Map & Directions Vault Expansion Project is in the Works
In December of 2008 the Noyes Museum of Art was awarded a grant by the National Endowment for the Humanities to modernize the storage for the Museum’s permanent collection. The project was considered a National Endowment for the Humanities “We the People” project. “The goal of the “We the People” initiative is to encourage and strengthen the teaching, study, and understanding of American history and culture through the support of projects that explore significant events and themes in our nation’s history and culture and that advance knowledge of the principles that define America.”
To coincide with the grant awarded the Museum is in the process of constructing new storage in the vaults of the permanent collection to accommodate for more room due to the increasing amount of recent acquisitions to the Museum’s permanent collection.
The Noyes Museum of Art is excited about the new acquisitions to its permanent collection and is featuring these pieces in a new exhibition called Currents on display from July 2, 2009 to October 4, 2009. This exhibition showcases recent acquisitions to our permanent collection, which are being exhibited for the first time. Nine of the prints in the exhibition Currents came from the Brodsky Center for Innovative Editions at Rutgers University.
The Noyes Museum of Art's Executive Director, Michael Cagno, Attended IMLS Forum
The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) held a forum, entitled "Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action," on June 16 and 17 in Buffalo, New York. The forum brought together front-line leaders in the movement to save America’s collections for future generations. At its conclusion, participants had concrete information and fresh inspiration for keeping the health of collections, in their own institutions and in their communities, central at a time of reduced resources.
IMLS hosted this forum in cooperation with Heritage Preservation, the American Institute for the Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works, and the Art Conservation Department of Buffalo State College, State University of New York. "Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action" was the fourth in the series of IMLS forums in the Connecting to Collections National Tour. The forum took place at the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, with a reception and Connections Lab at the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Participation in the forum was free of charge.
"Stewardship of America’s Legacy: Answering the Call to Action," explored how committed individuals, ranging from small town librarians to directors of national conservation training programs, can work together to improve collections care and to inspire and inform others, both nationally and in their communities. Speakers addressed ways to make the case for collections funding, cutting-edge topics in collections care, using networks to tap into expertise, and engaging the public in sustaining the nation’s collections.
The keynote speaker was Maxwell L. Anderson, who as The Melvin & Bren Simon Director and CEO of the Indianapolis Museum of Art has successfully made collections care central to the museum’s mission, operations, and outreach.
Participants in this forum:
- Attended plenary sessions of panels with speakers who have successfully addressed issues of significance for smaller institutions.
- Participated in a complimentary lunchtime "Connections Lab" with opportunities to engage speakers, representatives of funding agencies, and other resource representatives.
- Took home a specially prepared resources packet.
- Learned about IMLS funding programs by meeting with IMLS staff and representatives of institutions that have received IMLS grants.
- Received complimentary admission to the Albright-Knox Art Gallery and the Burchfield Penney Art Center.
- Had the opportunity to tour the conservation labs at the Art Conservation Department of Buffalo State College.
The Noyes Museum Receives the IMLS Connecting to Collections Bookshelf
On August 5, 2008 The Noyes Museum of Art was awarded the Institute of Museum and Library Services’ Connecting to Collections Bookshelf. The receipt of this award was preceded by an application and evaluation process and provides the Museum with a library of “essential texts, DVDs, charts and other conservation resources designed to assist in caring for (our) collections.” These resources have been added to the Museum’s library and are accessible to the public and researchers with 24 hour advance notice.We are pleased to be the recipients of this award and extend our gratitude to IMLS for providing this wonderful opportunity.
The IMLS Connecting to Collections initiative was formed in response to the 2005 study, A Public Trust at Risk: The Heritage Health Index Report on the State of America’s Collections, mentioned in the July newsletter.Connecting to Collections has been launched “to raise public awareness of the importance of caring for our treasures, and to underscore the fact that these collections are essential to the American story.” To read more about this national initiative visit the IMLS website at www.imls.gov/collections.
Purple Martin Palace is Revitalized
In the fall of 2007 the Museum participated in the Conservation Assessment Program in which a professional conservation assessor visited for two days, surveyed the building and collections, and made recommendations for their improvement and preservation. The Noyes has been pursuing these recommendations ever since and one particular project suggested was to revitalize our 500 lb. Purple Martin Palace with a careful dusting, vacuuming out each individual “birdhouse”, and placing the winter plugs to protect the openings.
On Monday, July 21, 2008 we were able to complete this project and our Purple Martin Palace looks spectacular.We were able to remove years of dust and field debris from the interior, rotate the Palace to highlight a new face and place the plugs to prevent any further debris from entering the individual “homes”.These tasks add years of enjoyment to the Palace by removing dust and debris accumulation which can contribute to deterioration.
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