Minnesota Historical and Cultural Grants

Fast Track Grants
The July small grants round just ended, but the Grants Office is already looking ahead to the August round. Limited funding remains for the August 27, 2010 deadline. Apply online.

Has your organization applied? Impress the Minnesota Legislature and help us reach our goal of getting a grant in every county in the first biennium. Over 80 percent of Minnesota counties have already benefited from the Legacy grants program.

Input Meetings a Success
Thanks to everyone who attended a legacy listening session. Over 170 people turned out to hear how legacy funds for history have been used so far, and to provide their thoughts, encouragements, and suggestions for best use in the future. If you missed these meetings, take a look at the online survey, which mirrors the input sessions, and submit your thoughts.

From the Blog

Recession Toll on Museum Workers (2 comments) - This was the single most viewed blog entry last week. Has the economic downturn really taken a toll on museums, or are they chronically under-funded and understaffed? Please share your observations.

Museums Cost How Much? (1 comment) - David Grabitske clarifies the data presented in the AAM study.

Updated Website for Otter Tail County Historical Society (new post) - Kathy Evavold shares her thinking as OTCHS revised its webpresence, now including a way to capture earned revenue.

Job Opportunities

Development Events Intern
Science Museum of Minnesota seeks Development Events Intern. Deadline: August 6, 2010.

Coordinator
Mitchell Museum of the American Indian, Evanston IL, seeks Visitor Services and Development Coordinator. Deadline: August 13, 2010.

Aquatic Invertebrates Intern
Science Museum of Minnesota seeks Aquatic Invertebrates Intern. Deadline: August 18, 2010.

Registrar
Living History Farms, Urbandale IA, seeks Registrar. Open until filled.   

Curator
Minneapolis Institute of Arts seeks Curator of Chinese Art. Open until filled.

Do History Here

History Round Table
Brooklyn Historical Society hosts Harris Burhalter of Mound MN to speak on the Kensington Runestone in Popular Culture, Saturday August 7, 2010, 9 a.m. RSVP to Diane by noon on Friday August 6, 763-560-8893.

Uniform Week Exhibit
Veterans' Memorial Hall will showcase nearly 100 military uniforms from more than a century of local veterans' history. Exhibit is free to the public and open August 11-18, 2010 in the Great Hall of the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center, Duluth. For more information contact Dan Hartman, 218-733-7500.

Brown Bag Lunch Talk
Lunch with the History People hosts Pam Brunfelt at the St. Louis County Heritage & Arts Center in Duluth on Thursday August 12, 2010, noon to 1 p.m. Brunfelt will discuss her Emmy Award-winning documentary "Iron Range: Minnesota Building America." Contact Julie Bolos, 218-733-7568, for more information.

Captivity Literature Talk
Pond Dakota Heritage Society hosts Zabelle Stodala, author of The War in Words: Reading the Dakota Conflict Through Captivity Literature, Sunday August 15, 2010, 2 p.m. House tours at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. For more information call Bloomington Parks and Recreation, 952-563-8738.

Hastings Concerts
LeDuc Historic Estate offers free concerts on Sunday August 8, 15, and 22, 2010 at 7 p.m. Come early for a special 5:30 p.m. tour of the LeDuc home; regular rates apply. Contact LeDuc Historic Estate, 651-437-7055, for more information.

Farm, Food & Fun Fair
Join LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings for their free Farm, Food & Fun Fair, Saturday August 21, 2010, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tours of the house available at the regular rates. Call 651-437-7055 for more information.

Continuing Education

Cultural Resources Management Program
University of Victoria (British Columbia) offers online courses for Cultural Resources Management Program. Space is limited; register now for Fall 2010 courses.

Online Certification Program
Small Museum Pro! is a practical and affordable online professional certification program designed for those working in small community museums and for whom a museums studies degree is not an option. Two classes are offered this fall:

• Collections Management. Register by August 12, 2010.
• Museum Administration. Register by October 7, 2010.

AASLH 2010 Conference
Early Bird registration ends this week for the American Association for State and Local History annual meeting and conference, "Winds of Opportunity," in Oklahoma City on Septmenber 22-25, 2010.

AMM 2011 Conference
Save the Date for the Association of Midwest Museums 2011 Conference, July 24-27, 2011 at the Palmer House Hotel in Chicago. Visit the AMM website for more information.

Public History Guide Available
National Council on Public History announced that its Guide to Public History Programs is now available. This is a free, comprehensive resource for prospective students, faculty, employer, and anyone interested in the shape of public history education today.

News

IMLS Grants
Institute of Museum and Library Services is accepting grant applications for the 2011 Conservation Project Support (CPS) program. Application guidelines available online. Deadline: October 1, 2010.

Photo Contest
National Park Service hosts the eleventh National Historic Landmark photo contest. This year's theme: Imaging our National Heritage. Deadline: September 10, 2010.

Theater Marquee Restoration
Arlington Historical Society recently helped restore the Lido Theatre's 1940s marquee in Arlington MN.

Field Note

There have been some recent staff changes in the Grants Office. Kathie Otto, who worked with many of you on library and archives projects, is the new archivist at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. We wish her well and welcome our newest staff member, Joe Hoover. Joe comes to us with a background in web development and social media, and is also board president of the Richfield Historical Society.

Joe is here on a three-month appointment, so if you have a technology-related project that could be funded by Legacy money, act now! Contact Joe at 651-259-3461 or joseph.hoover@mnhs.org.