Selection Committee

The three-person MCCA Selection Committee is comprised of a current or recent member of the ICOM-US Board, a past MCCA or IPAM participant, and a US museum staff member with extensive experience working both with their community and on projects abroad.

Selection Criteria

Each application will be reviewed based on the following:

Community
The proposal outlines the targeted segment of the community in each country to be involved, strategies for recruitment, and specific project activities. There is evidence that the communities are supportive of the proposed activities.

Project Structure: Outputs and Public Outreach
The proposal exhibits originality, substance, and precision while defining specific outputs that will excite and engage audience members in each community. It includes dynamic public outreach and public programming both in the US and overseas.

Outcomes
The proposal incorporates the required outcome of creating increased understanding between the US community and the community abroad as well as at least two other measurable outcomes. In addition, it creates a replicable model for international collaboration.

Institutional Capacity
The proposal is in alignment with the institutions’ missions and should reflect their expertise in the subject area and in planning programs that strengthen connections between museums and communities.

Sustainability
The proposal includes realistic ideas for sustaining the activities of the project beyond the MCCA grant period.

Additional factors considered include:

• The project addresses one or more of the 2009-2011 themes.
• The project includes one or more of the Embassy Nominees.
• The budget is realistic and includes no more than 15% of total grant request as salary.
• The timeline is realistic for all activities proposed.
• New technologies for disseminating information and engaging the community (Internet-based programming, marketing, promotion, and communications) are incorporated.

Notification & Implementation

Provisional awards will be announced in April 2010. No award will be considered final until an Implementation Agreement is negotiated between the museums, the US Embassy, and the MCCA office.

This agreement includes partnership specifics such as a final budget, a communications plan, and plan for assessing the project’s impact. Once the Implementation Agreement is completed, signed by a representative from each participating museum, and received by MCCA staff, the award becomes official.