Museumwise Awards of Merit

Plowline: Images of Rural New York, The Farmers' Museum collecting initiative, assembles original photography documenting changes in agricultural practice, rural life and farming families in New York State from the 1840s through the present. All content, nearly 1,000 images to date, is available on the project website. Plowline allows the museum to fulfill its collecting mission in a sustainable and meaningful way, providing essential illustration to visitors who are increasingly detached from agriculture.

Reviewer Remarks - As many museums struggle to fulfill their collecting mandate in the face of dwindling resources and packed facilities, this project may show a practical way forward.  A wonderful example of what can be achieved despite limited resources.  An impressive array of research, content development, audience outreach and related creative programming. Bravo!    

Got Class? Status and Power in Early America Program Series
Interpreting Our World
Historic Cherry Hill and Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site, Albany, NY

Historic Cherry Hill in partnership with Schuyler Mansion State Historic Site presented a program series, Got Class? Status and Power in Early America, which explored the thesis that America is not a classless society and never has been. The five programs: a dramatic tour, lectures, a bus trip and a panel discussion on class today were held at venues throughout the Capital District attracting new audiences and highlighting a provocative and relevant issue.

Reviewer Remarks - An excellent example of not only deploying scholarship on class to a general audience, but also a unique way to deliver professional museum programming during a time of physical disruption and transition at Cherry Hill.    

​Becky Watrous, Historic Cherry Hill, accepts award from Museumwise Board Member, Ken Shefsiek.  Photo by Ashley Hopkins-Benton

The Worked/Wild exhibition crafted by the Essex County Historical Society explores how the Adirondack landscape has determined the path of its human history. The exhibition addresses complex themes and differing perspectives that emerged from extensive community discussions about the meaning of the worlds Worked and Wild as they relate to the Adirondacks and the people who live there.

Reviewer Remarks - Great community-focused exhibit that draws from outside the museum.

Since 2008, the Historic House Trust of New York City has coordinated its Annual Historic House Festival to celebrate the social and architectural history of New York City through its residences. The Festival celebrates our culinary history and contemporary food trends with food-themed events at all 23 historic houses. Event highlights include a special event at Gracie Mansion, borough-wide bike tours and an event tour guide available through an EVERYTRAIL smartphone application.

Reviewer Remarks - Great collaboration effort and the result is impressive levels of attendance for historic houses. Fantastic food-related interpretive theme that is highly relevant today.

​Franklin Vagnone, Historic House Trust, talks about the Historic House Festival.

The Erie Canal Museum created two outstanding new projects that made Syracuse’s most important historical element – the Erie Canal – come to life during ArtsWeek 2011. 
ARTerie –  a collaboration with volunteers from the community group 40 Below – used blue paint to transform two blocks of the street that replaced the Erie Canal through Syracuse 70 years ago into both “water once again” and a giant barcode to scan.
The concurrent re-decking of the vessel Nathan Roberts, featured actor and craftsman, Dennis Heaphy, in character as his own great grandfather, replacing the deck of a canal boat in the museum’s outdoor exhibit.

Reviewer Remarks - These are engaging programs that enliven the museum's participation in a community event.

Tara Fracalossi's commitment, energy and ability have willed The Teaching Gallery at SUNY’s Hudson Valley Community College into existence.  The Teaching Gallery’s expansive exhibitions and the Gallery Management Program that functions alongside the Gallery are products of her efforts. Working with limited resources and time Ms. Fracalossi's accomplishments rest on her indefatigable effort. In creating The Teaching Gallery Tara Fracalossi has enriched and broadened the cultural landscape of the College, its students and the region.

Reviewer Remarks - Ms. Fracalossi has an impressive record of commitment and success in bringing arts programming to HVCC & reflects an increased impact on the field through her graduating students.

1861: Banners for Glory, commemorates the start of the Civil War by showcasing eight flags that date to the war's dramatic opening and illustrate the patriotic devotion and courage of all New Yorkers. Each flag was presented by, and represented, a local community. Text panels and images detail the year's significant battles and home-front developments and leading personalities-- soldiers, politicians, abolitionists, and community leaders.

Reviewer Remarks - This represents a heroic effort to conserve and share our endangered heritage.

The Niagara County Historical Society (The History Center) wrote a new chapter in its own history when it opened the new Penney Gallery and Resource Room in August, 2011 to house the 5,000 piece Niagara Collection donated by famed area collector and philanthropist, Dr. Charles Rand Penney. This milestone completed a three-year process to plan, fundraise and construct a new world-class exhibition gallery and best-practice storage facility within the History Center's Erie Canal Discovery Center in Lockport NY.

Reviewer Remarks - An innovative way to break collections free from storage that keeps them before the public