Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation Awards $150,000 to the Museum Association of New York
Funding to support three years of virtual programming and professional development opportunities for Long Island museum professionals
The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is thrilled to announce that the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation has awarded a three-year, $150,000 grant to support MANY’s virtual programs and provide professional development opportunities for Long Island museum professionals.
"The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation supports impactful projects that lead to the growth of our regional historical societies and museums. RDLGF specifically seeks projects that help organizations with outreach and inclusion, which ultimately leads to institutional sustainability. MANY's professional development offerings are an invaluable resource and aid in educating these groups in governance, collection policy, educational outreach and community engagement." said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
This grant provides instrumental support for three years of MANY’s free virtual programming and will feature museum professionals from across the country to share their experiences and case studies of program activities in order to help museum professionals gain new skills. Virtual program topics will include Community Engagement and Outreach, Diversity, Equity, Access, and Inclusion Strategies, Museum and School Partnerships, Collections Management and Deaccessioning, Climate Change: Facilities and Green Building Strategies, Programs for New Americans, and more. All programs will include ASL interpretation.
Funding also supports an increase in professional development opportunities for historical societies and museum professionals on Long Island to attend MANY’s annual conferences and The Museum Institute at Great Camp Sagamore, a multiple-day retreat in the Adirondacks with a focus on advancing the work of mid-career museum professionals.
“At the onset of the pandemic, the Museum Association of New York made a commitment to make all of our virtual programs free,” said MANY Executive Director Erika Sanger. “This generous grant from the Gardiner Foundation enables us to expand our virtual program offerings and keep them free for museum professionals across New York State and beyond.”
To learn more about MANY’s virtual programming and professional development scholarship opportunities, please visit nysmuseums.org
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About the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation
The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, established in 1987, primarily supports the study of New York State history. Robert David Lion Gardiner was, until his death in August 2004, the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, NY. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner’s Island since 1639, obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England. The Foundation is inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner’s personal passion for New York history. For more information visit: https://www.rdlgfoundation.org/
About the Museum Association of New York
The Museum Association of New York is the only statewide museum service organization with more than 700 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. MANY helps shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. Visit www.nysmuseums.org and follow MANY on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @nysmuseums
