Program Goals
01.
Build and nurture art-sharing partnerships
among a given cohort that extends beyond the program
02.
Dismantle siloed workflows
within and between museums
03.
Eliminate bottlenecks
in registration and conservation
04.
Broaden loan agreements’ climate parameters
that restrict art access, especially to underserved areas
05.
Strengthen knowledge
around practices of sustainable and cost-effective art sharing and exhibition building
06.
Create engagement opportunities
that are long-term, reciprocal, and community-led
Cohort Program
How it works:
Each cohort, comprised of a lead museum and cohort members, works together for 4-6 years to share their collections, making art lending, borrowing, and display more efficient and environmentally sustainable.
Installation view of Many Wests: Artists Shape an American Idea at the Whatcom Museum as part of the SAAM Cohort, March 19 2022 - August 21 - 2022
Funding
Phase 1Research & Development (8 months)
Art Bridges will cover the travel and hosting costs of a 2-day, in-person convening for all museums within a cohort.
Phase 2Small Art Share (22 months)
Art Bridges pays directly for the Ki Futures Accessible Loans Program for each cohort, Ki Futures Collections Care Apprenticeship Program, and direct costs, such as crating, shipping, installation, deinstallation, and insurance for 3-5 works. Awards to lead museum and cohort members include project manager's salary, collections care apprentice's salary, collections care apprentice's housing and travel during training, $500 per object loaned, and 2 convenings.
Phase 3Large Art Share (47 Months)
Art Bridges pays directly for direct object costs, such as crating, shipping, installation and deinstallation, contract art handlers, installation materials, additional security, insurance, marketing toolkit, and exhibition design. Awards to lead museum and cohort members include project manager's salary, collections care apprentice's salary, $500 per object loaned, annual convenings, in-gallery accessibility items, community resource group honoraria, sustainable exhibition materials incentive, and interpretation.
Wave 2 | Important Dates
March 1, 2026:
Wave 2 Research & Development applications open
June 1, 2026:
Wave 2 Research & Development applications close
August 1, 2026:
Wave 2 decisions communicated
September 2026:
Research & Development convenings hosted in Bentonville, Arkansas
October 2026:
Research & Development final reports due
November 2026:
Phase 2 Part 1 applications due
Research & Development support:
Awarded through this program once yearly
Research & Development awards support:
Roundtrip flights, ground transportation up to $200 per diem, and lodging
Frequently asked questions
If you are currently undertaking an implementation phase of your cohort project, continue executing this already funded work. The new Cohort Program requirements apply to applicants who are new partners, have closed previous cohort projects, or not yet entered an implementation phase by June 2024.
Lead Museums:
- US museum
- Art museum with a substantial American art collection that it’s willing and able to share
- Completed at least 1 art-sharing project with Art Bridges
- Strong history of community engagement
- Has gallery space available to support two 6-month art shares over 6 years
Cohort Members:
- US museum
- Art museum with strong history of American art exhibitions
- Strong history of community engagement
- Has a Director of Education or similar position on staff
- Has gallery space available to support two 6-month art shares over 6 years
The Art Bridges Cohort team is happy to help research and identify potential cohort members based on your museum’s interests, mission and goals. While we are happy to provide recommendations, you are not required to move forward with any of them.
Potential cohort members are required to be invited to be part of a cohort to participate in the Cohort Program. If you are not associated with a specific cohort, please email the Cohort Program team. We’re happy to have a conversation to determine next steps.
No.
Art Bridges understands American art as "art of the American experience" and thus not tied to citizenship or a specific time frame. These works may be created by artists who were born outside the US or have worked outside the US but have meaningful ties to the country. Therefore, art shared may exist outside of your designated American art collection or American art department.
No, the Cohort Program travels artworks that already exist and thus does not support the creation of new works. However, you may apply for Learning & Engagement funding that covers community art projects, artist residencies or workshops.
No, every cohort lead and member in the program must participate in this program. Representation from executive, registration, curatorial, learning and engagement, and facilities is recommended.
Although not required, we expect all partners to apply for this funding, as it is a core component of activating your shared artworks and welcoming new communities to your museum.
No, however, research that takes other forms without charge can be considered for funding support.
We encourage diversity in the kinds of artistic mediums shared and recommend cohorts travel readily shareable art. We welcome conversations about what art is most compelling to lend and borrow for your communities.
We anticipate launching 4-6 cohorts per year, starting in the summer of 2025. Applications and timelines for future “waves,” or groups of cohorts, will be announced.
A cohort consists of 4-6 museum partners, including a lead museum, who serves as the administrative hub.
No, every cohort must begin at Phase 1 before moving on to Phase 2 and then Phase 3.
No, they do not need to be the same. Each cohort partner will decide which 3-5 objects they will borrow independently from the other partners’ choices. Each partner’s given art share can supplement a permanent collection hang or a traveling exhibition, or it can function as its own focus show. How objects are used is at the discretion of the partner.
Both the lead and members are required to complete their given portions of the applications and reports. As the administrative hub of the cohort, the lead is required to answer some questions on behalf of the cohort.
A convening is a 1-2 daylong, on-site gathering, where cohort partners discuss their art-sharing projects, participate in professional development, and strengthen relationships with fellow members.
To launch a potential cohort, a Research & Development convening is hosted at the Heartland Whole Health Institute in Bentonville, Arkansas, while subsequent ones are hosted at lead and member sites, depending on capacity and cohort exhibition dates.
While not required, it is recommended that cohort partners are within a 4-hour drive of one another to keep art-sharing costs low.
Each art share is required to run for 6 months minimum, not including art movement times. We encourage organizations to facilitate on-view times that are longer than 6 months, if possible.
Both roles are based at the lead museum, who manages hiring and supervision. No additional roles are supported within the Cohort Program.
Yes, every partner is required to share art. If a given partner does not have a collection to share, the other cohort partners must contribute additional works to both the small and large art shares.