Thanks to a grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center will embark on a two-year training program for key staff, enhance and professionalize its volunteer and internship programs and continue its strategic planning process.

“We are thrilled to have this recognition from IMLS,” said Connie Gibbons, the Museum’s executive director. “This is the Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval in the museum world, and a particular honor for an institution as new as ours. This funding will be significant for us in keeping the Museum successful and sustainable long into the future.”

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced this week that it has awarded $1.31 million to 11 organizations as part of the Museum Grants for African American History and Culture (AAHC) program. The B.B. King Museum will receive $144,500 over two years.

Since 2006, AAHC grants have helped African American museums and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) build capacity by supporting professional training, technical assistance, internships, and expert consultations. The grant program is authorized by the National Museum of African American History and Culture Act and developed in consultation with the Council and Director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAHHC).

“African American history is American history, and the recipients of this year’s African American History and Culture grants understand that they are cultivating the next generation of stewards of our collective American story,” said Anne-Imelda Radice, Director of IMLS. “IMLS is proud to support their work.”

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.

For more information:

Ann Shackelford, Communications Director
B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center
662 887-9539, ext. 229
ashackelford@bbkingmuseum.org

IMLS Contact: Jeannine Mjoseth,
202-653-4632 or
jmjoseth@imls.gov