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NEH awards grant to Anthropology Museum

December 19, 2013

The Anthropology MuseumThe National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) has awarded a Preservation Assistance grant to the NIU Anthropology Museum.

Grant funds will support conservation training for museum staff, supplies to improve textile storage, and environmental monitoring kits.

These competitive NEH grants are awarded after a rigorous peer-review process. The Textile Storage and Environmental Monitoring project, supported by this grant, is an important step in the Anthropology Museum’s strategic plan to better engage visitors, educate students and serve the university. New environmental monitoring equipment will be used to more rigorously monitor and prevent temperature and humidity fluctuations, which could harm museum collections.

Improvements to the storage of textile collections will involve both museum staff and students.  By implementing professional conservation standards and ensuring the preservation of the textiles, the Anthropology Museum is ensuring these collections can be available to the university and the region for exhibits, research and teaching.

Project progress will be shared on the museum Facebook page and website.

Founded in 1964 by the Department of Anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the Anthropology Museum houses a permanent collection of more than 12,000 ethnographic and archaeological objects.

Collections emphasize Southeast Asia, but include textiles, baskets and ceramics from throughout the world.  With a dynamic schedule of exhibitions and programs in the newly renovated Cole Hall, the Anthropology Museum is a cultural destination for residents and visitors to DeKalb.

The museum is open Tuesdays through Fridays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturdays noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free and everyone is welcome.