Planning for Redesign of Museum Lighting
To hire a qualified museum lighting professional to develop a museum lighting plan.
$4,500,000 the first year and $6,500,000 the second year are 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 grant process. The Minnesota Historical Society must administer these funds using established grant mechanisms, with assistance from the advisory committee created under Laws 2009, chapter 172, article 4, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), item (ii).
Available upon request. grants@mnhs.org
Enduring Value:
1) This lighting assessment and design project is the first phase of a larger project which will allow photos, documents, clothing and other objects to be displayed or archived with confidence that light coming in through depot windows or generated inside the building will not unnecessarily degrade or destroy items on display or archived in our collection.
2) Changes made resulting from this lighting assessment and design process are expected to increase the energy efficiency of the museum and reduce future energy costs for the museum.
Again, this was a study and recommendations project. None of the recommended changes have yet been implemented at the MLCHS.
After the recommended changes have been made, we expect to see results in the following areas:
1) With routine maintenance, we expect the durability of the lighting changes that this grant will initiate (likely including window coverings, lighting fixture updates and lighting controls) will last for several decades. This will extend the life of MLCHS photos, documents, clothing and other three dimensional artifacts on display and in our collection.
2) With regard to energy use, we expect the museum's consumption of electricity and energy costs will decrease due to the use of more efficient lighting fixtures, occupancy sensors and dimmers.
3) The museum's energy consumption may also be reduced by window treatments which in addition to excluding exterior UV light may also provide additional insulating value and reduced heat loss.
Available upon request, grants@mnhs.org