Latest news with #MSUMuseum
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration seeks to starve libraries, museums of funding by shuttering this agency
On Friday, President Donald Trump issued an executive order that called for the dismantling of seven federal agencies "to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." They ranged from the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, to the Minority Business Development Agency. The Institute of Museum and Library Services also was on the list. Congress created the IMLS in 1996 through the Museum and Library Services Act. The law merged the Institute of Museum Services, which was established in 1976, with the Library Programs Office of the Department of Education. By combining these two departments, Congress sought to create an overarching agency that could more cohesively and strategically support American museums and libraries. The agency's mission, programs and funding have been reaffirmed through subsequent legislation, such as the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003. The Conversation U.S. interviewed Devon Akmon, who is the director of the MSU Museum at Michigan State University. He explained how the agency supports the nation's cultural institutions and local communities - and what could be lost if the agency were dissolved. What does the Institute of Museum and Library Services do? The agency provides financial support to a wide array of cultural and educational institutions, including art, science and history museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and historic sites. Libraries of all types -- public, academic, school and research -- also benefit from the agency's funding. Through grants, research and policy initiatives, the IMLS helps these institutions better serve their communities. In the 2019 fiscal year, for example, the IMLS awarded funds to libraries in Nebraska to support economic development in 30 rural communities. The project created rotating "innovation studios" in local libraries and provided residents with tools, instructional materials and programming to foster entrepreneurship and creativity. More recently, IMLS awarded a grant to the Hands On Children's Museum to develop a toolkit that museums across the country can use to support families with relatives who are in prison. For libraries, the IMLS might fund technology upgrades, such as virtual reality learning stations, AI-assisted research aids or digitization of rare books. The agency also pays for community programs that take place in libraries, from early childhood reading initiatives to workshops that help people land jobs. How has the Institute of Museum and Library Services supported your work at the MSU Museum? IMLS grants have played a vital role in enabling the MSU Museum to preserve, enhance and expand access to its collections. For example, we've used IMLS grants to develop high-quality audio aids for museum visitors who are blind or have poor vision. Recent funding has supported the digitization of over 2,000 vertebrate specimens, including rare and endangered species. Beyond financial support, the MSU Museum benefits from IMLS policy papers, professional training opportunities and resources developed through the National Leadership Grants for Museums program. Our staff members also contribute to national campaigns spearheaded by the IMLS, such as its Strategies for Countering Antisemitism & Hate initiative. Through these efforts, the IMLS, alongside the American Alliance of Museums, operate as cornerstones of learning and innovation within the museum field. Looking beyond Michigan State, what might be lost with its shuttering? The IMLS is more than a grantmaking entity -- it is the only federal agency dedicated to sustaining the entire museum and library ecosystem in the United States. Its funding has sustained museums, advanced digital preservation, expanded accessibility for low-income communities and fueled innovation in educational programming. In 2024 alone, the agency distributed $266.7 million through grants, research initiatives and policy development. For example, ExplorationWorks, a children's museum in Helena, Mont., received $151,946 in 2024 from the IMLS to expand its early childhood programs that serve low-income and rural families. Without this support, many institutions will struggle to hire and retain qualified staff, leading to fewer exhibitions, stalled research and reduced educational outreach. The consequences would be particularly severe for small museums and rural museums, which lack the fundraising capacity of larger urban institutions. They're often the only sources of cultural and historical education in their regions, and their loss would create cultural voids that cannot easily be filled. Trump's executive order dictated that the Institute of Museum and Library Services and other agencies be eliminated "to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." What is the applicable law in this case? I'm not a lawyer. But my understanding is that the "applicable law" in this case primarily refers to the Museum and Library Services Act, which, as I noted earlier, was created in 1996 and has been reauthorized multiple times since then. Since the IMLS was created through this congressional legislation, it cannot simply be eliminated by an executive order. Congress would need to pass a law to repeal or defund it. Additionally, the Antideficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from operating without appropriated funding. If Congress were to defund the IMLS rather than repeal its authorizing statute, the agency would be forced to cease operations due to a lack of money, even if the legal framework for its existence remained intact. Is there anything else you'd like to add? Museums are among the most trusted institutions in the country. They are rare bipartisan beacons of credibility in an era of deep division. A 2021 American Alliance of Museums report found that 97% of Americans view museums as valuable educational assets, while 89% consider them trustworthy sources of information. A 2022 American Library Association survey revealed that 89% of voters and 92% of parents believe local public libraries have an important role to play in communities. More than just cultural repositories, museums and libraries bring together citizens and offer learning opportunities for everyday people. By presenting science and history through engaging, evidence-based storytelling, museums help bridge ideological divides and encourage informed discourse. People of all political stripes rely on libraries for free internet access, job searches and literacy programs. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is central to this work. The agency provides leadership, while funding programs and research that help museums and libraries expand their offerings to reach all Americans. Stripping this support would threaten the sustainability of these institutions and weaken their ability to serve as pillars of education, civic engagement and truth. I see it as a disinvestment in an informed, connected and resilient society. ">Devon Akmon is director of the MSU Museum and CoLab Studio at Michigan State University. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump administration seeks to starve libraries and museums of funding by shuttering this little-known agency
