Grants Awarded to Ten Alaskan Museums

Ten of Alaska’s collecting institutions, in eight communities from Unalaska to Fairbanks, have been awarded $76,154 in grants. The awards will support collections care projects through funds created by Rasmuson Foundation and administered by Museums Alaska.

Established in 2013, the Collections Management Fund supports projects that advance the preservation of museum collections with awards of up to $15,000. The fund provides critical support for the care of objects documenting Alaska’s cultural and natural heritage. In April, Museums Alaska selected ten projects to fund. The funded projects include management of ethnographic collections and plant records, upgrading textile and basket storage, digitizing oral history tapes and movies, and two collections internships.

The fund will offer additional grants in 2019. For eligibility information, application deadlines, and submission directions, please visit the Museums Alaska Collections Management Fund webpage.

Museums Alaska is a statewide professional organization supporting Alaska’s collecting institutions and their staff members and volunteers. The non-profit organization supports museums and cultural centers in Alaska and enhances public understanding of their value. A nine-member volunteer board governs Museums Alaska with funding from memberships, grants, gifts, and sales.

COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT FUND AWARDS SPRING 2019

Alaska Aviation Museum—$14,812.16 for Accessioning & Records Management Project

Alaska Botanical Garden—$6,510.00 for Photography and Signage Project

Alutiiq Museum & Archaeological Repository—$10,144.68 for Clark Bequest Project

Cordova Historical Society and Museum—$5,157.00 for CHS Archive/Research Room Equipment

Pratt Museum—$6,070.44 for Renovation wrap-up: A return to Collections

Kodiak Historical Society—$8,239.47 for Collection Work and Viewing Space

Museum of the Aleutians—$1,351 for Collections storage

Pioneer Air Museum—$8,211.25 for Collections Cataloging Project

Sheldon Museum and Cultural Center—$10,658 for Save Our Oral History Project

Valdez Museum & Historical Archive—$5,000 for Collections Management Internship