Illinois Public Museum Grants Program

The Public Museum Capital Grants Program is designed to help public museums in Illinois expand and upgrade facilities and create new exhibitions.

Program Status

October 21, 2010

Gov. Quinn Announces $15 Million in Public Museum Capital Grants

Projects will improve facilities, protect exhibits at public museums throughout Illinois

SPRINGFIELD - Governor Pat Quinn today awarded nearly $15 million in grants to 51 public museums in Illinois for new and expanded facilities, exhibits and infrastructure improvements through the Illinois Public Museums Capital Grant Program.

“Illinois’ public museums are some of our most valuable teaching resources. Students learn best when they have access to the hands-on learning available in museums throughout the state,” said Governor Quinn. “These capital grants will help ensure that learning is not limited to classrooms – but that students will be able to continue visiting museums, zoos and gardens all over the state to put their lessons to practical use.”

The Public Museum Capital Grants Program is designed to assist museums in expanding and upgrading facilities and creating new exhibits to enhance the ability of public museums to meet their missions.

A total of $15 million in funding from the state’s “Illinois Jobs Now!” capital program was made available for public museum capital grants for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010.  Applications for this round of grants were accepted last spring.  The maximum grant award for qualifying projects for FY2010 is $800,000.  The level of local matching funds required for each project is based on the level of attendance at the applicant museum during the preceding calendar year.  

Since the program is funded by capital development bonds, only those museums operated by or located upon land owned by a unit of local government are eligible. The program is administered by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

You may download the full press release, including the list of grant recipients in PDF format.

If you have any questions, contact damon.stotts@illinois.gov, the program coordinator, at 217/524-8538.

We hope you share our excitement at being able to offer this opportunity to improve museums statewide.