The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission has awarded almost $2 million in grants to 155 eligible museums and official county historical societies from 58 Pennsylvania counties.
Recipients in Bucks County include the Grundy Museum ($3,000), which operates the Grundy Museum and Margaret R. Grundy Memorial Library in Bristol; Bucks County Children’s Museum ($4,677); Bucks County Historical Society ($4,000); and Trustees of the Mercer Fonthill Museum ($5,687).
“Pennsylvania’s wonderful museums and historical societies continue to preserve and share the state’s rich history and culture through the stories they tell,” said Gov. Tom Wolf. “These funds, awarded to museums and historical societies across the commonwealth, at a time when many of our cultural and historical institutions have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, will help ensure these facilities are able to continue serving as educational resources for all Pennsylvanians.”
The goal of the program is to strengthen Pennsylvania’s museum community by supporting the general operations of eligible museums and official county historical societies that are not supported by other state agency funding programs. An eligible museum must have an annual operating budget exceeding $100,000 (excluding capital and in-kind services), and at least one full-time professional staff person (or approved equivalent).
Award amounts are determined using an equation based on a percentage of the eligible museum’s previous year’s operating budget. The maximum any museum could receive is $40,000. All official county historical societies receive a $4,000 minimum grant.
“PHMC is delighted to once again award these general operating support grants to museums and historical societies, especially as museums face extreme financial challenges related to the pandemic,” said PHMC executive director Andrea Lowrey. “These grants make a difference in communities all across the commonwealth, connecting Pennsylvanians with their history, serving as economic drivers and contributing to the quality of life.”
