Adam Clark, manager of visitor experience
Achievements In February, museum staff traveled to Kennesaw, Georgia, for the annual Georgia Association of Museums Conference. Michele Turner , former director of annual giving and donor relations, presented “Fundraising Galas: Home Runs or More of a ‘Swing and a Miss’?” Turner also chaired “Celebrating Milestones,” a look back at the museum’s 75th anniversary in 2023, with panelists Hillary Brown , director of communications, and Callan Steinman , director of learning and engagement. Tricia Miller , deputy director of collections and exhibitions and head registrar, chaired “Why Haven’t I thought of This Before?: Tips & Tricks of the Trade” and helped lead a collections roundtable. In March, Steinmann presented “Conversations with Colleagues: Campus and Community” during the National Art Education Association’s convention in Chicago. Steinmann currently serves as the southeastern-elect representative for the NAEA’s Museum Education Division. Shawnya Harris , Larry D. and Brenda A. Thompson Curator of African American and African Diasporic Art, spoke at “Sculptural Legacies: A Curatorial Roundtable on Emma Stebbins, Edmonia Lewis and John Rhoden,” a virtual panel discussion hosted by the Heckscher Museum of Art in Huntington, New York, in March. She was joined by Jeffrey Richmond-Moll, George Putnam Curator of American Art at the Peabody Essex Museum and former curator of American art at the Georgia Museum, who co-curated “Edmonia Lewis: Said in Stone.” The museum recently received two grants to support student internships. The International Fine Prints & Drawings Association awarded $3500 for a curatorial internship, held by Isabel Grady and supervised by Nelda Damiano, focused on the museum’s print collection. The Association of Art Museum Directors provided funding for an internship, held by Paige Carter and supervised by Hillary Brown, focused on public relations and social media video.
5th-Grade Tours The museum’s 5th-grade tours program welcomed a total of 886 students from all 14 elementary schools in the Clarke County School District in 2026. This program would not be possible without the dedication of our community docents, who led 69 groups of 5th-graders this season. Each tour visits several stops throughout the museum’s permanent collection and temporary exhibitions. Docents lead a variety of gallery activities themed around the highlighted artworks to encourage close looking and discussion. “Our community docents make it possible to welcome students from pre-K through 12th grade year-round,” said Kaitlyn Loyd, associate curator of school, youth and family programs. “They volunteer their time to inspire creative curiosity and lifelong connections between our community and the museum. Their commitment ensures that every student, regardless of background, has access to enriching, hands-on learning experiences that extend beyond our galleries.” Upcoming Gallery Changes In September, the Phoebe and Ed Forio Gallery will be reinstalled with decorative art objects selected by independent public historian Amber Albert (see page 20 for an article about the changes). A new selection of contemporary artwork from the museum’s permanent collection will go on view in the Virginia and Alfred Kennedy Gallery this fall.
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