The Dubuque County Historical Society’s National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium has received a $20,000 Cultural Leadership Partners Program Operating Support Grant. Support for this grant is provided by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Iowa Arts Council, which exists within the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA).
This grant will support the River Museum’s ongoing efforts to advance inclusion for visitors and staff. With support from the Cultural Leadership Partners program, the River Museum is now a KultureCity Sensory Inclusive Certified Facility. Features include sensory bags, free to check out at the box office, filled with tools to reduce stimuli and help navigate the museum for those with sensory-processing needs. In addition to sensory bags, all KultureCity certified facilities provide universal signage, cues, quiet zones, and a mobile app that helps visitors navigate the museum long before they arrive. Funding will also support sensory days programming that provides a sensory-friendly environment including dimmed lighting, limited ambient sounds, and no distracting exhibit motions during these public events.
The Cultural Leadership Partners Grant is one of seven arts-focused grant programs offered by IEDA and administered by the Iowa Arts Council. In total, IEDA approved 173 awards to Iowa organizations and Iowans in more than 60 communities from these grant programs. Projects awarded funding range from arts and cultural festivals and live theatre performances to exhibitions, film productions, and community public art projects.
“Arts and culture are integral to economic vitality,” said IEDA Director Debi Durham. “They not only drive growth within our communities but also enhance the quality of life, making our state a more attractive destination for both visitors and new residents.”
“As one of the largest cultural institutions in Iowa and the largest in Dubuque, the River Museum is dedicated to creating an equitable, inclusive, and accessible venue for our visitors and staff,” said Kurt Strand, President & CEO of the Dubuque County Historical Society. “We are grateful for the support of our partners at the National Endowment for the Arts, the Iowa Arts Council, and the Iowa Economic Development Authority and for grant programs like this one that advance the tremendous work of arts and culture communities across the state.”