Advance Access to and Preservation of Museum Collections | P19AS00270

Opportunity Information: Apply for P19AS00270

Advance Access to and Preservation of Museum Collections is a National Park Service (NPS), Department of the Interior discretionary grant opportunity offered through a cooperative agreement (Funding Opportunity Number P19AS00270). It falls under the Natural Resources funding activity category (CFDA 15.945) and was designed to support a single project, with one expected award and a maximum federal funding amount (award ceiling) of $53,297.

The core purpose of the opportunity is to expand public and professional access to museum and archeological collections while strengthening long-term preservation practices. The project is built around a partnership between Archaeology Southwest and the Western Archeological and Conservation Center (WACC) curation staff. Together, they would provide a structured, collection-focused educational work experience for students in archeology, anthropology, and museum studies. In practical terms, the grant supports hands-on training that complements academic coursework by placing students in real-world collection settings where they can learn how cultural materials are managed, documented, cared for, and prepared for access and use.

A key emphasis is skill-building through direct involvement in tasks that help "describe, preserve, and make cultural artifacts more available." That generally points to work such as collections processing, cataloging and documentation, rehousing and storage improvements, basic preventive conservation activities, and other curation workflows that improve both the physical condition of objects and the quality of information associated with them. By focusing on these operational collection needs, the project aims to improve stewardship of cultural artifacts while also producing tangible outcomes that make collections easier to locate, understand, and responsibly use for research, interpretation, and public benefit.

Another major goal is workforce development. The opportunity explicitly frames the student experience as a way to enhance employability across multiple related career paths, including museum collections management, curation, conservation support, archeological repository operations, cultural resource management, and broader heritage stewardship roles. The cooperative agreement structure also signals that NPS expects to be actively involved in the project beyond simply providing funds, typically through substantial collaboration, coordination, or technical input as the work proceeds.

Eligibility for this funding was limited to nonprofit organizations with IRS 501(c)(3) status, excluding institutions of higher education as direct applicants. The opportunity was posted on June 14, 2019, with an original application closing date of June 23, 2019, indicating a short application window and a targeted, time-sensitive award intended to support a specific collaborative training and collections-preservation effort.

• The Department of the Interior, National Park Service in the natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Advance Access to and Preservation of Museum Collections" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.945.
• This funding opportunity was created on Jun 14, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 23, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $53,297.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education.

Apply for P19AS00270

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