What is Museums & Community Collaborations Abroad?

Museums & Community Collaborations Abroad (MCCA) is an AAM grant program designed to foster museum-based international exchanges in which members of the museums’ communities play a leading role in shaping their own collaborative experience. These innovative, museum-based exchanges strengthen connections between museums and their communities as well as the connections of US citizens and people abroad through direct community engagement.

Grants are offered in amounts between $75,000 and $150,000 with at required 50% cost share match. Funding for MCCA is provided through a partnership with the US Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

What are the goals of MCCA?

MCCA has two primary goals:

• For Communities: Communities in the US and abroad develop a broader knowledge about and understanding of one another’s cultures by participating in an innovative, museum-facilitated collaborative project.

• For Museums and Related Arts Organizations: Museums create replicable models for international collaborations that reach beyond their physical walls to directly engage members of their communities.

How is MCCA different from the International Partnerships Among Museums (IPAM) Program?

MCCA builds on the 25-year history of collaboration between Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and AAM on the International Partnerships Among Museums (IPAM) program.  However, this new program improves on IPAM in several important ways.

• MCCA grants extend exchange projects beyond the museums and into the communities.
• MCCA awards fewer grants, but they each provide far greater funding.
• MCCA projects create tangible outputs to engage audiences.
• MCCA allows museums to propose their own timeline, travel schedule, and budget.
• MCCA encourages the use of new media (blogs, streaming video, etc) to share project information.
• MCCA targets regions and communities that would benefit most from a better connection with, and understanding of, American people and culture.

How do I Submit a Proposal?

US museums submit proposals on behalf of the project team.  Proposals will not be accepted from non-US museums.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2009-2011 cycle of MCCA. For application information, visit the Apply Now section of the MCCA website. Be sure to review the list of potential non-US partners and the proposal checklist found in the Final Proposal Packet. Contact MCCA Staff for additional information.