Grants Available for Oregon Museum Projects

By Garrett Christensen on Friday, January 13th, 2023 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News

BAKER CITY – (Release from the Oregon Parks and Recreation Department) The Oregon Heritage Commission is offering grants to qualified museums for collections, heritage tourism, and education and interpretation projects. Awards typically range between $2,000 and $10,000.

Museums may apply for a variety of projects. Collections projects may include cataloging, archival storage, disaster preparedness, and conservation. Heritage tourism projects may include museum marketing and promotions, enhancing visitor experience, and training for museum staff. Education and interpretation projects may include exhibits, online education, school classes, workshops, and camps. Museums may also partner with other organizations for projects that might be outside of the museum, but still meet the museum’s mission.

“This program is quite broad and can be used to collect the full spectrum of Oregon’s history, preserve it and raise awareness of it. We hope to see both creative and practical proposals,” said Oregon Heritage Coordinator, Katie Henry. Past projects include:

Interpretation and education projects at the City of Woodburn Museum, Columbia River Maritime Museum (Astoria), High Desert Museum (Deschutes County), the Museum at Warm Springs;
Collections projects by Cape Blanco Heritage Society (Port Orford), Coos Historical Society, Dufur Historical Society Living History Museum, The Eugene Debbs Potts Foundation (Josephine county), Pacific Railroad Preservation Association (Portland), Rainier Oregon Historical Museum, Springfield Museum, Yaquina Pacific Railroad Historical Society (Toledo); and
Tourism projects by the Hoover-Minthorn House (Newberg), Baker Heritage Museum.

The online grant application is simple to use and includes plenty of support. A free online workshop specific to this grant and how to use the online grant application will be offered February 7, 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Advance registration is required. Recorded trainings and tips are also online.

The Heritage Commission is comprised of nine people representing Oregon’s heritage and geographical diversity who have been appointed by the Governor. There are also nine advisory representatives from state agencies and statewide organizations. The commission’s mission is to secure, sustain, and enhance Oregon’s heritage by ensuring coordination of heritage initiatives by public and private organizations; advocacy on its behalf; education of the public about its extent and value; and promotion and celebration of its diversity. The commission supports Oregon Heritage Plan goals that include: including more voices of Oregon’s history, access to Oregon’s historic resources, attaining best practices and promoting the value of heritage.

To learn more about museum grants, visit www.oregonheritage.org. For additional questions, translation and accessibility needs contact Kuri Gill at Kuri.Gill@oprd.oregon.gov or 503-986-0685.