The American Folk Art Museum has received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) in the amount of $137,462. The Museum will apply this grant, with matching funds, to its digital and online activities, which will be enhanced in order to increase public access, promote lifelong learning, and provide a richer experience to larger audiences.

“This grant will enable the American Folk Art Museum to further advance its mission by integrating new technologies into our operations,” said the Museum’s Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Laura Parsons. “A newly designed website will be the centerpiece of our overall initiative. It will increase our ability to deliver audience-focused programs while serving as the pre-eminent source of folk art scholarship.”

The Museum aims to place the online browser—the learner—at the center of the ongoing dialogue about folk art and its meanings, with links to such enhancements as: more than 115 issues of Folk Art (formerly The Clarion), a scholarly journal published by the Museum from 1971 to 2008; curriculum guides for teachers; image archives documenting exhibitions past and present; video archives of lectures and symposia; stepped-up social media programs; oral histories; and a continuing education program, among other initiatives.

The IMLS is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums.  Its mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement.  Its grant making, policy development, and research helps libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov.