KIDSPLAY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HIT BY FEDERAL GRANT TERMINATION
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KIDSPLAY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM HIT BY FEDERAL GRANT TERMINATION
Funding loss disrupts a first-of-its-kind children’s museum-led partnership model.
Torrington, CT – KidsPlay Children’s Museum was recently notified that its $248,761 federal grant through the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has been terminated, effective April 8, 2025. The three-year grant was awarded in 2023 through Museums for America, IMLS’s largest competitive program, which invested over $31 million in 122 museum projects nationwide in 2023. The Hub@KidsPlay initiative, which was funded through this grant program, aligned directly with the program’s focus on partnerships, learning access, and community need. The Hub@KidsPlay initiative was designed to serve as a national model of collaboration between schools, nonprofits, and service providers. The Hub was housed within the children’s museum and aimed to increase access to early learning and parenting resources for local families.
“The loss of this grant is devastating,” said Eileen Marriott, Executive Director of KidsPlay. “This initiative is one of a kind, giving our partners an opportunity to meet families where they are in a trusted and joyful space. It is a community-based solution that brought organizations together, created efficiency, and improved access to resources, programs, and support systems. We built the space. We built the partnerships. And now we’re being forced to pivot midstream.”
The termination stems from the March 14, 2025 Executive Order 14238 directing the reduction of federal bureaucracy, including the elimination of all non-statutory activities at IMLS. KidsPlay received no prior notice that its grant was under review and was given no indication that it had failed to meet expectations.
KidsPlay has already received $98,000 of the appropriated grant funds before the termination date but now faces a deficit of $150,000 in funding that was budgeted between now and August 31, 2026.
“It’s extremely frustrating to have critical funding cut, seemingly arbitrarily, without due process, professional input or clear communication – just an email telling us the grant no longer aligns with the federal agenda,” Marriott added. “We’re left with an unfinished project, an uncertain financial position, and families starting to rely on this support.”
The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia granted a temporary restraining order on May 1 to block the Trump Administration’s further dismantling of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) however, the agency’s staff remains on administrative leave. Therefore, KidsPlay has received little guidance about the reporting process and is evaluating its options, including filing a formal request for review due May 12. Meanwhile, KidsPlay is working to preserve the project’s core components through private fundraising, community partnerships, and volunteer engagement.
Terminating the grant halfway through the project undermines the significant local and private contributions made based on the promised funding. KidsPlay utilized private and foundation funds to construct the Hub space, and volunteers, community partners, and foundations have also provided in-kind support and matching funds that exceeded the federal share of the project. This collaborative effort has already demonstrated an impact, including a fivefold increase in the use of the resource library, and now risks being dismantled before it can fully realize its promise.
For more information about KidsPlay Children’s Museum, visit kidsplaymuseum.org or follow us on social media.
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About KidsPlay Children’s Museum
Founded in 2012, KidsPlay Children’s Museum is a not-for-profit organization that operates over 20,000 square feet of interactive exhibits that spark curiosity and creativity. The Museum currently targets the developmental needs of children ages 1 to 10. KidsPlay provides opportunities for children and their caregivers to share intrinsically memorable, whole-family learning experiences and build skills that extend beyond the museum. The Museum enriches the educational landscape for families from across the socio-economic, cultural, and educational spectrum. For more information, please visit www.kidsplaymuseum.org to plan your visit.
Follow KidsPlay Children’s Museum on Facebook @kidsplaychildrensmuseum, Instagram @kidsplaymuseum
About the Hub@KidsPlay
The Hub@KidsPlay is a dedicated space within KidsPlay Children’s Museum and a collaborative initiative designed to expand access to early learning resources and support for families. Located in a newly constructed wing of the Museum, the Hub includes the Community Family Learning Center (CFLC) Resource Library and a program room used by the Museum and partners for workshops, playgroups, screenings, and events. The Hub@KidsPlay reduces barriers by providing a space where providers can meet families in a trusted, family-friendly environment. Developed as a replicable model of collective impact, the Hub aims to improve outcomes for children ages 0–8 and create a more connected and equitable family support system in Northwest Connecticut.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s approximately 120,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Its mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and civic engagement. The Museums for America program, IMLS’s largest competitive grant program, supports projects that strengthen the ability of museums to serve the public through high-quality educational experiences and community partnerships.
In March 2025, Executive Order 14238 directed federal agencies to eliminate non-statutory functions, resulting in widespread program changes at IMLS, including the termination of many active grants. Learn more at www.imls.gov.
Museums for America is the agency’s largest competitive grant program. It supports projects that strengthen the ability of individual museums to benefit the public by providing high-quality, inclusive learning experiences, maximizing resources to address community needs through partnerships and collaborations, and by preserving and providing access to the collections entrusted to their care. The IMLS’s 2023 grant announcement related to this grant can be found at:
www.imls.gov/news/imls-invests-more-31-million-grants-museums-across-america