The university museum at texas southern university will continue advancing the goals of the hbcu history and culture access consortium (hcac) initiative beyond the pilot phase into a permanent alliance

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Texas Southern University $878,222 on September 1, 2026, under the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture program (CFDA 45.309) to advance the HBCU History and Culture Access Consortium initiative beyond its pilot phase into permanent operations.

The University Museum at Texas Southern University will prepare facilities to receive the HCAC traveling exhibition, improve digital exhibitions and storytelling tools on the HCAC website, produce a book publication on the museum's collection, process recently digitized archival photographs, and continue digitization of works on paper and paintings. The project will support the work of a Digital Humanities Program Manager, Graduate Fellow, and Undergraduate Intern to ensure continued digitization, proper management of digital assets, expanded student internship opportunities, and publication of public-facing digital exhibits and storytelling tools. Expected outcomes include improved museum sustainability, increased public access to collections, and continued professional development for early-career professionals and undergraduate students.

Performance occurs in Houston, Texas, with a period of performance from September 1, 2026, through September 30, 2028. The program supports projects that build the capacity of African American museums and HBCUs and support growth and development of museum professionals.

Project activities include preparing the museum to receive the hcac traveling exhibition, improving the digital exhibitions and storytelling tools on the hcac website, producing a book publication on the museum's collection, processing a collection of archival photographs that were recently digitized, and continued digitization of works on paper and paintings. The project will support the work of the digital humanities program manager, graduate fellow, and undergraduate intern that will ensure that digitization work will continue, digital assets will be properly managed and upkept, more student interns will have the chance to learn essential skills, and public-facing digital exhibits and storytelling tools will be published. The outcome of project activities will be improved sustainability of the museum, increased public access to collections, and continued professional development opportunities for early career professionals and undergraduate students.