CONGRESSMAN JO BONNER TO ANNOUNCE TWO IMLS GRANTS AWARDED TO MOBILE MUSEUM OF ART
Nov 9th, 2003
(Mobile) On Monday, November 10th at 11:30 a.m. in the Grand Lakefront Lobby of the Mobile Museum of Art, Congressman Jo Bonner will announce two very important IMLS (The Institute of Museum and Library Services) Grants, a Federal agency providing support to the nation's museums and libraries. IMLS has awarded the Mobile Museum of Art a Conservation Project Support Grant of $36,139. It was the only one awarded in Alabama. The monies will be used to purchase the remainder of the collection storage cabinets and screens to complete the rehousing of the collection in the new building.
A second grant was awarded from IMLS in the amount of $72,800 through the 2003 Learning Opportunities Grant category. It was one of two awarded in Alabama and will be used to develop an audio tour of the permanent collection for adults and children. It will also enable the museum to implement an outreach program to promote the museum as an educational tool for families and schools in Mobile's surrounding counties (Bladwin, Clarke, Escambia, Monroe, and Washington). The development of an online, interactive exhibition of pieces in the premanent collection will provide resources and curricula for teachers and art-related projects and activites for children to use both in and outside the classroom. Both the physical outreach program and the online resource tool will promote museum visitation and art education to a wider audience.
In addition, Mobile Museum of Art received a grant of $57,500 from the Alabama State Council on the Arts for general support of the visual arts programs for the 2003-2004 year. The museum also will receive grant support from the Mary Josephine Larkins Foundation for the purchase of a kiln for use with its ceramics program, from the Alabama Humanities Foundation for lectures with "Coming Home American Paintings 1930-1950 from the Schoen Collection," and from the Mobile Arts Council for a printmaking workshop in conjunction with "Alabama Big Prints."
"The museum sincerely appreciates the generosity of these grantmaking organizations that assist us in meeting our mission of service to the community. Without these funds many of our projects would not be possible," stated Joe Schenk, Mobile Museum of Art Director.