Hanford mills museum at east meredith will draft and implement an updated interpretive master plan to heighten connections between the site's history and larger global systems and conditions

The Hanford Mills Museum in East Meredith, NY was awarded a $148,068 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museums for America (CFDA 45.301) program. The grant will fund the museum's efforts to draft and implement an updated interpretive master plan to strengthen connections between the site's history and larger global systems and conditions. This project will involve contracting with a consultant to assist in writing the plan, drafting interpretation and evaluation processes, and providing interpretive workshops for museum staff, other small museums, and students. The outcome will be a master plan to guide and expand the museum's interpretation, including an updated orientation script and mill tour. The project aims to increase internal and external capacity, as well as staff knowledge, to better serve the museum's visitors.

Museum staff will contract with a consultant to assist in writing the plan, building upon its recent interpretive audit and draft framework. The project team will draft interpretation and evaluation processes and protocols and provide interpretive workshops for staff, other small museums, and students. The project will result in a master plan to guide and expand interpretation, including an updated orientation script and mill tour. The planning process, resulting documents, and workshops will increase internal and external capacity and staff knowledge. Project beneficiaries include museum staff and board members, staff from surrounding small museums, nearby museum studies programs, and ultimately visitors to the site.