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Indiana Historical Society Receives Best Practices Award
INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces it is the recipient of the Best Practices Award from the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM). The award, presented to IHS at AMM’s annual conference, recognizes IHS’s Heritage Support Grants program for its support of regional historical societies, museums and sites across the state.
Created in 2016 with support from a $3.48 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., IHS’s Heritage Support Grants program provides grants and workshops to Indiana organizations, allowing them to raise the bar when caring for the state’s history. The grants help meet high-priority needs while workshops provide education on fundraising. IHS assigns each organization a personal coach to provide resources and feedback.
To date, the Heritage Support Grants program has offered 11 grant opportunities and awarded more than $2.6 million in total funding to 100 organizations in 57 of Indiana’s 92 counties. There are countless success stories, from the replacement of leaky roofs and restoration of historic paintings to the digitization of unique collection materials.
“The Heritage Support Grants program is a valuable source of financial support, but it also allows Indiana’s cultural institutions to develop relationships with other organizations and individuals that share their passion for preserving the state’s history,” said Jody Blankenship, IHS president and CEO. “The long-term impact of these projects is that the organizations will build upon their success to play even greater, more effective roles in their communities, and that is the goal at the heart of the program.”
IHS is currently evaluating the Heritage Support Grants program, with information about future grant and educational opportunities to be shared in 2020. For more information about the program, the AMM Best Practices Award or other IHS offerings, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.
About the Association of Midwest Museums
Since its founding in 1927, the Association of Midwest Museums (AMM) has sought to connect museums across the eight-state region of the Midwest, including Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio and Wisconsin. It strengthens Midwest museums by providing nationally relevant, regionally specific programs, products and networking opportunities. Through its programs and activities, AMM encourages professional standards for all areas of museum administration and provides cutting-edge information and resources to museums and cultural institutions in the Midwest and the greater museum community.
About the Indiana Historical Society
Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller™, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor experiences called the Indiana Experience. IHS also provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups; publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; produces and hosts art exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth, adult and family programs. IHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.
