COLUMBIA, SC (July 17, 2012) – Historic Columbia Foundation was awarded a $141,047 federal grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services in support of the Mann-Simonscommunity engagement project. HCF was one of 152 projects from more than 450 applicants selected for funding and is the only IMLS Museums for American grant recipient in the state of South Carolina for this year.
This funding supports a partnership between Historic Columbia Foundation, the University of South Carolina, Richland School District One and the Columbia Housing Authority. Using the city-owned Mann-Simons Site, the Foundation will implement, review, and refine a series of youth and senior programs and activities and develop a multi-discipline, multi-generational educational outreach program.
The project will use local history as the catalyst to extend meaningful outreach programs to high school students and senior citizens and enable the foundation to build greater organizational capacity for community engagement.
The Mann-Simons site, located at 1403 Marion Street, is one of seven historic properties managed by Historic Columbia Foundation and one of only a few sites in South Carolina once owned by freed African-Americans prior to the Civil War. This three-year project is slated to begin in September 2012.
Members of the media are encouraged to contact Ashley Tucker at 803.252.7742 ext 16 or atucker@historiccolumbia.org for more information.
About the Institute for Museum and Library Services:
Museums for America is the Institute’s largest grant program for museums, supporting projects and ongoing activities that build museums’ capacity to serve their communities. These grants strengthen a museum’s ability to serve the public more effectively by supporting high-priority activities that advance the institution’s mission and strategic goals. Funds can be used for a wide variety of projects, including research, planning, new programs, and activities that support the efforts of museums to upgrade and integrate new technologies.
About Historic Columbia Foundation:
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House from demolition, officially incorporated as the Historic Columbia Foundation. Over the next five decades the organization, which was founded on the premise ofpreservation and education, would take on the stewardship of seven historicproperties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model for local preservation efforts and interpretation of local history. The 50th Anniversary year of Historic Columbia Foundation (which officially began onNovember 13, 2011) will include a variety of community celebratory events. Visit http://www.historiccolumbia.org for details.
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