Stories from clay [the tucson museum of art seeks support for stories from clay, a research project leveraging digital communication strategies and community-based approaches to collections management…

The Tucson Museum of Art received a $105,133 Project Grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities under the Promotion of the Humanities Research program (CFDA 45.161) to support the Stories from Clay research project from January 1, 2022 through March 31, 2023. The museum will leverage digital strategies and community-based approaches to expand records and interpretations of its historical indigenous pottery collection to be more inclusive of indigenous methodologies and perspectives. Museum staff will conduct extensive collection research working with representatives from Hopi, Pueblo, and Tohono O'odham communities to catalog and provide context to the pottery pieces. The funding will support research staff, stipends for indigenous cultural liaisons, and equipment to engage communities in the cataloging efforts. The intended beneficiaries are the museum's audiences and local indigenous groups. No subawards are associated with this award.

Activities

Staff at the tucson museum of art will launch an extensive collections research project working with indigenous communities of the southwest to examine, catalog, and provide context to their permanent collection of historical indigenous art pottery. Staff will hold virtual working and listening sessions with cultural liaisons and representatives from hopi, pueblo, and tohono o'odham communities. Once research is completed, staff will write final reports to share their findings with the indigenous potters and collaborators that contributed to the research.

Expected outcomes

Funding will support the research project, retention of three staff, and provide stipends and equipment for indigenous cultural liaisons to engage in the research.

Intended beneficiaries

The research project will broadly benefit the tucson museum of art's audience and is specifically designed to engage with local hopi, pueblo, and tohono o'odham communities.

Subrecipient activities

The project does not intend to issue subawards.]