The national blues museum (NBM) will undertake a community engagement and strategic planning process to identify museum services and programming best aligned with the needs and interests of…

The National Blues Museum (NBM) was awarded a $751,868 Project Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program (CFDA 45.309) for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2026. The grant will support NBM's community engagement and strategic planning process to identify museum services and programming aligned with community needs. NBM will hire a Community Engagement Manager to lead pilot programming, surveys, and codification of engagement metrics. Survey data will inform a new strategic plan reflecting museums' growing civic roles. The grant aims to build NBM's capacity to serve as a community resource through an inclusive planning process.

The national blues museum (NBM) will undertake a community engagement and strategic planning process to identify museum services and programming best aligned with the needs and interests of community members. NBM will hire a manager of community engagement to lead the project and work in collaboration with research and strategic planning consultants. The project will include a community survey, the development of pilot programs and enhancements to current programs, and codifying different community needs to measure successful engagement. A follow-up community survey will be distributed toward the end of the project to gather data on the success of new programs and the museum's community engagement on a large scale. These interrelated forms of data and testimony will inform a new comprehensive strategic plan. NBM's plan will reflect the growing role of museums as sites for community building, service, and civic engagement.