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Ohio Museums Association
Annual Awards Programs

CELEBRATING EXCELLENCE IN OHIO'S MUSEUM COMMUNITY

The Ohio Museums Association Annual Awards Program proudly honors outstanding achievement and visual communication. The 2011 Ohio Museums Association Outstanding Achievement Award winners will be recognized at the 2012 Ohio Museums Association’s Annual Conference in Cincinnati, April 15-16. Nominations and entries from the field are considered by a distinguished panel of judges, selected to represent the diversity of the museum community. Eligible institutions include:

Arboretums Botanical Gardens Historic Houses Nature Centers
Aquariums Ethnic Museums Historic Parks Planetariums
Anthropology Museums General Museums Historic Sites Science/Technology Centers
Art Museums Heritage Centers Historical Societies Children/Youth's Museums
Art Centers and Galleries History Museums Natural History Museums Zoos

Visual Communication Awards

Click here to download a Visual Communication Award Entry Form!

The Visual Communication Competition recognizes creative excellence in Ohio museums by its field professionals and organizations producing material for museums. Articles for submission can include, but are not limited to: Annual Reports, Audio-Visual/Electronic Media, Books, Brochures, Catalogs, Campaigns, Education Materials, Fundraising Materials, Institutional Identity, Invitations/Announcements, Newsletters/Magazines, Posters and Press Packs. 

The 2011 entries must be published or distributed between January 1 and December 31, 2011.

Visual Communication Award winners will be recognized at the annual awards ceremony  held in conjunction to the Ohio Museums Association's Annual Conference.

Deadline for submitting 2011 Visual Communication Award Entries: January 31, 2012.

The Visual Communication Competition is open to all organizations producing materials for Ohio museums. Entries will be judged on the overall design of the piece, the appropriateness of design to message, effectiveness of design to audience, and the function of the piece.

Entries in the 2011 Visual Communication Awards will be judged against all entries in their respective budget category. Gold and Silver awards will be made in each budget category where merited, with one entry receiving the overall, Best of Show Award.

Budget categories are based on each institution’s operating budget for the year, not on the budget used to create the individual pieces.

Budget Categories are as follows:

  • Level 1: budgets less than $50,000

  • Level 2: $50,000-$249,999         

  • Level 3: $250,000-499,999

  • Level 4: $500,000-$999,999

  • Level 5: $1 million-$5 million

  • Level 6: budgets over $5 million

There is an entry fee of $25.00 per entry for members, $35.00 per entry for non-members. Fees can be paid by check, payable to The Ohio Museums Association, or by credit card by using the secure PayPal option. Please scroll down for complete PayPal information.

There is no maximum number of entries each institution can submit. Two copies of each entry must be received by the deadline. Materials become the property of OMA unless a stamped, self-addressed mailer is included with entry.

Click here to download a Visual Communication Award Entry Form!

For information on how to become an OMA Member, click on the membership button on the toolbar at the top of this page.  For questions about the Awards, contact Johnna McEntee at the OMA office: 614.297.2375, oma@ohiohistory.org.

OMA Awards of Achievement

Click here to download an Award of Achievement Nomination Form!

The Achievement Award categories were restructured in 2008 to reflect the outstanding quality and caliber of work by Ohio museums and their professionals.
The awards are divided into two groups: Individual Achievement Awards and Institutional Achievement Awards.

Individual Achievement Awards

Professional of the Year—This award recognizes excellence in professional accomplishments and service by an employee of an Ohio Museums Association institutional member.

Emerging Professional of the Year—This award recognizes exceptional promise and potential for emerging professionals in the museum field.

Institutional Achievement Awards

Institution of the Year—An award that recognizes outstanding institutional accomplishments in the field of Ohio museums. A nomination may be made for any project considered to be an outstanding model or best practice. To qualify, an institution must be a member of the Ohio Museums Association.

The following awards will be recognized in two budget categories (less than $500,000 and more than $500,000)

Best Exhibition—An award that recognizes an outstanding exhibition and its related programming.

Best Exhibition Catalog—An award that recognizes innovative partnerships within communities or among other museums.

Best Community Collaboration/Partnership—An award that recognizes innovative partnerships within communities or among other museums.

Best Education/Outreach Program—An award that recognizes outstanding education and/or outreach programs.

Deadline for submitting 2011 Award of Achievement Nominations: January 31, 2012.

Eligibility

  • Anyone may submit a nomination, including staff of the nominated organization

  • A nominee for an institutional award must be an institutional member of OMA; an individual nominee must be affiliated with an institutional member or be an individual member him or herself.

  • Membership information and applications can be found at www.ohiomuseums.org  or by contacting Johnna McEntee at the OMA office: 614.297.2375, oma@ohiohistory.org.

Judging Criteria

Individual Achievement Awards:

Professional Of the Year: Presented for outstanding leadership or professionalism over an extended period of time. Such leadership or professionalism shall be based on the continual growth and development of an organization or specific program.

Emerging Professional of the Year: Presented in recognition of exceptional leadership potential in an emerging professional in the museum field. The nominee must be currently employed by an OMA institutional member and must be working in the field for five years or less.

