International Partnerships Among Museums 2005 - 2007 Cycle Nomination Tips

The IPAM office is often contacted by non-U.S. museums that are interested in participating in the program.

IPAM staff’s policy is to explain the basics of Cultural/Public Affairs Section involvement and let interested applicants know that:

• All non-U.S. applicants must be nominated by the embassy or consulate closest to them.
• Participation in the IPAM program is voluntary for Cultural and Public Affairs offices.
• IPAM, as the administrator of the program, precludes more than two nominations from any given Public or Cultural Affairs Section.

Those museums requesting a nomination are instructed to contact the appropriate nominating post by February 11, 2005, giving nominating officers sufficient time to consider such requests prior to the Phase I Application deadline of March 18, 2005. Cultural and Public Affairs Officers should be aware of this situation and be prepared to be approached by institutions.

Cultural and Public Affairs officers should choose institutions that will be of interest to counterparts in the U.S. For a specialized museum, it is recommended that the museum work to identify a suitable U.S. partner. The potential partner must also submit a Phase I Application. If a partner is not prearranged for a museum with a narrow focus, the chance that a suitable partner will appear in the list of U.S. Phase I applicants is unlikely.

Please consider that applications submitted by museums with prior knowledge of one another and a desire to work together are more likely to produce stronger proposals and contain a greater potential for continued linkages. This will increase their chances of being awarded partnerships.

The 2005-2007 cycle of IPAM will receive additional funding from various private-sector sources in support of specific subject-area or regional partnerships. We will contact posts that are affected by any such opportunities, as we will be particularly eager to receive project proposals in these areas.