Museums Connect: Building Global Communities

The Museums Connect grant program strengthens connections and cultural understanding between people in the United States and abroad through innovative year-long projects facilitated by museums.

 The program has two primary goals:

• Communities in the U.S. and abroad develop a broader knowledge about and understanding of one another's cultures.
• Museums and related arts and cultural organizations create replicable models for international collaborations that reach beyond their physical walls to directly engage members of their communities.

Awards are offered on an annual basis (contingent on funding) in amounts between $50,000 and $100,000 and require a 50% cost-share match. Projects must be mutually beneficial, address critical issues and themes, and include community and museum staff travel between participating countries.

Museums Connect does not fund construction projects or projects focused primarily on staff/institutional development or capacity building, staff-to-staff exchange, traditional exhibit design or object exchange, or artist residencies

Museums Connect^SM is made possible by the U.S. Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and is administered by the American Alliance of Museums.