Children's Museum Grants

During the 2011 Legislative session, the Minnesota State Legislature asked the Minnesota Humanities Center to award grants to children's museums for projects and programs that maintain or promote our cultural heritage. Legacy funds are appropriated to the Humanities Center (Special Session 1: Senate File Chapter 6, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 8) to support such work.

An independent review panel reviewed and the Humanities Center’s board of directors approved grants awarded in December 2011 for three Cultural Heritage Projects and Programs. These programs will increase access and deepen engagement by maintaining or promoting the cultural heritages of a community, region, and the state of Minnesota.

Grant Recipients:
  • Children's Discovery Museum ($75,000)
    2727 US Highway 169 South, Grand Rapids, MN 55744
    The Children's Discovery Museum in Grand Rapids, Minnesota, will increase access and deepen engagement with its School Service Program. This program takes down the economic barriers for visiting school groups. The Legacy grant will fund more educators and facilitators, curriculum development, scholarship aid, transportation assistance, and art/teaching supplies.
     
  • Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota ($100,000)
    P.O. Box 3103, Mankato, MN 56002
    The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) will conduct a transformative community involvement project centered on the public exhibit prototyping laboratory. The Legacy grant will allow CMSM to reach a broader audience resulting in the development of museum experiences that engage every child’s natural curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking.
     
  • Duluth Children's Museum, Inc. ($250,000)
    506 West Michigan Street, Duluth, MN 55802
    The Duluth Children’s Museum will ensure continuity in cultural experiences for the youngest audiences in rural Minnesota through its Passport to Culture and Museum on the Move (Early Explorations and Exhibit Explorations) programs. The Legacy grant will allow the museum to expand these successful programs to reach audiences within the museum and in regional schools.
The independent review panel assessed each proposal against the eligibility requirements, stated criteria, intent of the funding, and proposed measureable outcomes.

Panel members included:
  • Kaywin Feldman, Minneapolis
  • Joanne Jones-Rizzi, Minneapolis
  • Daniel Spock, Minneapolis
For more information, contact Elizabeth de Soto, Assistant Program Director, elizabeth@mnhum.org, 651-772-4263, or toll free 866-268-7293, ext. 263.