On March 14, 2025, the Trump administration issued an executive order that called for the dismantling of seven federal agencies 'to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.' They ranged from the United States Agency for Global Media, which oversees Voice of America, to the Minority Business Development Agency. The Institute of Museum and Library Services was also on the list. Congress created the IMLS in 1996 through the Museum and Library Services Act. The law merged the Institute of Museum Services, which was established in 1976, with the Library Programs Office of the Department of Education. By combining these two departments, Congress sought to create an overarching agency that could more cohesively and strategically support American museums and libraries. The agency's mission, programs and funding have been reaffirmed through subsequent legislation, such as the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003. The Conversation U.S. interviewed Devon Akmon, who is the director of the MSU Museum at Michigan State University. He explained how the agency supports the nation's cultural institutions and local communities – and what could be lost if the agency were dissolved. What does the Institute of Museum and Library Services do? The agency provides financial support to a wide array of cultural and educational institutions, including art, science and history museums, zoos, aquariums, botanical gardens and historic sites. Libraries of all types – public, academic, school and research – also benefit from the agency's funding. Through grants, research and policy initiatives, the IMLS helps these institutions better serve their communities. In the 2019 fiscal year, for example, the IMLS awarded funds to libraries in Nebraska to support economic development in 30 rural communities. The project created rotating 'innovation studios' in local libraries and provided residents with tools, instructional materials and programming to foster entrepreneurship and creativity. More recently, IMLS awarded a grant to the Hands On Children's Museum to develop a toolkit that museums across the country can use to support families with relatives who are in prison. For libraries, the IMLS might fund technology upgrades, such as virtual reality learning stations, AI-assisted research aids or digitization of rare books. The agency also pays for community programs that take place in libraries, from early childhood reading initiatives to workshops that help people land jobs. How has the Institute of Museum and Library Services supported your work at the MSU Museum? IMLS grants have played a vital role in enabling the MSU Museum to preserve, enhance and expand access to its collections. For example, we've used IMLS grants to develop high-quality audio aids for museum visitors who are blind or have poor vision. Recent funding has supported the digitization of over 2,000 vertebrate specimens, including rare and endangered species. Beyond financial support, the MSU Museum benefits from IMLS policy papers, professional training opportunities and resources developed through the National Leadership Grants for Museums program. Our staff members also contribute to national campaigns spearheaded by the IMLS, such as its Strategies for Countering Antisemitism & Hate initiative. Through these efforts, the IMLS, alongside the American Alliance of Museums, operate as cornerstones of learning and innovation within the museum field. Looking beyond Michigan State, what might be lost with its shuttering? The IMLS is more than a grantmaking entity – it is the only federal agency dedicated to sustaining the entire museum and library ecosystem in the United States. Its funding has sustained museums, advanced digital preservation, expanded accessibility for low-income communities and fueled innovation in educational programming. In 2024 alone, the agency distributed US$266.7 million through grants, research initiatives and policy development. For example, ExplorationWorks, a children's museum in Helena, Montana, received $151,946 in 2024 from the IMLS to expand its early childhood programs that serve low-income and rural families. Without this support, many institutions will struggle to hire and retain qualified staff, leading to fewer exhibitions, stalled research and reduced educational outreach. The consequences would be particularly severe for small museums and rural museums, which lack the fundraising capacity of larger urban institutions. They're often the only sources of cultural and historical education in their regions, and their loss would create cultural voids that cannot easily be filled. Trump's executive order dictated that the Institute of Museum and Library Services and other agencies be eliminated 'to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law.' What is the applicable law in this case? I'm not a lawyer. But my understanding is that the 'applicable law' in this case primarily refers to the Museum and Library Services Act, which, as I noted earlier, was created in 1996 and has been reauthorized multiple times since then. Since the IMLS was created through this congressional legislation, it cannot simply be eliminated by an executive order. Congress would need to pass a law to repeal or defund it. Additionally, the Antideficiency Act prohibits federal agencies from operating without appropriated funding. If Congress were to defund the IMLS rather than repeal its authorizing statute, the agency would be forced to cease operations due to a lack of money, even if the legal framework for its existence remained intact. Is there anything else you'd like to add? Museums are among the most trusted institutions in the country. They are rare bipartisan beacons of credibility in an era of deep division. A 2021 American Alliance of Museums report found that 97% of Americans view museums as valuable educational assets, while 89% consider them trustworthy sources of information. A 2022 American Library Association survey revealed that 89% of voters and 92% of parents believe local public libraries have an important role to play in communities. More than just cultural repositories, museums and libraries bring together citizens and offer learning opportunities for everyday people. By presenting science and history through engaging, evidence-based storytelling, museums help bridge ideological divides and encourage informed discourse. People of all political stripes rely on libraries for free internet access, job searches and literacy programs. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is central to this work. The agency provides leadership, while funding programs and research that help museums and libraries expand their offerings to reach all Americans. Stripping this support would threaten the sustainability of these institutions and weaken their ability to serve as pillars of education, civic engagement and truth. I see it as a disinvestment in an informed, connected and resilient society. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Devon Akmon, Michigan State University Read more: Gen Z and millennials have an unlikely love affair with their local libraries From ancient emperors to modern presidents, leaders have used libraries to cement their legacies Digitizing the vast 'dark data' in museum fossil collections Devon Akmon receives funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. He also serves as the vice chair and secretary of the board of directors for the American Alliance of Museums.
