WMA receives technology and publication awards at 2020 Southeastern Museums Conference
DOTHAN, Alabama – November 5, 2020 – The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) is the recipient of five awards at the 2020 Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC), including three in the technology category and two in publications. Award winners were recognized at SEMC’s annual conference, held virtually this year in October. The designations recognize WMA’s contribution to professional standards in Southeastern museums.
WMA received a gold medal for the website and digital marketing campaign developed for its 2019 Yard Party for Art (YPA) event. The silver medal in this category went to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art (Bentonville, Ark.) for their project, “Trails & Grounds Takeover with Clay Baker,” and the bronze medal was awarded to Georgia Museum of Art (Athens, Ga.) for their “Daily Inspirations on Instagram” series.
The museum took a silver medal for the design and launch of its WMA museum app, developed with the support of a grant from the Wiregrass Foundation. The app, which became available for free download from both the Apple and Google Play app stores in January of 2020, gives users to access information about exhibiting artists, audio tours of exhibitions, and special in-gallery-only content delivered through the use of beacon technology. The app also provides information about museum programming and events.
WMA also received a silver medal for the design of the hand screen-printed souvenir poster created for YPA; a bronze medal for the design of WMA’s FY19 annual report, and an honorable mention for media production for its One Night Only member event, which is normally held in person but was transitioned to a virtual event in 2020 due to health mandates related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re honored to be recognized alongside our peers in the museum field for excellence in technology and publications. We may be a small museum in comparison to other awardees, but WMA prioritizes quality, professionalism, and relevance in all the work we do,” said Dana-Marie Lemmer, WMA’s executive director and curator.
“To receive these awards during an especially challenging year for museums makes this all the more important, and we’re looking forward to creating innovative work in the future,” said Lemmer.
WMA worked closely with PushCrankPress, a full-service advertising and design firm based in Dothan, on the development and production of the award-winning publications, museum app, and other digital products.
In the technology competition, winning entries were expected to demonstrate innovation, effective design, accessibility, creativity, and recognition of institutional identity. Recipients of the awards were judged by an appointed jury of museum professionals across the region who specialize in the fields of digital media and technology.
“Our partnership with the Wiregrass Museum of Art has led down many unexpected and exciting paths through the years. WMA’s consistent willingness to blend art and technology as a means to further their vision and reach provides a great platform for experimentation and innovation. These particular projects provided a great outlet for the creativity, artistic abilities and inventive spirit of our team, so we were quite proud to hear that our collaborative efforts have been recognized on this stage,” said Dave Brown, a partner at PushCrankPress.
As technology gains importance throughout the museum field, expectations and standards were exceptionally high for this year’s applicants. The SEMC Technology Competition received a record-breaking number of applications from a wide variety of museums across the Southeast.
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC), a nonprofit membership organization, is an association of museums, museum staff, independent professionals and corporate partners. We focus on the Southeastern United State including: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands.
SEMC works to:
- Provide educational and professional development opportunities
- Improve the interchange of ideas and information
- Encourage respect and collegiality
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming conference experience for everyone. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form.
For more information about the Southeastern Museums Conference, visit https://www.semcdirect.net/.
About the Wiregrass Museum of Art
The Wiregrass Museum of Art inspires a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts by providing innovative educational programs that engage diverse audiences through the collection and exhibition of quality works. Since its founding in 1988, WMA has offered educational programs, nationally-acclaimed art exhibitions and community events throughout the year. Its Board of Trustees guides the long-term vision and strategic goals, while its membership, City and County support, and grant funding provide the resources needed to fulfill its mission.
WMA’s galleries are open to the public every Wednesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. General admission is always free.
Contact:
Lara Kosolapoff-Wright
Communications Manager, WMA
334.794.3871 x 27
lara@wiregrassmuseum.org