Kent, OH – The Kent State University Museum currently houses extraordinary collections of historic dress, fashion, textiles and decorative arts. More than 29,000 objects from many of the world’s great artists and designers, known and unknown, from across time and continents can be found at the museum. A new grant will help protect the longevity of these artifacts for generations to come.
The Kent State University Museum is the recipient of a $500,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). This grant will support a new heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to preserve fashion and textile collections at the museum located in Kent, Ohio.
NEH is an independent federal agency and is one of the largest funders of humanities programs in the United States. NEH grants typically go to cultural institutions, such as museums, archives, libraries, colleges, universities, public television and radio stations, and to individual scholars. NEH awards grants to top-rated proposals examined by panels of independent, external reviewers.
The Infrastructure and Capacity Building Challenge Grant category of NEH leverages federal funding to strengthen and sustain humanities infrastructure and capacity-building activities at cultural institutions. The Kent State University Museum received one of 30 grants from this category.
Facility upgrades are imperative for the museum to modernize the facility, care for the world-class collection and continue to bring significant objects and exhibitions to the community. With the support of generous donors, alumni and friends, along with awarded grants, the museum will continue to provide a superior experience for generations to come.
The ambitious plan for operational and structural upgrades to the facility will allow the Kent State University Museum to grow the museum’s profile and create new opportunities for students and faculty.
“We gratefully receive this invaluable grant for infrastructure support,” Kent State University Museum Director Sarah J. Rogers said. “This generous contribution not only fortifies the foundation of our organization but also fuels our vision for a stronger, more resilient future. Our deepest gratitude goes to NEH for recognizing and supporting our commitment to making a lasting difference.
“This NEH grant is a timely contribution to the infrastructure of the museum’s facility and to its future as well,” Rogers continued. “As an accredited museum with significant and fragile objects in its care, the facility must function at the highest standards. Updating the environmental systems will enable the museum to continue to serve its audiences, steward collections and engage local, regional and global audiences.”
ABOUT THE NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at www.neh.gov.
For additional information on the new NEH grants, visit www.neh.gov/news/neh-announces-338-million-260-humanities-projects-nationwide.
The National Endowment for the Humanities and Kent State University Museum together: Democracy demands wisdom.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this article, do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
ABOUT THE KENT STATE UNIVERSITY MUSEUM
The Kent State University Museum is located at 515 Hilltop Drive, at the corner of East Main Street and South Lincoln Street in Kent, Ohio. It features more than 29,000 pieces in its collection, amassed from many generous donors. The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from noon-4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased in person at the museum or in advance through the museum’s online ticketing service.
Admission is $10 for adults, $7 for seniors and $5 for children ages 5 to 18. The museum is free for children under 5 and for those with a Kent State ID. Sunday admission is free for all ages. Parking is free for all museum attendees. Patrons should use the allotted museum spaces in the Rockwell Hall parking lot. For more information, please call 330-672-3450 or visit www.kent.edu/museum.
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Media Contacts:
Jen Crabtree, jcrabt13@kent.edu
Emily Vincent, evincen2@kent.edu
Kent State University Museum Director:
Sarah Rogers, sroger42@kent.edu