About
Our Community Engagement pillar encompasses five programs that allow our museum partners to:
Build Community
We focus on projects that build trust, foster a sense of belonging, and establish lasting connections among audiences.
Support Interdisciplinarity
We support projects that integrate multiple disciplines, including performing arts, science, and technology.
Strengthen Partnerships
We champion collaborations with local artists, educators, and organizations to create meaningful cultural experiences.
Enrich Storytelling
We encourage programs that present fresh perspectives, amplify underrepresented voices, and have the potential to transform the field.
Learning & Engagement
Learning & Engagement awards help our museum partners create transformative programs that connect with new and diverse communities, actively engage current audiences in new ways, and highlight interdisciplinary elements. Partners with current collection placements, Partner Loan Network groupings, or traveling exhibitions, as well as those who are part of the Art Bridges Cohort Program, are eligible to apply for Learning & Engagement funding.
Access for All
This $40 million funding initiative aims to increase access to museums across the country and foster engagement with local communities. The 3-year pilot program supports 64 current museum partners by covering the costs of admission, outreach, and other efforts that reduce barriers to access.
Evaluation
Art Bridges supports already planned or collaboratively designed program evaluation for partners that want to engage in front-end, formative, or summative evaluation; survey design; focus group facilitation; interview protocols and collection; data collection training; qualitative and quantitative data analysis; and behavioral observation and experimentation. Museum partners are also encouraged to participate in COVES (Collaboration for Ongoing Visitor Experience Studies), a fully funded survey that helps collect valuable data from visitors to better understand audiences, track changes over time, measure program impact, and make responsive, visitor-centered decisions.
Internship Program
Art Bridges is committed to training the next generation of museum professionals. Since 2020, the Internship Program has hosted over 60 students and emerging arts professionals from across the country during the academic year and over the summer. Interns receive mentorship from Art Bridges staff and hands-on experience across departments, from the Partner Loan Network, Curatorial, and Traveling Exhibitions to Marketing & Communications and Learning & Engagement.
