Tennessee State Museum Grants $5 Million to Tennessee Museums for Capital Maintenance and Improvements

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – November 28, 2023 – The Tennessee State Museum has granted out $5 million to Tennessee museums and historic sites throughout the state for capital improvements and maintenance. The funding came from monies the Tennessee General Assembly made available in the 2023-2024 Appropriations Act, “for the sole purpose of providing grants to museums with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity for capital
maintenance and improvements.”

“It was a highly competitive process,” said Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum. In total, the Tennessee State Museum received 170 applications, totaling $12.5 million in funding requests for the $5 million appropriation. The Museum made full or partial awards to 108 museums across the state, representing 58 counties. A complete list of grantees, counties and amounts is available for download at this link and posted at TNMuseum.org/grants.

“The Tennessee State Museum serves the State of Tennessee through history, art, and culture,” added Howell. “There is incredible work being done throughout the state by our strong network of Tennessee museums and historic homes. This grant is an extension of how we can further support their efforts and the preservation of local and state history. We thank the Tennessee General Assembly for their support for Tennessee Museums.”

The Capital Improvement and Maintenance grant had a minimum request amount of $5,000 and a maximum request amount of $100,000. All projects must be completed by June 30, 2024.

About Tennessee State Museum

Celebrating its 86th Anniversary in 2023, the Tennessee State Museum, located on the corner of Rosa L Parks Blvd. and Jefferson Street at Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park, is home to 13,000 years of Tennessee art and history. Through six permanent exhibitions titled Natural History, First Peoples, Forging a Nation, The Civil War and Reconstruction, Change and Challenge and Tennessee Transforms, the Museum takes visitors on a journey – through artifacts, films, interactive displays, events and educational and digital programing – from the state’s geological beginnings to the present day. Additional temporary exhibitions explore significant periods and individuals in history, along with art and cultural movements. The Museum is free and open to the public Tuesdays to Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more information on exhibitions and events, please visit TNMuseum.org.

Contact:
Joe Pagetta
Director of Communications
(615) 741-5134
joseph.pagetta@tn.gov