Online Newsletter

MUSEUM OF BIBLICAL ART SCHEDULED TO RE-OPEN IN FALL 2009

The Museum of Biblical Art, formerly the Biblical Arts Center, is “rising from the ashes” and plans to re-open in fall 2009. The Dallas museum suffered a devastating fire in 2005 that wiped out its entire collection of fine art and gallery exhibits. The museum recently announced that over $7 million has been raised and construction started on a re-building effort that will include a 6,000 foot gallery expansion, an art conservatory and restoration laboratory, and a bible meditation garden.

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THREE TEXAS INSTITUTIONS RECEIVE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS
The largest museum and library joint grant program administered by IMLS, National Leadership Grants support projects that will advance the ability of museums and libraries to preserve culture, heritage, and knowledge while enhancing learning. Nationwide, 44 recipients received National Leadership Grants, totaling $18.2 million. Congratulations to the following Texas institutions:

• New Media Centers, Inc., Austin - $955,275; Project Title: "Steve in Action: Social Tagging Tools and Methods Applied"
  
• University of North Texas School of Library and Information Sciences, Denton - $738,075; Project Title: "High-Throughput Workflow for Computer-assisted Human Parsing of Biological Specimen Label Data"
  
• San Angelo Museum of Fine Arts, San Angelo - $26,610; Project Title: "The Center for Creative Energy: An Educational Bridge Between Art and the Environment."
  

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MARTIN & FRANCES LEHNIS RAILROAD MUSEUM BUILDING WINS TXDOT AWARD
The Texas Department of Transportation chose the “Great State of Texas Transportation Complex” for the award of Honorable Mention for its 2008 Environmental Achievement Award. The project was nominated for fulfilling the “protection of cultural resources” through the recycling of the historic Continental Grain Company’s building foundation, tin siding and site. It also fulfilled the public education criteria with the establishment of the Martin & Frances Lehnis Railroad Museum exhibit galleries and educational programs. The museum is located in Brownwood, Texas.

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HELP PROGRAM BENEFITS TEXAS MUSEUMS
Twenty Texas museums are participating in the Mid-America Arts Alliance professional training initiative Hands-on Experiential Learning Project (HELP). Each participating museum receives support through workshops, online training, an in-state consultant, and travel subsidies for workshops and conferences. The first HELP workshop took place in Austin, October 13-14 with 38 attendees representing 19 organizations. To insure that HELP museums become better connected to the professional world and their peers, a HELP subsidy of $550 will allow participants to attend the upcoming TAM conference in spring 2009.

Participating museums in Texas

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UNT’S PORTAL TO TEXAS HISTORY OFFERS MINI-GRANTS
Through funds provided by the Summerlee Foundation of Dallas, UNT’s Portal to Texas History is offering digitization mini-grants ($25-2500) to libraries, archives, museums, historical societies, and other groups which hold at-risk local history materials. All materials will be scanned at the Digital Imaging Lab in the Willis Library on the University of North Texas campus in Denton. Materials scanned for the grant will be hosted in the Portal to Texas History. The application deadline is December 15, 2008. Scanning will begin in 2009.

Apply: http://texashistory.unt.edu/young/educators/Summerlee.shtml

FAQS: http://texashistory.unt.edu/young/educators/SummerleeFAQ.shtml

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ARTHOUSE AT THE JONES CENTER REQUESTS SUBMISSIONS FOR NEW AMERICAN TALENT 24
Arthouse at the Jones Center in Austin requests submissions for New American Talent 24, a national all-media competition open to all artists living in the U.S.A. Entry Deadline: January 10, 2009. For submission guidelines, call 512/453-5312 or email: info@arthousetexas.org

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GRANT DEADLINES: State Click Here