Created by AAM in 1980, the International Partnerships Among Museums (IPAM) program was charged with forging lasting ties between museums in the U.S. and those abroad. The program provided a framework for these museums to collaborate on a mutually-beneficial project through month-long residencies.

In 2007, IPAM participants completed the final cycle of IPAM, and building upon the success of IPAM and the Museums and Community initiative, AAM began a new international program, Museums & Community Collaborations Abroad (MCCA).

During IPAM’s 27 year history, over 245 museum exchanges occurred between museum professionals in 39 U.S. states and the District of Columbia with their colleagues from 85 countries.

IPAM projects have focused on administration, collections stewardship, education, community outreach, cultural tourism, interpretation, research, marketing, and exhibit development and design.

Primary support for the IPAM program was provided by the United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (BECA), which fosters mutual understanding between the United States and other countries through international educational exchange and training programs.

Additional private sector support, usually earmarked for partnerships in specific geographic regions or with specific project topics, was provided by the AT&T Foundation, the Florence Gould Foundation, the J. Paul Getty Grant Program, the Lampadia Foundation, the Netherlands-American Amity Trust, the Rockefeller Foundation, the Samuel H. Kress Foundation, and the Trust for Mutual Understanding.

IPAM Participants, 1980-2007

IPAM Participant Statistics