November, 2012.
The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced the Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami, Florida as one of 10 recipients of this year’s National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The nation’s highest honor conferred on museums and libraries for service to the community, the National Medal celebrates institutions that make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. The National Medal was presented at a celebration in Washington, D.C. on November 14, 2012.
The Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami serves one of America’s most diverse areas through educational programming with goals of keeping students in school, improving literacy, empowering women, deterring unsocial behavior, and easing feelings of isolation through the universal language of art. Among its acclaimed outreach initiatives is Women on the Rise! – a program that serves teen girls in the community and trains local artists to go into such facilities as juvenile detention centers where it helps female detainees learn how to express themselves through art. Additional community art programs encourage children to take pride in their community. The museum’s innovative classes, workshops and seminars forge creativity and inspire students of all ages to become lifelong learners.
“Museums and libraries serve as community gathering places and centers for lifelong learning, and we are very proud to name the Museum of Contemporary Art one of this year’s National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners,” said Susan Hildreth, director, Institute of Museum and Library Services. “This year’s National Medal recipients demonstrate the many ways libraries and museums build strong communities and provide opportunities for individual success. Innovative programs are teaching residents how to read late in life, inspiring children to dream, using technology to offer e-books on the go, bridging cultural differences, and more.”
“It is a great honor to receive the National Medal for Museum and Library Service. At the Museum of Contemporary Art, we have always recognized the transformative power of art in changing lives,” said Bonnie Clearwater, executive director and chief curator of the Museum of Contemporary Art. “ Building a strong cultural life in the community is one of the main goals of our education programs, which serve more than 20,000 children, teens and adults annually.”
Twenty-two-year-old Kassandra Timothe, who began volunteering at MOCA when she was in middle school and was enrolled in the museum’s teen programs, will travel to Washington with Ms. Clearwater and share the impact the Museum of Contemporary Art has had on her life during the November 14 celebration.
This year’s honorees exemplify the nation’s great diversity of libraries and museums and include a school library, county library systems, individual libraries, children’s museums, an art museum, science centers, a park conservancy, and more, hailing from 10 different states. Medal winners are selected from nationwide nominations of institutions that demonstrate innovative approaches to public service, exceeding the expected levels of community outreach. For a complete list of 2012 recipients and to learn more about the 2012 National Medal winners, please visit www.imls.gov/medals.
Museum of Contemporary Art
770 NE 125th Street
North Miami, FL 33161
305.893.6211
www.mocanomi.org
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