Museums Connect: Building Global Communities
Phase II Statement of Intent to Propose
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Statements of Intent to Propose (SIPs) are accepted on a rolling basis through January 20, 2015; museums are
encouraged to submit SIPs as early as possible to receive feedback from Museums Connect staff.
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For program information, eligibility requirements, application tips, and selection criteria, visit www.aamus.org/museumsconnect. Full details are available in the Proposal Packet on the Apply page.
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All materials must be submitted to museumsconnect@aam-us.org in English, in an 11-12 point sans-serif font
(e.g., Arial or Verdana) formatted for letter-size paper.
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Please note that submitted information is considered to be a non-binding draft of the proposal concept and is
not competitively reviewed.
Project Information
Project Title
US Partner Museum(s)
Non-US Partner Museum(s)
Requested Funds1
Cost Share2
Have all US and non-US museums submitted Museum Profile sheets?
Total
Yes
No
About the Project Coordinators
For each participating museum (US and non-US), please provide the name, title, email address, and phone number for one
project coordinator who will be responsible for managing activities with the local community, the museum, and Museums
Connect staff.
About the Proposed Community Partners
For each participating country, please list the primary community members/target audiences (e.g., 15-20 middle school
students in each country) and any secondary/tertiary audiences (e.g., educators, family members, broader communities) that
will be involved. Also list proposed organizations and/or organization names, when known (e.g., three local schools,
Fairmeadows Elementary, Youth Center of Washington).
1
Total amount requested from Museums Connect for the project, not per institution.
The cost share amount is at least half (50%) of the amount requested from Museums Connect and may be divided
between the US and non-US museum(s) in any way.
2
About the Project
Please address the following questions in no more than 5 pages (total).

Describe your proposed project concept, focusing on actual activities that will accomplish the project’s goals.
Remember that Museums Connect does not fund construction or projects focused primarily on
staff/institutional development or capacity building, staff-to-staff exchange, traditional exhibit design or
object exchange, or artist residencies. Discuss the community need for the project and, if applicable, the
relevance to one or more of the cycle’s themes (see www.aam-us.org/museumsconnect/apply/themes).

Explain the rationale for conducting the project internationally. What will the communities accomplish together
that they could not on their own? What might they learn from one another that will give them different and new
perspectives?

Direct community engagement is the foundation for Museums Connect. Rather than educating community
members about the museums’ offerings, Museums Connect projects feature museums engaging community
members as equal partners on issues that reach beyond museum walls. Explain the rationale for wanting to work
with the specified community members. Describe the ways in which community members in the participating
countries may be directly involved in executing the project goals which the museums have defined.

Describe how community participants in the US and abroad will connect and learn about one another through the
project. Remember that projects must be mutually beneficial; they should not focus on just one country or culture.
Consider the use of new media and technologies but also describe how the museums will handle time differences
between countries, limited internet accessibility, and other potential challenges. Discuss who may travel to each
country and how activities during travel further the project’s goals.

List the proposed outputs (activities and products, e.g., three community forums and 50 teacher’s guides and
activity packets in each country) and desired outcomes (changes in behavior/attitude, e.g., a better understanding
of the native flora and fauna in their own and their partner’s country) expected to take place as a result of the
project.

Briefly explain the proposed level of funding requested. Please note that only a few projects get funded at the top
level; having a simple, achievable project with a mid-level request is sometimes better than being overly
ambitious. You will have the opportunity to fully develop your budget for the Final Proposal (see the Proposal
Packet for details about allowable costs).

If this is a continuing partnership or builds upon a previous project, explain how the concept builds upon past
activities while still being innovative and new.