WASHINGTON – April 21, 2021 – The International Spy Museum (SPY), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit museum, has been awarded a $150,000 grant from the Pritzker Military Foundation, on behalf of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library, to support youth and adult educational programs and initiatives related to espionage and the Cold War.

The grant will support a slate of live virtual and in-person public education programs for youth and adult audiences as well as digital curriculum and resources inspired by pivotal moments of and iconic symbols from the Cold War. Designed to expand public understanding of the significance of this period in history within the context of intelligence and national security, these programs will illuminate learnings and themes that are especially relevant to civic life today.

“We are deeply grateful for the generous support of the Pritzker Military Foundation, and for this exciting partnership with the Pritzker Military Museum & Library,” said Spy Museum Executive Director Col. Christopher P. Costa. “The Cold War was a particularly compelling ‘golden era’ for espionage, with nations spying on each other in new and innovative ways, and it is a major touchpoint in the Museum’s foremost collection and exhibits. We are delighted that with support from the Museum & Library, we can bring these stories to life for the public in new and innovative ways.”

Programs supported by this grant include the Spy Museum’s 15th annual Parade of Trabants; a lecture series featuring recipients of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing; and programs for youth and educators focused on the Cuban Missile Crisis and on fake news and propaganda. A culminating program featuring workshops, presentations, and “real spies” will be held in Spring 2022 at the Museum & Library in Chicago.

“We are excited to be putting an important focus on the Cold War,” stated Susan Rifkin, Chief Operating Officer of Philanthropic Activities and acting CEO of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library. “Through our programming this year, the Museum & Library’s 2021 Gala, our upcoming Cold War Veterans Memorial at our new archive facility in Wisconsin, and now, our partnership with the Spy Museum, we are shining a light on this impactful era of military and human history.”

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About the International Spy Museum
The International Spy Museum, an independent nonprofit organization, is the only public museum in the United States to lift the veil on the tradecraft, history, and contemporary role of espionage and intelligence from a global perspective. The mission of the International Spy Museum is to educate the public about espionage and intelligence in an engaging way and to provide a context that fosters understanding of their important role and impact on current and historic events. The Museum's collection chronicles the history of espionage, from its inception to the modern-day challenges facing intelligence professionals worldwide in the 21st Century. The original Spy Museum opened in 2002. Its new, expanded building and all-new exhibitions opened in May 2019 to much acclaim.

For more information, please visit spymuseum.org.

About the Pritzker Military Foundation
The Pritzker Military Foundation seeks to support the work of both the Pritzker Military Museum & Library—and similar nonprofit organizations—to preserve American military history, restore historic military artifacts and make them accessible to the public, and provide services and essential resources to active-duty military, veterans and families of service members in all branches of the United States Armed Forces.

To learn more, visit www.pritzkermilitaryfoundation.org.

About the Pritzker Military Museum & Library
The Pritzker Military Museum & Library aims to increase the public’s understanding of military history, military affairs and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military - past, present, and future - with a specific focus on their stories, sacrifices, and values. With national and global reach, these spaces and events aim to share the stories of those who served and their contributions as citizen soldiers, helping citizens everywhere appreciate the relationship between the armed forces and the civilians whose freedoms they protect. A non-governmental, non-partisan organization, the Museum & Library features diverse collections, scholarly initiatives, and public programs from its flagship center in downtown Chicago to its world-class research center and park currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin.