The science museum of minnesota will support transformative change toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and access among upper midwest museums by creating a durable community of practice

The Science Museum of Minnesota received a $704,677 federal Project Grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the 21st Century Museum Professionals Program (CFDA 45.032). The two-year grant will support the museum's efforts to drive transformative change towards greater inclusion, diversity, equity, and access within the upper Midwest museum community.

The project will create a durable community of practice by collaborating with 20 small, underserved museums across Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Over the grant period, the museum will virtually and in-person engage 48 staff and researchers from these partner institutions to provide professional development on equity theories, methods, and tools. This will develop a cohort of museum leaders with enhanced skills and mindsets to foster more inclusive staff, institutions, and local/regional professional communities.

Using a field-tested model of professional development, the museum will collaborate with 20 small, underserved museums, across minnesota, iowa, north dakota, south dakota, and wisconsin, to bring together 48 staff and researchers, virtually and in-person, over a period of two years to learn about theories, methods, and tools related to equity and find ways to adapt these ideas to their museums and professional networks. Through ongoing communication and consultation, the project will generate a leadership cohort of individuals with a solid grounding in complex equity issues. The project will not only develop resources, skills, tools, and mindsets to create more inclusive staff and institutions, but also more inclusive local and regional communities of professionals.