Art Museum Day 2017

The Theme of Art Museum Day 2017: Art Museums Foster Vibrant Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts:
Claire Ertl, Director of Marketing & Public Relations
724.837.1500 x128
certl@thewestmoreland.org
Charlene Bidula, Manager of Communications
cbidula@thewestmoreland.org
GREENSBURG, PA, Thursday, May 11, 2017 — The Westmoreland Museum of American Art announced today that it will offer free admission on Thursday, May 18, 2017 as part of the Association of Art Museum Directors’ (AAMD) Art Museum Day. Last year, The Westmoreland—along with more than 175 other AAMD member museums across North America—participated in Art Museum Day.
The theme of this year’s Art Museum Day is Art Museums Foster Vibrant Communities. AAMD members across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico will be offering programs and initiatives to celebrate the arts and the important role art museums play in their communities. In addition to bringing the best of human creativity to people across North America, museums serve as engines for the creative economy, partners with school systems and civic organizations, and anchors for public spaces and neighborhoods, making their regions better places for everyone who lives and works there.
The Westmoreland invites visitors to share their experiences on Art Museum Day via social media, with the hashtag #ArtMuseumDay.
“It is always our aim to emphasize that The Westmoreland is an accessible museum for the community. That it is your Museum,” states Judith H. O’Toole, The Richard M. Scaife Director/CEO. “In particular, because we are a museum of American art, visitors are able to connect with American history and see the various facets of our country through the eyes of artists. We are happy to be a part of this annual national initiative celebrating the role art museums play in their communities and hope our visitors’ experiences will inspire a dialogue with us. Throughout the day we will invite visitors to tell us about the role they believe we play in the community and what they might want to see from us in the future through a special feedback station set up in our lobby and through social media.”
“The arts are shared by people across every time period and every place—creativity is a vital part of what makes us human and what makes our cities and towns better places to live,” said Chris Anagnos, Executive Director of AAMD. “On Art Museum Day, museums across North America invite everyone to come together with their families, friends, and neighbors to celebrate that creative spirit, connect in common experiences, and see new points of view. AAMD greatly appreciates The Westmoreland’s participation in Art Museum Day, and the contributions all art museums make to the vibrancy, economy, and strength of their communities.”
AAMD represents 245 art museums across the United States, Canada, and Mexico—from regional museums in small towns to large museums in major urban centers. International Museum Day is organized annually around the world by the International Council of Museums (ICOM). AAMD’s Art Museum Day is an opportunity to focus attention on the role of art museums in North America, as part of ICOM’s global celebration. A comprehensive list of participating AAMD member art museums will be available on the AAMD website. Note that while AAMD’s Art Museum Day and ICOM’s International Museum Day are formally held each year on May 18, some institutions shift their celebrations to adjacent dates.
About The Westmoreland Museum of American Art
The Westmoreland Museum of American Art, located at 221 N. Main Street in Greensburg, PA, completed a transformational renovation and expansion project in October 2015. A new LEED-certified addition of over 13,000 square feet features a dynamic cantilevered design along with a stunning view of the City of Greensburg and the Laurel Highlands beyond. The Westmoreland’s permanent collection is comprised of works by major American artists from the 18th century through the present, with a special emphasis on Southwestern Pennsylvania art and artists. The Museum also offers an impressive schedule of temporary exhibitions of American art – both nationally-travelling and those organized in house – as well as events and community-oriented educational programming for all ages. More information is available at thewestmoreland.org.
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