Grants for Art Museums and Exhibits

Success in applying for a grant award begins right at the start with selecting the proper grant and positioning your project to align with the institution’s purpose and goals. There is a strategy involved! Every applicant should understand that no grant-making institution will make an award so that the applicant can fulfill its mission. They make awards when they see that an applicant will fulfill theirs. It makes all the difference.

Keep reading to learn how grants can offset your investment in Art Sentry.

Where to Start

Museums will find many solid options, from government and corporate grants to private family foundations that support the arts or cultural development in their region. Grant seeking is very competitive, and funding organizations are confronted every day by an overwhelming array of applicants, all of whom are in need. As a result, just about every grant opportunity requires an initial Letter of Interest/Inquiry (LOI) before submitting a full proposal. Some grants are only available by an invitation resulting from a review of the LOI. In the end, these letters allow grantmakers a chance to review potential applicants without reading a ton of submissions that may not align with an agency’s or foundation’s goals. Some funders have a format for LOI submission; others leave it up to the applicants. At a minimum, all LOIs should provide the following:

• A brief summary of the project
• The total project budget
• The amount being requested
 
Seeking grants has its challenges. For starters, you need to bridge some gaps. You likely have personal knowledge about your museum’s financial pressures. You’re also excited about what a grant will accomplish -help pay for an exhibit, reinforce the museum’s reputation, and impact thousands of lives. Grant-making organizations need to discern whether an applicant’s needs match their missions.
 
It’s not just a matter of sharing a compelling need; the grant request must be persuasive. In their book, Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die, authors Chip and Dan Heath emphasize the importance of clear and memorable messages that people will want to act on.
They detail six principles of making a memorable impact. Messages must be simple, unexpected, concrete, credible, emotional, and involve stories.
 
Funders want to be assured that the money will be managed wisely and that it will make a difference. Museums can explain how a grant will help fulfill their own missions while meeting grant requirements.
 
Grants can cover a wide range of artwork and operational priorities, including:
  • Exhibits
  • Training
  • Community Education
  • Management of collections
 
Proper care of collections to preserve them for future generations is critical. Grant seekers, for example, may want to invest in security measures to protect paintings, sculptures and more. Grants could be pursued to pay for the Art Sentry solution, which includes cameras and audible alerts, and helps to protect artwork from costly touches.


Grant Resources to Start With

 

American Alliance of Museums

Grants.gov

The Institute of Museum and Library Services


Other Places to Look

Regional Art Museum Grants & Associations

Grant Seeking Ideas

Consider Matching Grants

Consider exploring opportunities through matching grants for small and large museums. Here are a few resources:

 
Although foundation and government grants can be a significant part of any museum budget, cultural properties often look to other sources to cover diverse costs. Individual donations, admission fees, and investment income also come into play.
 

Timing is Everything

The grant world is dynamic, with frequent deadlines and new opportunities becoming available all the time. Download Art Sentry’s Museum Grants 2024 Guide below for the most timely information about new grants that are available.

Download Our Comprehensive Grant Guide

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