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Museum of the Moving Image receives grant for expansion of family programs

Museum of the Moving Image receives grant for expansion of family programs
Photo by Michael Shain
By Bill Parry

The Museum of the Moving Image in Astoria, the nation’s only museum dedicated to film, television and digital media, has been awarded a grant of nearly $150,000 for the development of a new family initiative. The grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services will allow MoMI to offer public programs for children, ages 4 to 12, and their caregivers.

“We are grateful to the IMLS for recognizing the museum’s potential to engage families with younger children, especially those living in the diverse surrounding area of the museum,” MoMI Executive Director Carl Goodman said. “With this award, we will be able to build upon our past successes with middle- and high-school age youth and to create new programs for younger audiences and caregivers.”

As part of the initiative, programs may include additional drop-in and gallery activities, workshops, family tours, artist-led programs and performances, screenings and response activities, large-scale day long events, family-member-only events, and exclusive family hours in the galleries. The project will result in programs developed for families year round, offer more activities for families with younger children and present programs that are appealing to a wide range of ethnic and cultural groups.

“As centers of learning and catalysts of community change, libraries and museums connect people with programs, services, collections, information, and new ideas in the arts, sciences and humanities,” IMLS Director D. Kathryn Matthew said. “IMLS is proud to support their work through our grant as they may inform and inspire all in the communities.”

The initiative also offers an opportunity to further develop programs in conjunction with the museum’s upcoming Jim Henson exhibition.

Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparry@cnglocal.com or by phone at (718) 260–4538.