$39K in expenses
Exhibitions-Special exhibitions,which include work by contemporary artists as well as Steffen Thomas,serve as a cornerstone for the museums programs. The more permanent displays of Thomass work are located in the Main Gallery,History Gallery,and Steffen Thomas Family Gallery. Temporary exhibitions occur in the West Gallery. The exhibition Something to Declare was on view August 12,2023, to January 6,2024,and featured the work of 12 Georgia-based Hispanic artists representing 9 Latin American countries. Something to Declare was not only an excellent opportunity to connect with the growing Latin American communities in our area,and across the state,but will also help to educate our non-Latin community members about the rich diversity of Latin America and the contributions artists from across the Americas make to contemporary art and culture here in Georgia. The work,and the artists were incredibly well-received,several works sold,and many new people wereintroduced to the museum. The second exhibition was titled Peace in Our Time:Steffen Thomas Meisterwerke from the Lowrance Collection and showcased 100 of work of Thomass art from the Dick and Marge Lowrance bequest of Steffen Thomas art that we received in 2022. Effectively doubling STMAs permanent collection,this important body of work represents the very best of Thomass art,spanning his sixth-year career. The art collection contains over 300 works in many media that Thomas explored and mastered: sculpture in metal,wood,stone,and plaster; mosaic in hand-made frames and on hand-made furniture; painting in oil,acrylic,encaustic,and mixed media; watercolor;drawing; printmaking in etching,woodcut,linocut,lithograph,and collagraph. Peace in Our Time was on view January 23 to July 23,2024.
$29K in expenses
Free School Tours at the Steffen Thomas Museum-STMA is committed to arts accessiblity for all students with a focus on providing positive arts experiences for underserved students in our rural area. These students are primarily from Title 1 public schools in Morgan,Putnam,Greene and other surrounding counties,as well as children in extracurricular programs like the Boys and Girls club. Students are taken on a tour of the museum guided by STMA staff or docents who educate and engage them in group discussion on a number of valuable topics:the relativity of art to our students and our world,modern art history and history timelines (both related and unrelated to Steffen Thomas),how to identify various art techniques and media, symbolism and iconography,and how to engage with artwork in a museum/gallery setting. School tours are carefully designed in coordination with the themes of our permanent collection and special exhibitions to support and align with goals of GA Standards of Excellence for Visual Arts. This program is provided at no cost for the students, teachers,and schools. In addition,each student will receivea guest pass to return to the museum for free with their families. Guest passes are printed with in Spanish on one side,and English on the reverse.
$92K in expenses
Public Programs-STMAs consistently offers adult and family programs that are thoughtful,engaging,and free or low-cost. Opening receptions for special exhibitions are a community favorite and always free to attend these receptions bring together artists,collectors,museum members,and many new faces from our surrounding counties,and from Atlanta,Athens,and Augusta...and beyond. These crowds are always intergenerational, ethically diverse,and thrumming with interesting conversation and ne connections. Gallery Talks (free,during the Something to Declare exhibition)and the 3 Cs:Curating,Collecting,Conserving program (ticketed,during the Peace in Our Time exhibition)provided opportunities for museum visitors to interact directly with artists,curators,and other creatives in a more intimate setting. Fiesta del Museo,a free family day event in conjunction with Something to Declare,featured live music with Orquesta MaCuba salsa band, Taco Solis food truck (locally owned by the Solis family),art-making activity (papel picado with two local Hispanic high school students),and more.
