Washington, D.C. -  U.S. Rep. Timothy V. Johnson today announced grants allowing for innovative programming at three popular museums within the 15th Congressional District.

"I'm thrilled to announce these grants," Rep. Johnson said. "The exhibits and programming that this money will make possible will go far in broadening the social and cultural horizons for people of all ages. I encourage the people of the 15th District to take advantage of what these institutions have to offer right here in our own back yard."

The grants include:

• $88,258 to the Orpheum Children's Science Museum in Champaign. The grant will provide funding for the Learning Environment Awareness Program (LEAP) for middle school children. The program is intended to educate children about their environment through hands-curricula.
  
• $116,500 to the Early American History Museum in Mahomet. The grant will provide funding for an exhibit entitled "Abraham Lincoln: Large Presence in a Small Town." The exhibit will be displayed in the Champaign County Courthouse and will include a jury panel, archives and audio depictions illustrating courthouse proceedings in the time of Lincoln. The exhibit will also provide an interactive learning experience for children placing Lincoln in the context of their own community.
  
• $147,267 to the Children's Discovery Museum of Bloomington. The grant will provide funding for the exhibit "Imagination Theater."  The "Imagination Theater" will provide an area for dramatic experiences detailing both historical and cultural story-starters.  These dramatic plays will also utilize science experiments and monthly hands-on classes to incorporate learning outside of the arts.

The grants are from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services' "Museums for America" program intended for community museums.

"Protection and conservation of our environment, our history and our culture is vital and is a value that is strengthened with this programming," Rep. Johnson said. "By instilling these values and educating our children and ourselves in this way we are ensuring the building blocks of a bright future."

 For more information, please contact the administrators at the following museums.

• Orpheum Children's Science Museum, Champaign.
  Janine Prillman - 217-649-6974 or j9prill@aol.com
          
• Children's Discovery Museum, Bloomington.
  Shari Buckellew - 309-433-3447 or sbuckellew@normal.org 
         
• Early American Museum, Mahomet.
  Cheryl Kennedy - 217-586-2612 or ckennedy@ccfpd.org and Andree Chestnut achestnut@ccfpd.org           

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