Family Learning Project Funders
Institute of Museum and Library Services
A 2004 National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services made the Family Learning Project at the USS Constitution Museum a reality. The Museum gathered a steering committee then built a prototype exhibition called "A Sailor's Life for Me?" to identify low cost, replicable techniques to encourage family conversations about history. Project staff observed and/or interviewed over 2000 families in the gallery to determine which exhibit elements were most successful. IMLS funds support the dissemination of project findings through this website, publications, and conference presentations. A 2008 grant from IMLS expands the scope of the family learning project and this website to include intergenerational programming; successful techniques nationwide will be gathered and shared through a 21st Century Museum Professionals Grant.
Sunfield Foundation
The Sunfield Foundation provided additional fabrication funds to make the prototype exhibit “A Sailor’s Life for Me?” a reality.
National Endowment for the Humanities
The National Endowment for the Humanities supported advance planning that provided the thematic framework of the exhibit. A 2007 NEH award is supporting fabrication of an expanded exhibition featuring tested family learning techniques, opening in 2009.
Hayden Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities
The Hayden Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services (Museums for America Grant), and the Massachusetts Foundation for the Humanities supported research on the life of CONSTITUTION's 1812 crew presented in the prototype exhibit “A Sailor's Life for Me?”
