Grant Awards for Museum Operations

Valdez, Alaska, December 9, 2021 – The COVID-19 global pandemic continues to create challenges for museums nationwide, and the Valdez Museum & Historical Archive is grateful to have recently been given two Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants that directly support museum operations. A grant award of $3,500 will be used to buy cleaning supplies needed to maintain a clean and safe environment for Museum staff and visitors. That includes laminating sheets for COVID signs, plastic bags for COVID safe arts projects and in-person workshops, technical equipment for making online education videos plus facilitating outdoor talks and programs.

Another grant award of $7,500 put toward electricity use will literally help with “keeping the lights on” at the Museum. In her grant application, Executive Director Patricia Relay was asked to predict how the pandemic will affect the Museum’s revenue and operations over the coming year. She prefaced her statement in a positive way:

While the last year has left many of us exhausted and in an altered state of mind, we like to believe that tomorrow might just be brighter.

These grant-funded projects are made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. Funds are administered by the Alaska State Library.

For more information:

Contact:
Patricia Relay, Executive Director                                      
Tel. 907-835-2764, Email: prelay@valdezmuseum.org