In 2008, through its Museum and Community Connections program, the MetLife Foundation expects to award grants totaling $1 million to art museums in select states of the United States. The purpose of the program is to encourage art museums to reach out to large numbers of people of all ages and backgrounds through imaginative programs and/or exhibits that "help us understand and appreciate each other and our world."

Individual grants will not exceed $100,000 and will vary in amount depending on the nature and scope of the proposed project. Collaboration and partnership with other organizations is a plus. The guidelines and definitions of funding categories are intentionally broad to encourage innovation. Museums may request funding for one or a combination of the following categories, but the requested project does not have to be limited to these categories: Collaborations: Partnerships between 1) mainstream museums and culturally specific museums; 2) museums and nonprofit organizations serving diverse populations whose primary mission does not focus on the arts (e.g., community centers, social service organizations, immigrant and refugee organizations and others); and 3) museums and arts organizations of all types. Artist Residencies: Bringing artists with diverse perspectives to conduct programs for a museum and/or community. Exhibits: Displays of works by artists that engage audiences and promote understanding of our world and different cultures. Offsite Programming: Programs that extend the reach of the museum into diverse and underserved communities, including new immigrant communities, such as off-site lectures, exhibits and programs, mobile museums, and other projects. Art museums in the United States that have been in existence for at least five years; possess 501(c)(3) status; and are located in either Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, or Wisconsin are eligible to apply. For this program, science and technology museums, museums of natural history, botanical gardens, zoos, children's museums, and university/college museums are not eligible.

Complete program information will be available at the MetLife Foundation Website.

www.metlife.com/Applications/Corporate/WPS/CDA/PageGenerator/0,4773,P291,00.html