The association of african american museums will build capacity among african american museums and emerging professionals in african american museums through four work areas

The Association of African American Museums (AAAM) received a $322,449 Project Grant award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) under the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program. The grant will support four key work areas over a two-year period from September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2026:

1. Provide in-depth training and guidance to African American museum staff on creating successful applications to national funding sources and managing grants, which will inform the development of on-demand webinars.
2. Offer 15 scholarships for emerging professionals to attend the annual AAAM conference and address chronic understaffing at African American museums.
3. Develop and implement a community of practice forum.
4. Address generational leadership transitions by developing and implementing a governance training program in collaboration with the American Association for State and Local History.

The grant aims to build capacity among African American museums and emerging museum professionals through these comprehensive training, professional development, and leadership initiatives.

The association will provide in-depth training and guidance to staff in african american museums on creating successful applications to national funding sources and managing grants, which will inform the development of on-demand webinars. The association will also offer internships to emerging professionals and address chronic understaffing in african american museums; provide 15 scholarships to attend the aaam annual conference; and develop and implement a community of practice forum. Finally, the association will address generational leadership transitions at the board and leadership levels by developing and implementing a governance training program and working with the american association for state and local history to develop a new module for their steps program. A project report will highlight components that may represent capacity-building models for other associations.