Museum on Main Street Minigrants

Geographic Scope: Kentucky

Overview:
Since 1994, Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibitions from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service have been designed specifically for use in small museum settings and in rural communities. MoMS exhibitions are designed to be a springboard for local exhibitions and complementary humanities programming.

Current Exhibition:
In 2025 and 2026, Kentucky Humanities is debuting the newest MoMS exhibit, "Americans," adapted from an original exhibition developed by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian. The exhibition focuses on four historical events: Thanksgiving, the life of Pocahontas, the Trail of Tears, and the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Purpose:
Museum on Main Street minigrants are intended to provide financial support to MoMS host sites and allow them to create complementary local programming to accompany the exhibit.

Eligible Uses:
Examples of prior programming used in MoMS minigrants include:

• Speaker costs
• Materials for local exhibition display panels
• Outreach to local schools
• Docent services
• Marketing

Eligibility:

• Host sites must have already been selected to be an "Americans" host site
• Host sites are strongly encouraged to apply for the full $2,500 grant award through the expedited application

Contact Information:

• Program Activities: Derek Beaven, derek.beaven@uky.edu
• Grant Process and Eligibility: Zoe Kaylor, zoe.kaylor@uky.edu

How to Apply

1. Verify that your organization has been selected as an "Americans" host site
2. Access the grant application portal via the "Apply Here" link on the Kentucky Humanities website
3. Complete the expedited application
4. Host sites are strongly encouraged to apply for the full $2,500 grant award

Note: Applications will NOT be accepted from sites who have not already been selected to be an Americans host site.

Required Materials

Specific application requirements not detailed in provided content. Contact Zoe Kaylor for detailed application guidance.