518-273-3400 | MANY is committed to salary transparency. All job postings require a salary range. | | | | | | | Led by museum professionals from across New York State and beyond, join us online in this webinar series. Webinars are free; advance registration required. Virtual programs are made possible thanks to support from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation. | | | Friday, December 6 12 - 2 PM EST Breaking Barriers: Navigating the Digital Frontier in Museums
Want to build a digital collection but don’t know where to start? This workshop aims to empower institutions of any size to set up a digital collections infrastructure. By the end, participants will have a broad understanding of digitization equipment, digital collections solutions and other resources required for success, catalog and metadata best practices, and will receive guidance for next steps. | | | | | | | Friday, December 13 12 - 1:30 PM EST Removing Barriers and Opening Doors: Finding Ways to Improve Accessibility and Inclusion Accessibility can mean many things, from physical accessibility to a building to language translation, transportation, site navigation and wayfinding, and more. This webinar will discuss ways that each organization has addressed complex issues of accessibility to their historic buildings while making their programs and exhibits more inclusive of their communities. We'll discuss the challenges of reaching new audiences and breaking down the barriers to visitorship. From funding to finding the right consultants, through implementation, participants will receive practical advice to work toward a more open and welcoming museum no matter what the size of the organization. | | | | | | | | | | | Sign up to be a 2025 Museum Grant Review with the Institute of Museum and Library Services Reviewing grant applications can be a great professional development opportunity, offering you the chance to share your personal expertise and read about a wide range of fascinating projects from museums across the country. Basics for Reviewing: - Former museum grant reviewers should indicate their interest in serving again by completing the application form.
- Your service as a reviewer would take place within a 3- to 5-week period between February and May 2025.
- Program staff may select applicants to participate as either a field or panel reviewer. Field reviewers work virtually and independently. Panel reviewers complete their reviews virtually and also participate in a meeting that may be held virtually or in-person at IMLS offices in Washington, D.C.
- If your organization applies for a grant in the same fiscal year, you may still serve as a reviewer and will not review your organization’s application.
- On average, reviewers receive 7 to 12 applications, which may take approximately 1 hour each to review.
- Reviewers are eligible to receive an honorarium of either $300 or $500 for their service, depending on the type of review. The Office of Museum Services also pays travel expenses for panel reviewers.
Learn More: Want to learn more about serving as a museum grant reviewer? Watch this short Webinar for Potential Museum Reviewers. What’s Next: Apply to be a museum grant reviewer by clicking the Learn More button below. Enter your information and upload your current resume in PDF format. This information allows us to match applications with reviewers who have the appropriate expertise. The application deadline is Friday, December 6, 2024. Learn more | | | New York History Conference Call for Proposals The New York History Conference is accepting proposals that deal with the history, culture, economy, politics, geography, anthropology, or archaeology of New York State. We also welcome proposals that use New York’s history as a lens to understand a regional, national, or international issue. Special consideration will be given to topics that directly relate to the theme of the 2025 conference. Date: June 5-6, 2025 Cultural Education Center, Empire State Plaza, Albany, NY Proposals Due December 15, 2024 Learn more | | | World Canals Conference Call for Presentations Submit a proposal to present your expertise, passions, and big ideas with a global audience at the 2025 World Canals Conference, September 21-25, 2025. The conference is a great place to share the ways you are tackling difficult challenges or implementing innovative programs. The deadline for proposals is January 15, 2025. Early submissions are encouraged. Conference Themes: - Healthy Waterways, Healthy Communities
- Trends in Waterway Tourism & Recreation
- Waterway Management
- Canals and Historic Preservation
- Inclusion and Accessibility
Learn more | | | AASLH American 250 Programming Handbook Now Available The American Association for State and Local History is pleased to announce the publication of the 250th Anniversary Program Handbook, their latest resource to help state and local history organizations prepare for the nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026. This publication features more than 30 low-cost program ideas specifically geared towards smaller organizations to provide them with practical program suggestions they can use. The handbook includes ideas for: - K – 12 and youth programs
- Inviting your community to share their stories and learn from each other
- Expanded tour offerings
- Reimagining exhibitions
- Social and digital media
- Civic engagement
- History-themed gatherings
In addition, the handbook also includes: - A checklist with steps on how to design audience-centered programs that align with your mission
- Advice on how to ensure that everyone in your community sees their history represented at your organization
