Press Release: The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula to Collaborate with International

Coalition of Sites of Conscience on Three Year-Long IMLS Leadership Grant

Missoula, MT
12/12/2022

The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula has been selected to participate in Addressing the Silences: Museums
Reflect, Correct and Transform to Foster Social Cohesion, a three year-long, community engagement project that
will work with nine other partner museums to create a suite of tools to help museums systematically identify and
develop a comprehensive understanding of the absences in representation in their operations, collections and
programs. Facilitated by the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience (ICSC), the program is a hands-on
opportunity for up to three staff members from the Historical Museum to develop skills that will deepen
relationships in the community and implement projects to foster important, sometimes difficult or ignored,
conversations in, with, and for the local community.

“Doing this reflective relationship building work is not something we always have the time for,” says Braden
Paynter, Director of Methodology and Practice at the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience. “This project
aims to give organizations the space they need to understand and transform their programs and operations.”

The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula staff members will work closely with cohort members to develop
resources, tools, and practices to address the specific silences and absences in operations.

The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula recognizes that historically, the voices and stories of all Missoula
County’s residents have not been told. We hope that by working through this project and coordinating with the
ICSC we can create more open and strategic partnerships with these underrepresented groups. In giving voice to
the region’s diverse cultural perspectives, we will better fulfill our mission of keeping Missoula County’s history
alive for the education and enjoyment of the public.

ICSC will provide participating organizations with the technical and financial resources required to design and
launch transformational programs, collaborate with community partners, and engage and exchange with peer
institutions across the country addressing similar issues. With the support of a mentor, each organization will
strengthen relationships with community partners by developing and implementing plans to address missing
narratives in their institutions. Each organization will produce a public program or exhibit about their work.
The International Coalition of Sites of Conscience is the only global network dedicated to transforming places
that preserve the past into spaces that promote civic action. With over 300 museums, historic sites, memorials,
and memory initiatives in 66 countries, ICSC has collaborated with sites around the world on dialogue-based
initiatives, exhibition design, community-based memorialization, and interpretive and strategic planning. The
organization has trained over 15,000 museum and historic site professionals at their member sites and other public
and private entities in dialogue, audience engagement, equity, and inclusion. More information is available at
www.sitesofconscience.org.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries
and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations
through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work
together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us
on Facebook and Twitter. This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library
Services, MG-251987-OMS-22

For more information, contact Matt Lautzenheiser, Executive Director at

mlautzenheiser@missoulacounty.us and 406-258-3471.

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The Historical Museum at Fort Missoula was established in 1975 to collect, preserve, and interpret the history
of Missoula County and western Montana for the education and cultural enrichment of visitors and area
residents. We are Missoula County’s history museum. We offer visitors a place to wonder, reminisce, and learn
about our county’s history, and how our culture’s past makes Missoula and our nation what it is today.
The Museum is a 32-acre historic park with over 20 historic structures and maintains a collection of over
50,000 artifacts.

www.FortMissoulaMuseum.org