The Montclair Art Museum Receives Prestigious State Arts Awards for Excellence

April 27, 2011 - PRLog -- The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) has been designated a Major Arts Organization by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts for its solid history of excellence in substantial arts programming and contribution to increasing the quality of life in New Jersey. This marks the 13th straight year that MAM has been accorded this designation. Additionally, MAM received a Citation of Excellence, which is given to the Major Arts Organizations that receive the highest evaluation by the review panel. State Arts Council leadership held an awards reception recently in Trenton to recognize the importance of the work of the Montclair Art Museum.

These awards, the State Arts Council’s most prestigious marks of distinction, are designated based on grant application review and conferred upon the Montclair Art Museum for the duration of the grant period for which funding is received.

MAM’s director, Lora Urbanelli, said: “We are so pleased that the Museum’s efforts to deliver excellence in arts programming to New Jersey residents and beyond are recognized by the State year after year.”

Urbanelli continued: “We are also extremely grateful for the ongoing support we have received from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. Together with other sources of support—especially our loyal and valued donors— it has been critical in helping us fulfill our ambitious goals. We are especially excited about our upcoming exhibition season, which this fall will include the launch of our contemporary art program with both outdoor and indoor video installations by Marina Zurkow, who was just named a 2011 Guggenheim Fellow, as well as a traveling exhibition, Spectacular of Vernacular, which will examine the role of common, culturally specific imagery in the work of 20 contemporary artists. A special exhibition of the work of a grand master of late 19th-century painting, George Inness—a resident of Montclair from 1885 to 1894—will display works coming mostly from the walls of Montclair–area collectors. We are also very excited about our brand new Digital Media Studio, which will begin offering classes this summer. Kids, teens, and adults can learn about digital photography, building a website, and creating videos and animation. The support we receive from everyone, individuals and organizations, allows us to continually explore new avenues of our mission, even in this tough climate, and take on new challenges.”

For more information about the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, visit www.njartscouncil.org.

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The Montclair Art Museum (MAM) presents exhibitions and programs that reflect its collection of historic and contemporary American and Native American art. MAM's Yard School of Art offers classes for people of all ages.