Small Museum Grants Program

The Small Museum Grants Program aims to support Arkansas's cultural heritage by providing up to $2,500 in funding to community-based museums. Eligible organizations include history museums, historical societies, and military museums, among others. The program prioritizes museums with operating budgets of $250,000 or less and emphasizes educational programming that benefits the public. This initiative enhances the preservation and presentation of Arkansas's rich history and cultural resources.

Goals
The Division of Arkansas Heritage has set these goals for Small Museum Grants:
Promote education, awareness and enjoyment of Arkansas historyIncrease ability of community-based small museums/organization to research, preserve, present and conserve Arkansas history
Funding
The maximum grant award is $2,500. All, part, or none of the applicant’s request may be awarded.

Eligibility

The following are the types of museums/organization that are eligible to apply:History MuseumsHistorical SocietiesHistoric Houses and SitesMilitary MuseumsEligibility CriteriaThe museum must have an annual operating budget of $250,000 or less.The museum must have a staff of at least one person qualified with museum training, knowledge and experience.Staff may be paid or volunteer. The museum staff must devote time primarily to the care of the museum and its collections.The museum must be open to the public at least 90 days per year.Additional RequirementsLocated in Arkansas.Tax exempt status (501(c)(3)) with the IRS or be part of a nonprofit organization.May receive no state or federal funds for operating costs.Strong educational component to the museum’s/organization’s programming.Educational programming should be designed to benefit the general public.Have a formally stated and board approved mission statement and bylaws.Use and interpret objects and/or a site for the public presentation of regularly scheduled programs and exhibits.Have a formal and appropriate program of documentation, care, and use of the collections and/or objects.Must carry out the above functions primarily at a physical facility or site.Recipient must have been operational and open to the public for at least two years.Full-time director to whom authority is delegated for day-to-day operations.Small Museums Grants can be used to underwrite an eligible museum’s general operating expenses. The following expenses are eligible for inclusion within the grant application:Conservation materialsBuilding and grounds maintenanceOperating costs for utilities and HVACEquipment purchase ($1,000 limit)Accessioning of artifact collectionsResearchWebsite design and maintenanceExhibitsInterpretation (brochures, educational programming and exhibits)Educational programs for K – 12 grade students or adultsPrinting, publicity and marketingPostage and telephoneTravel and transportationIn-state travel for research and trainingLodging for museum staff onlyTransportation costs required for research and training must be itemized, stated in the form of roundtrip miles, and not exceed the state government rate per round trip mileMeals for paid and non-paid museum staffStaff TrainingMuseum practices and standardsArchival trainingInterpretive trainingCollections management

Ineligibility

Small Museum Grants may not be used to fund the following:Acquisitions of objects for the collectionsCapital improvement projectsSalariesProjects that serve a religious purpose or promote religious principalsExhibitions or public programs that are not available to the general public or taking place outside of the state of ArkansasPrizes and awardsExpenses for entertainmentAny state or federal funded museumsFood for special or continuing programs