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IMLS offers peer-review, MAP and CAP assessment programs to help museums prepare competitive applications
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Summary
IMLS encouraged prospective applicants to become peer reviewers, participate in the Museum Assessment Program (MAP), and use the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP) program to strengthen applications; MAP is managed by the American Alliance of Museums and CAP by FAIC.
IMLS encouraged organizations that are not ready to apply this cycle to consider professional-development and assessment pathways that improve readiness for future applications.
The agency noted one option is to volunteer as a peer reviewer. Peer reviewers are industry professionals who read and score grant applications; serving as a reviewer provides an inside view of the review process and lessons for preparing successful proposals.
IMLS also described two assessment programs it funds through cooperative agreements: the Museum Assessment Program (MAP), funded by IMLS and managed by the American Alliance of Museums, and the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP), administered by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation (FAIC). MAP is available to small and mid-sized museums and offers four assessment types: organizational, collections stewardship, education and interpretation, and community and audience engagement. MAP documents can be used to develop future IMLS grant applications; IMLS said the next MAP application deadline is expected Feb. 1, 2025 and provided the American Alliance of Museums contact and website.
CAP provides a self-study plus a two-day on-site visit by collections-conservation assessors, and is aimed at helping museums prioritize conservation investments, develop a preservation plan, and serve as a tool for fundraising. IMLS directed viewers to FAIC's CAP webpage and email for more information.
The video suggested that these opportunities — peer review, MAP and CAP — are practical ways for organizations to improve their competitiveness for IMLS funding in future cycles.
