August 2, 2024
By: Ryan Belmore, What’s Up Newport
Three Rhode Island museums are set to receive a total of $134,000 in federal grant money that will be used to expand exhibits, accessibility and training.
The Newport Historical Society, Tomaquag Museum and Providence College Galleries are the beneficiaries of the grants, which are coming from the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Inspire! Grants for Small Museums program.
“These local museums help trace our heritage, understand our culture, and preserve our history,” said Senator Jack Reed, who announced the grants along with other Rhode Island lawmakers and congressmen.
“I’m proud to deliver federal investments to help Newport Historical Society, the Tomaquag Museum, and Providence College Galleries to offer and expand some exciting and illuminating exhibits.”
The funds will be used for a range of projects including the development of new digital resources for the Newport Historical Society’s Black and Indigenous: Enslaved Manumitted & Free Database project, which is focused on the history of African American and Indigenous people in Newport.
The Tomaquag Museum is using its funding to create an outdoor exhibition of a mishoon, a dugout canoe traditionally used by Southeastern New England’s Indigenous Tribes.
Meanwhile, Providence College will use the federal grant to expand digital access to its collections and strengthen engagement with disabled members of the community.
“Rhode Island’s museums play an important role in educating the public and preserving our state’s history,” said Whitehouse. “This federal funding will help three Ocean State gems – the Tomaquag Museum, the Newport Historical Society, and Providence College – create and expand exhibits while making programming more accessible to Rhode Islanders.”
Generative artificial intelligence (AI) assisted a What’sUpNewp journalist with the reporting included in this story.
View this story online: https://whatsupnewp.com/2024/08/newport-historical-society-among-three-rhode-island-musuems-set-to-receive-a-total-of-134000-in-federal-grants/