History colorado will expand its colorado affiliates networks, which facilitates partnerships between larger state and regional museums and smaller organizations

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded The State Historical Society of Colorado (doing business as History Colorado) $1,178,224 under the National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312) on September 1, 2026.

History Colorado will expand its Colorado Affiliates Networks, a partnership model that connects larger state and regional museums with smaller organizations. The recipient will create a replicable model for other states by developing locally relevant educational content for smaller history museums, organizing traveling exhibitions, and forming cohorts of museums that host the same exhibitions. Through in-person workshops and regional convenings, the program will provide one-on-one technical assistance and professional networking opportunities for staff at smaller organizations. As a result, smaller and more rural history museums will grow their programmatic capacity through new exhibition content and educational materials, expanded visitation, programming offerings, and revenue.

The period of performance runs from September 1, 2026, through August 31, 2029. Work is performed in Denver, Colorado, with subordinate museum and field sites across the state. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

The museum will create a replicable model for other states to follow by providing locally relevant educational content for smaller history museums to grow their audiences, visitation, programming offerings, and revenue. History colorado will organize traveling exhibitions and form cohorts of museums who host the same exhibitions. Through in-person workshops and regional convenings, the program will provide one-on-one technical assistance for smaller organizations as well as opportunities for staff to network with other museum professionals. As a result of the project, smaller and more rural history museums will grow their programmatic capacity through new exhibition content and educational materials.