Lightner awarded major grant

SAINT AUGUSTINE –  The Lightner Museum has received a major grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services supporting the Museum’s ongoing work to preserve, study, and share its unique collections with St. Augustine and visitors to St. Johns County.

“As centers of learning and catalysts of community change, libraries and museums connect people with programs, services, collections, information, and new ideas in the arts, sciences, and humanities. They serve as vital spaces where people can connect with each other,” said IMLS Director Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew. “IMLS is proud to support their work through our grantmaking as they inform and inspire all in their communities.”

The $137,682 grant will support the Museum’s efforts to rehouse three significant areas of its American Gilded Age collection: works on paper, textiles, and chandeliers from 1865-1929. The IMLS grant “Museums for America – Collections Stewardship” will aid the Lightner Museum, which is located in the former Alcazar Hotel (1888), in transforming historic living quarters in the hotel into state-of-the-art collections storage for over 3,000 objects.

In 2017, the Museum received a first IMLS grant of $25,000 to create a workspace for collections processing and cataloging. The next phase of stewardship will ensure long-term accessibility and preservation of these artifacts with custom storage upgrades. The ongoing support of the IMLS continues to advance the Museum’s goals of increased public discovery, research access, and future exhibition development.

“This is a truly wonderful opportunity for us to create state-of-the-art collections storage for our one-of-a-kind Gilded Age collection. We are deeply appreciative of IMLS’ support for this important project,” said Megan Mosley, Deputy Director of the Lightner Museum.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.