Albuquerque Museum News:
ALBUQUERQUE — The Albuquerque Museum Foundation on behalf of the Albuquerque Museum has received a $250,000 grant from the Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS), an independent agency of the federal government.
This three-year grant will support the Museum’s ongoing effort to digitize its collection of artworks and history objects.
The IMLS granted $24,293,190 to 122 projects across the country this year through its Museums for America Program. Only 20 percent of the recipients received the highest amount ($250,000); and only four institutions in New Mexico – including the Albuquerque Museum – received support through this program.
“This prestigious grant will make a big difference for the Albuquerque Museum by expanding its digital archive and increasing public access to its collections,” said President and CEO Andrew Rodgers of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation. “This is the first time the IMLS has awarded funds to support the Museum, an important achievement that brings national attention to the great work its staff and curators do for the state and region.”
The Museums for America program supports projects that strengthen the ability of individual museums to benefit the public by providing high-quality, inclusive learning experiences, maximizing resources to address community needs through partnerships and collaborations, and by preserving and providing access to the collections entrusted to their care.
“Albuquerque Museum is a world-class institution dedicated to preserving the rich history, art, and culture of New Mexico with the rest of the world,” Mayor Tim Keller said. “This national recognition is well deserved and underscores our city’s commitment to celebrating our stories, sharing heritage with our families, and inspiring generations to come.”
The first phase of this expanded effort to digitize the Museum’s collection will be a three-year project to continue cataloging the art, history, and photo archive collections at the Albuquerque Museum and Casa San Ysidro: The Gutiérrez/Minge House. Led by Dr. Josie Lopez, Head Curator at the Museum, both new and existing collections objects will continue to be added and updated to a public facing, digital, searchable collection on eMuseum, an online collections database.
“This work will provide opportunities for interpreting the collection as defined in our Diversity, Equity, Accessibility, and Inclusion Plan (DEAI),” Museum Director Andrew Connors said. “By providing rich, informative entries and good photographs of our diverse museum collections through our free on-line database, we will provide important resources to the public, scholars, students, educators, and museum colleagues locally and around the world.”
Projects from 40 states plus the District of Columbia received support from IMLS’s Museums for America program in this year’s funding cycle. New York received the highest total amount of any state, 24 percent of all program funding, with $5,830,618 spread across 28 institutions. With its four funded museums, New Mexico received $934,516, the seventh highest among all states, and well beyond the median ($265,086 per state).
New Mexico also received the highest amount of program funding per capita (about 44 cents per resident), versus about 30 cents for New York, 13 cents for Pennsylvania, and 3 cents for California.
“The Albuquerque Museum is a place of gathering, honoring, learning, and creating. It plays an essential role in memorializing central New Mexico’s history and nurturing its future through shared traditions and art,” New Mexico Sen. Martin Heinrich said. “I am proud to have supported the Museum in its effort to secure this funding and will continue working in Congress to ensure our state’s arts and cultures are nurtured and celebrated.”
IMLS Director Crosby Kemper said, “As pillars of our communities, libraries and museums bring people together by providing important programs, services, and collections. These institutions are trusted spaces where people can learn, explore, and grow. IMLS is proud to support their initiatives through our grants as they educate and enhance their communities.”
ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM & 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 them on Facebook and Twitter.
ABOUT THE ALBUQUERQUE MUSEUM:
As a cornerstone of our community, the Albuquerque Museum cares for important collections of art and history, presented through well-curated exhibitions and programs that inspire and promote learning across cultures. Its vision is to expand the quality and scope of its collections; elevate the understanding of our city, our state, and the greater Southwest; and engage Albuquerque with a global community. The Albuquerque Museum is a division of the Department of Arts and Culture, City of Albuquerque. To learn more, visit www.cabq.gov/artsculture/
ABOUT THE FOUNDATION:
The Albuquerque Museum Foundation is an independent, non-profit corporation that provides annual funding and volunteer support for the Albuquerque Museum, a municipally run and operated museum of art and history. The Foundation champions the Museum’s exceptional exhibitions, educational programs, and acquisitions. Visit www.
