Grant-in-Aid (GIA)

• Mandated by Alaska Statutes 14.57.010 (b)(10) and regulated by Alaska Administrative Code 4 AAC 58.200.
• Competitive grant funding available to local museums and Tribal cultural centers.
• From year to year the available grants change. Available grants this year include:
  • Regular Grants of up to $12,000 to fund a variety of museum projects; and
  • Mini-Grants for projects and equipment purchases up to $2,000.
• The Alaska State Museum has a statutory obligation to assist and advise in the development of local museums around the state. The GIA program is an important avenue for this assistance.  This cycle, museums are especially encouraged to submit project proposals for consultation with Tribes, as required under the new NAGPRA regulations.   

There are many examples of GIA-funded museum projects in the state that have enhanced access to local history and cultural values. Three museums stand out as achieving particular milestones through participation in the three GIA programs:

• The Alutiiq Museum in Kodiak became the 2^nd Tribal museum in the nation and the 7^th museum in Alaska to become nationally accredited. Since its founding in 1995, the Museum has successfully accomplished over 20 GIA funded projects, including a museum intern who readied their accreditation self-study for submittal. Other significant GIA funded projects through the regular grant program include several world class publications, exhibit development projects, and public programs. The Alutiiq Museum is now one of the foremost Tribal museums in the country and the recipient of the 2000 National Medal of Museum Service awarded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The museum’s staff provide invaluable leadership and guidance to many other Tribal museums and cultural centers in the state.
• The Port Alexander Museum, in Port Alexander Alaska, would arguably not exist had it not been for several GIA project grants in the mini-grant category that helped the Museum overcome key hurdles to open their doors. They were able to fund training in collection management software and upgrades to their collections storage room. This Museum is a much loved community asset that has now existed for over 10 years in an isolated town with about 40 year-round residents. Their mission statement says it all: Dedicated to the stewardship of the illustrious maritime heritage and history of Port Alexander and the surrounding area.
• The Pioneer Air Museum in Fairbanks opened its doors in 1992. Early on, they lacked the professional knowledge to properly catalog and accession their collection putting its legal ownership in question. In 2011 they began implementing professional standards through the effective use of the GIA internship program. Over the subsequent five years, they were able to bring graduate level museum studies interns to their Museum to help catalog and accession their collection. Now they have the basis to establish ownership of their collections.