Durham Museum Receives Federal Grant for Education Programs as Part of American Rescue Plan

The Durham Museum received a $35,974 federal grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services as part of the $15,255,733 in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act grants given to institutions across 49 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico to support the role of museums and libraries in recovering from the coronavirus pandemic. A total of 390 projects were selected from 572 applications requesting $22,840,028. Institutions receiving awards are matching them with $20,030,419 in non-federal funds.

With the grant funds, The Durham Museum will add additional part-time facilitators to the museum’s education team and necessary equipment to expand and enhance both online and on-site educational programming—in particular, the museum’s virtual field trips and award-winning Museum Live! weekly webcast series, developed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The museum has also re-launched its field trip program with free admission for all K-12 school groups. This ensures the museum’s cultural opportunities are accessible and financially feasible for schools and families. These two initiatives serve primarily a K–12 student audience, with particular emphasis on elementary school-aged students, and complement state social studies education standards. These programs serve to greatly enhance accessibility to the museum for diverse audiences within the Omaha community while serving rural communities in greater Nebraska and students across the country.

“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,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “IMLS is proud to support their initiatives through our grants as they educate and enhance their communities.”

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. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.