WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King announced today that three museums in Maine will receive federal funding through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Abbe Museum of Bar Harbor, Brick Store Museum of Kennebunk, and L.C. Bates Museum of Hinckley will receive $518,674 collectively.
 
“Museums serve as a place of learning, culture, and engagement,” said Senators Collins and King in a joint statement, “By sustaining and sharing Maine’s cultural heritage, these projects will play a key role in achieving that goal.”
 
IMLS is an independent federal agency that serves as the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Museums for America is IMLS’ largest grant program for museums, supporting projects and ongoing activities that build museums’ capacity to serve their communities.

• The Abbe Museum will receive $150,000 to help design, fabricate, and install a permanent exhibit showcasing the history and culture of Maine's native Wabanaki people
• The Brick Store Museum will be awarded $24,940 to digitize and catalog its archival collection, beginning with an estimated 4,400 photographic images.
• The L.C. Bates Museum will receive $29,718 to help collaborate with 44 teachers at 16 schools to lead a Young Naturalist Investigators project designed to provide 1,740 rural, mostly low-income second and third grade children and their families with engagement and meaningful interactive learning activities to increase their levels of academic success.

###