Community pulls together to help historic African American Museum that lost federal funding

A vital Concord, MA museum preserving African American history has lost a substantial federal grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

The sudden termination jeopardizes nearly half the museum’s operating budget. In response, community members have launched a GoFundMe.

African American Museum loses funding

On April 8th, The Robbins House, Concord’s museum dedicated to African American history, received a notice from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) that a $60,000 grant they were receiving was terminated.

“IMLS has determined that your grant is unfortunately no longer consistent with the agency’s priorities and no longer serves the interest of the United States and the IMLS Program,” the fundraiser page reads.

About The Robbins House

The Robbins House is a Concord-based nonprofit organization focused on raising awareness of Concord’s African, African American, and antislavery history from the 17th through the 19th centuries. Their mission is to reveal the little known African American history of Concord and its regional and national importance. Their vision is to “inspire conversation, expand understanding and contribute to a better society.”

About IMLS

IMLS is a relatively small federal agency that supports and advances the work of museums, libraries, and related institutions across the United States through grant funding, according to its website. According to the American Library Association, the IMLS provides “the majority of federal library funds.”

GoFundMe

The grant the museum received covered nearly half of the annual operating budget and directly supported the role of the Executive Director.

“Our history matters. Our stories matter. The Robbins House exists to tell them, to preserve them, and to ensure they continue to inform and inspire future generations. Now, more than ever, we need to step in where federal support has been withdrawn. We need to send a message that we will not be silenced or sidelined”.

To learn more and help save The Robbins House, visit the GoFundMe here.