The Tubman Museum is pleased to announce that it has received grant awards from several major funding organizations to initiate new programs, events and exhibitions.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services recently announced that it has awarded the Tubman Museum a $57,600 grant African American History and Culture grant to fund a critical new education staff position for two years, which will help to meet the growing demand for services that have emerged since the long-awaited opening of the museum’s new building on Cherry Street. The programs to be implemented as a result of this funding will build institutional capacity and effectiveness by strengthening in-house education offerings, outreach activities like after-school art classes, workshops for at-risk third and fifth grade students s, and other value-added programs. This award also provides for an external evaluation assessment of the project that will serve as the basis for future planning.

With a mission to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement, the Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Their grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive.

The Tubman was one of 17 museums nationwide to receive AAHC funding this year. As IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew noted, “The stories, art, history, artifacts and music of African American life are integral to the story of America. [These] IMLS AAHC grants will increase the capacity of institutions across the country to preserve and share a vital and vibrant thread of the tapestry of our national culture and experience.”

In a statement about the new funding, Congressman Sanford Bishop (D-GA) stated, “Over 150 years ago, Harriet Tubman made her mark on history by guiding hundreds on the dangerous path to freedom. The Institute of Museum and Library Services’ generous grant will help the Tubman Museum continue its mission of sharing her inspirational story and highlighting the rich history and culture of African Americans.”

The Tubman Museum also received a $20,000 grant from the James Hyde Porter Charitable Trust and a $30,000 grant from the E.J. Grassmann Trust to create a community exhibition gallery on the first floor of the museum, to be named the James Hyde Porter Community Gallery in recognition of the strong and sustained support the Porter Trust has provided over the years for education and the arts in the Macon-Bibb County community. This new gallery will feature changing exhibits from the museum’s art and history collections and collaborative exhibits with the Bibb County School District, Middle Georgia Art Association, Contemporary Arts Exchange, and area colleges and universities, including Middle Georgia State University, Wesleyan College and Mercer University.