Axios
27-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
How Black Detroit artists shaped techno
Black artists in Detroit in the early 1980s ventured into the future to create a transformative global genre: techno. Why it matters: Their legacy of experimentation and liberation, built on futuristic themes, shows how innovative Black storytelling has influenced Detroit's and America's cultural and economic history. Driving the news: An MSU Museum exhibition in downtown East Lansing is exploring the rise of techno and its connections to Afrofuturism, through April 30. The exhibition also reflects how techno caught on internationally so rapidly that its origins in the Motor City have been obscured for some by a narrative of the genre as a white trend born in Europe. Context: Many locals contributed to techno's rise, but experts consider the founders to be Juan Atkins, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May and Eddie Fowlkes. The first three met at Belleville High School and shared an interest in a variety of music, including artists with sci-fi and robotic themes, like Parliament and Kraftwerk. They linked up with Fowlkes, a DJ and producer who became known for his distinct techno soul sound. Their new sounds spread across Detroit, including through clubs and underground parties, among Black youth and through local TV shows like " The New Dance Show." They grew into an international scene from the 1980s through the 1990s, influenced by locally based labels like the revolutionary collective Underground Resistance. For techno's Black DJs and producers,"it was a music of hope, of living in a better time, because music transcended us into a time where people are coexisting together," legendary DJ and music producer John Collins tells Axios. It also reflected the times they were living in. Collins, who is the community curator for the MSU exhibition, started DJing in Detroit part-time to supplement his main income around 1975-76. Though he never intended it to become a career, it did, and he played a monumental role in shaping techno. Zoom in: One 1980s club Collins worked, the famed Cheeks on Eight Mile, was one of the first clubs to play techno. Other Cheeks DJs Jeff Mills and Stacey Hale evolved the city's dance music scene alongside Collins. The club's diverse clientele, Black, LGBTQ+ and white, were more open to progressive sounds than just radio hits. Reality check: Some outside commentators see techno as telling a dystopian story in Detroit, amid population decline and auto industry layoffs, contrasted with a free, post-Cold War utopian narrative in Europe, according to MSU English professor Julian Chambliss. The difference highlights how race and location factor into the perceived narrative. But Chambliss, curator of the East Lansing techno exhibition, says: "They're not talking about dystopia. They're talking about transformation. They're talking about freedom. They're talking about destroying a power structure that failed …. The people making the music have a bright future in mind." Considering different worlds The raw and transformative beats of Black Detroit techno artists are integral to the legacy of Afrofuturism. State of play: "Afrofuturism" as a term was coined in 1993 by cultural critic Mark Dery, according to the Met, though the concept existed long before that. It describes practices that speculate on futures of Black liberation, working against oppression. Techno was among the sounds used to represent Afrofuturism, MSU's Chambliss tells Axios. "You have this sound that is completely new, innovative, original, and it's attached to worlds or spaces where people are looking for inclusion, community, liberation," he adds. The machine-made music's innovations also recall musical traditions like blues and jazz. There's also influence from Motown, gospel and house. Context: Afrofuturism continues growing in mainstream prominence — from Parliament-Funkadelic and Sun Ra to sci-fi novelist Octavia Butler and Marvel's " Black Panther." Amid the evolution of socially conscious sci-fi storytelling, Detroit electro-techno duo Drexciya envisioned a mythology around an alternate world under the sea starting in the early '90s. The metropolis was populated by the aquatic descendants of pregnant African women who had been forced onto slave ships. As written in liner notes for Drexciya's "The Quest": "Are Drexciyans water breathing, aquatically mutated descendants of those unfortunate victims of human greed? Have they been spared by God to teach us or terrorize us? … Are they more advanced than us and why do they make their strange music?" The latest: Techno and its Afrofuturist themes created a bedrock for later waves of both musicians and community action. Bryce Detroit, a self-described Afrofuturist artist and activist — who was exposed to techno in skating rinks growing up, and whose first career was as a record producer — tells Axios that these forces helped shape him. They fused into both his identity and his social justice work, which includes helping Black youth define their own futures. "[Afrofuturists] design the now," he says. "We behave and act in the now based on what we want to see in the future." The bottom line: "Detroit techno influenced my sonic vocabulary from a child all the way to a producer as an adult … this is my lifetime's Motown Records," he says. "It reinforces that Detroit, in our soil, in our DNA, is the invention of sonic forms and languages."
