GAINESBORO MODERN AWARDED INAUGURAL GRANT FROM MUSEUM TRAVELALLIANCE

Gainesboro, Tennessee - July 2026

The Museum Travel Alliance (MTA) is pleased to announce that the Gainesboro Modern
Museum of Contemporary Art in Tennessee has received one of its first-ever MTA grants to
support the launch of a new, accessible collections management program.
The project includes design finalization, materials procurement, construction by a qualified
contractor, rehousing of artworks, and configuration of digital records. These improvements
will strengthen collections care, support more efficient planning, and build a solid infrastructure
for the museum's growth.
“MTA’s grant program grew from the idea that museums need flexible support for projects that
advance scholarship, public learning, and institutional vitality,” said Jim Friedlander, Founder
and President of the Museum Travel Alliance. “Supporting collections care at Gainesboro
Modern is an investment not only in the museum but in the vitality of the contemporary arts
community long-term. We are thrilled to support a project that will broaden research, uplift
artists, and steward a significant collection for generations to come.”
Gainesboro Modern Museum of Contemporary Art is dedicated to making global contemporary
art an active part of everyday shared public life.
“Through free admission, thoughtful exhibitions, and community engagement, the museum
serves as a cultural anchor—reflecting the belief that small towns deserve the same depth of
cultural experience, creative opportunity, and shared public space as larger cities,” said Wade
Schmitz, GaineMod’s co-founder and executive director. “We’re rooted in Gainesboro and
open to the world, Gainesboro Modern exists to foster curiosity, connection, and a lasting
investment in place.”
The Museum Travel Alliance, a consortium of 140+ U.S.-based museum partners, has
introduced annual grants to its members in support of mission-driven work across seven
categories: travel and engagement, exhibitions and programming, donor appreciation and
engagement, cultural exchange and learning, lifelong learning, collections management, and
miscellaneous institutional needs. Grant amounts range from $5,000 to $25,000.
“The MTA mission is rooted in the belief that museums are the bedrock of cultural preservation
and community education,” said Friedlander. “In launching this grant program, we are creating
a lasting support system for our partners.”
Learn more about GaineMod and all it has to offer, visit gainemod.org, email
info@gainemod.org, or call 931-774-0663. The museum is open Thursdays through Sundays
and admission is always free.