Collections Care and Management at 10 Area Museums
Twelve northwestern MN museums joined together to form the Minnesota's Historic Northwest group. The group, which includes: Beltrami, Clearwater, Kittson, Mahnomen, Norman, Lake of the Woods, Roseau, Pennington, Red Lake, Polk County Historical Societies, the East Polk heritage Center and the McIntosh Arts and Heritage Center collaborated to purchase supplies and to conduct workshops about artifact storage.
Purchasing in quantity reduced costs enabling the purchase of more and more varied items. Three peer training sessions, focusing on proper conservation methods, were held at Roseau, Shevlin and Thief River Falls between October, 2010 and February, 2011.
All participants benefitted from the materials received as well as the best practices learned.
(b) Statewide Historic and Cultural Grants. (i) $2,250,000 in 2010 and $4,500,000 in 2011 are appropriated for history programs and projects operated or conducted by or through local, county, regional or other historical or cultural organizations; or for activities to preserve significant historic and cultural resources. Funds are to be distributed through a competitive grants process. The Minnesota Historical Society shall administer these funds using established grants mechanisms, and with assistance from the advisory committee created herein.