DIGITAL PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT AND STORAGE PROJECT [AFAM REQUESTS FUNDING TO COMMISSION A DIGITAL PRESERVATION ASSESSMENT FROM THE NORTHEAST DOCUMENT CONSERVATION CENTER (NEDCC). THE MUSEUM HAS DIGITIZED A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF OUR ART AND ARCHIVAL COLLECTIONS AND IS PLANNING FURTHER DIGITIZATION PROJECTS TO FULFIL OUR 2021-2026 STRATEGIC PLAN?S COMMITMENT TO INCREASING ACCESS TO OUR HOLDINGS AND ADVANCING OUR INSTITUTION THROUGH A LENS OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION. THE NEDCC ASSESSMENT WILL ENABLE COLLECTIONS STAFF TO PREPARE AND IMPLEMENT A LONG-TERM PRESERVATION PLAN THAT ENSURES OUR GROWING DIGITAL COLLECTIONS REMAIN ACCESSIBLE TO FUTURE GENERATIONS. WIDE AND SUSTAINED ACCESS TO DIGITAL RESOURCES RELATED TO FOLK AND SELF-TAUGHT ART WILL DIVERSIFY THE PUBLIC?S UNDERSTANDING OF AMERICA?S CULTURAL HERITAGE; OFFER ALTERNATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON ENTRENCHED NATIONAL NARRATIVES; AND SHED NEW LIGHT ON BROAD HUMANITIES THEMES SUCH AS RACE, GENDER, SEXUALITY, RELIGION, COMMUNITY, FAMILY, AND THE AESTHETICS OF DAILY LIFE.]