Section 3200.120  Eligibility Criteria for Applicant Facilities

A public museum located in Illinois shall be eligible to submit one application per grant cycle for operating purposes if it establishes to the reasonable satisfaction of the Director that:

a)         It is a public museum that is operated by or located upon land owned by a unit of local government or has an annual indoor attendance of at least 150,000 and offers educational programs to school groups during school hours;

b)         It has been open to the public, for its instruction and enjoyment, for at least two years;

c)         It is an organized, permanent institution that is tax exempt under the regulations of the U.S. Internal Revenue Service;

d)         It meets generally accepted professional standards as in the accreditation programs of the American Association of Museums, American Zoo and Aquarium Association, American Association of Botanical Gardens and Arboretums and other appropriate organizations;

e)         It has a professional staff;

f)         It cares for and owns or utilizes tangible objects;

g)         It is open to the public on a regular schedule, and regularly collects attendance data and maintains sufficient records such that the attendance numbers can be audited;

h)         It presents regularly scheduled programs and exhibits that use and interpret objects for the public according to accepted standards;

i)          It has an established Museum Education Program; and

j)          It has filed timely reports and complied with requirements for previous grant awards.

(Source:  Amended at 28 Ill. Reg. 2201, effective January 26, 2004)