- Recommendations on collaborating with other organizations or groups in your community
AASLH is thankful for the support of the William G. Pomeroy Foundation, which has made this resource possible. You can find additional resources to help you prepare for the 250th at aaslh.org/250. Learn more | | | | | New York State Council on the Arts Governor Hochul announced $80 million is available to support non-profit arts and cultural organizations across New York State NYSCA Capital Projects Fund includes three grant categories, including a first-time opportunity for Capital Design Grants for arts and culture. NYSCA's Capital Projects Fund will support arts and cultural nonprofits seeking State funding for investments in capital improvements that allow organizations to sustain and expand cultural programming for diverse audiences, promote accessibility and environmental sustainability, preserve and create jobs, and ultimately contribute to the growth of New York's dynamic arts and tourism sectors. The three opportunities are: Small and Midsized Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture: This opportunity funds projects initiated by nonprofit arts and cultural organizations of any size, with grants of up to $2 million that prioritize accessibility, artistry, cultural development, sustainability, health and safety, and structural and historical improvements. No-match grants of $10,000-$25,000 and $50,000-$99,000 are available for organizations with operating budgets under $2 million. Strong projects combine excellence in design with informed decisions about organizational capacity and community needs that will positively affect the future of arts and cultural organizations across New York. Large Capital Improvement Grants for Arts and Culture: This opportunity will support arts and cultural nonprofits across the state that are undertaking impactful, large-scale capital improvements. Grants will range from $2 million to $10 million for projects that have a total cost of $4 million or more. This funding will support investments that allow organizations to thrive by expanding cultural programming, reaching new and diverse audiences, and promoting accessibility. These grants will also help advance the State's goals around economic development, diversity, equity and inclusion, and will require all applicants to commit to social equity initiatives and access plans that serve all New Yorkers. Capital Design Grants for Arts and Culture: This new opportunity will support the development of mid-stage and advanced design documents for arts and cultural nonprofits with operating budgets of $10 million or less across the state that are planning eligible capital improvements and are currently in the early stages of design. Grants will range from $50,000-$500,000, for a maximum of 50 percent of the design phase’s total cost. No-match grants of $50,000 to $99,000 will also be available for organizations with budgets under $2 million. The application portal and guidelines for these opportunities are now open, and can be accessed on NYSCA's website, arts.ny.gov. The deadline to submit completed applications is January 14, 2025. All eligible New York State nonprofit arts and cultural organizations are encouraged to apply for NYSCA's Capital Projects Fund. Learn more | | | Institute of Museum and Library Services Save America's Treasures Grant The Institute of Museum and Library Services is pleased to announce that the Save America's Treasures (SAT) grant program is now accepting applications. The Save America’s Treasures grant program was established in 1998 and first awarded grants in 1999 to help preserve nationally significant historic properties and collections that convey our nation’s rich heritage to future generations.
The program is administered by the National Park Service in cooperation with its partners, IMLS, National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). The NPS manages the Preservation grants and the IMLS administers Collections grants. Congress has appropriated $25.5 million in FY2024 funding for Collections and Preservation projects. Applications are due December 12, 2024 Available Grant Funding - Collections projects must be determined to be of national significance based on the supportive description of its significance within the application. Collections include artifacts, documents, sculptures, and other works of art.
- Preservation projects fund planning and "bricks and mortar" preservation/conservation work on historic buildings and structures listed in the National Register of Historic Places for national significance or designated a National Historic Landmark.
Grants are available to fund two types of projects: "Collections" and "Preservation". Learn more and apply for an SAT Collections Grant Learn more and apply for an SAT Preservation Grant | | | National Endowment for the Humanities Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions The National Endowment for the Humanities' Preservation Assistance Grants for Smaller Institutions offer up to $10,000 for preservation assessments, supplies, equipment, and training, with an additional $5,000 for travel to non-contiguous U.S. areas. Projects span 18 months, supporting preservation for small- to mid-sized institutions. Deadline: January 9, 2025 Learn more | | | | | | | What's happening at your museum? How is your museum growing institutional resources, including welcoming new staff and board members and securing funding for projects, how is your museum working with their community and visitors; and how we use our exhibitions and collections in new ways. Share your news by emailing meves@nysmuseums.org | | | | | | |
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