Institutional Achievement Awards and Program Awards:

Ohio is privileged to have over 1500 museums of all sizes and disciplines. Projects are judged on their merits within the context of their own institutional capacity. Consideration will be given to projects completed within 18 months before the January 31, 2012 deadline.

  • How has the project benefited the public? Judges Favor projects with ambitious outreach over those that are intended mainly to benefit the members of an organization.

  • How has the project enhanced the professionalism of the organization and improve its ability to serve the public? Projects will be evaluated on the basis of relevance to the organization’s mission, and potential for increased institutional capacity.

  • Is the project an outstanding example? Judges look for projects that are innovative and feature new ideas that will provide inspiration for creative development by other institutions, thus moving the field as a whole forward.

Nominating Procedures

Nominations must be received no later than the deadline as posted above.
Submitted materials become the property of OMA unless return is requested at the time of submission with postage-paid shipping labels for return. Awards are judged by a committee.  Each reviewer receives a complete package to review; therefore, five copies of the nomination package must be submitted.  Nominations will be evaluated solely on the materials provided. There is an entry fee of $25.00 per nomination.
Institution nominations should include the following in this order:
  • Nomination abstract (See a detailed description of Abstract criteria below)
  • Mission Statement of the institution
  • A detailed project description, not to exceed 1200 words, explaining the development,     
    implementation, and results of the project.
  • The project budget and sources of funding, including in-kind and staff time
  • Letters of support
  • Exhibition catalogs (required for exhibit and catalog nominees)
  • Press releases, promotional materials, newspaper articles, reviews (limit 6)
  • Supporting materials in the form of activity page or worksheets, teachers’ guides, pre- or
    post-visit materials, etc.
  • Publications, if applicable
  • Photographs as applicable

Individual nominations should include the following in this order:
  • Nomination abstract (See a detailed description of Abstract criteria below)
  • A narrative describing the accomplishments of the individual and how they relate to the particular award, how the individual has had an impact on the organization, the community, and the museum field.  Give detailed examples describing how these accomplishments were exceptional and exceeded routine functions.
  • At least two, but no more than four, letters of support from museum professionals, community leaders, or those who have benefited from the individual’s efforts.
  • Press releases, newspaper articles, citation in professional publications or newsletters.
  • Any other supporting materials that attest to the outstanding accomplishments of the nominee.

Nomination Abstract
  • The name of the award sought by the nominee
  • Nominee information
    • Name and title of person who will accept the award

For an individual nomination
    • Name, address, phone number and e-mail address of the nominee
    • Name, address, phone number and website of his/her affiliated organization

For an institutional nomination
    • Name, address, phone number and website address of the member institution
    • Executive director of the institution with email address and phone number
    • Name of the project being nominated
  • Nominator Information
    • Name, title, phone number and email address of person making the nomination
    • Name, address, phone number and website of his/her affiliated organization
  • Abstract of project or individual accomplishments
    • Summary of Achievement (To be used to write award citation. Please confine this summary to 100 words; provide detailed information in attached materials.)
    • Impact Summary of project or individual accomplishments. (Please confine this summary to 100 words; provide detailed information in attached materials.)
  • For institutional awards only:
    • Annual operating budget of institution
    • Date Project Completed
    • Project Costs (including in-kind and staff time)

Additional Information
Mail nominations to:  Ohio Museums Association
                                      OMA Awards of Achievement
                                      800 E. 17th Ave.
                                      Columbus, OH 43211

Click here to download an Award of Achievement Nomination Form!

Fees can be paid by check, payable to The Ohio Museums Association, or by credit card online at the OMA website www.ohiomuseum.org by using the secure PayPal option.
Please scroll down for complete PayPal information.

There is no maximum number of entries each institution can submit.
Winners will be notified no later than April 2, 2012.

OMA Awards of Achievement will be presented during the Ohio Museums Association's Annual Conference.

Questions can be directed to Johnna McEntee at the Ohio Museums Association office by calling 614.297.2375 or emailing oma@ohiohistory.org.

Submit Award Fees Online using your Credit Card
 The Ohio Museums Association has joined with PayPal, one of the most safe and secure internet payment options, to allow our members to pay for membership fees using their credit card. There is no extra fee to use PayPal. You don't even need a PayPal account!

To use PayPal to submit your membership fees:

  • Fill out the awards nomination form(s) and write PayPal as the payment option
  • Mail, fax or email the form or invoice as usual
  • Click on the appropriate button below to begin the payment process.
    * If you are paying for more than one award entry (i.e. multiple Visual Communication entries, or a Visual Communication entry and an Award of Achievement entry) will need to update your "cart" to reflect the number of award entries you wish to submit
Acceptance Mark

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Ohio Museums Association Award Entry Fees

Visual Communication Award Entry, Member ($25.00)

Visual Communication Award Entry, Non-Member ($35.00)

Award of Achievement Nomination ($25.00)

Congratulations to the 2010 Ohio Museums Association's Annual Awards Winners!

Award winners were announced at the OMA Annual Conference
April 10, 2011 at Walsh University.

Click here for a complete list of the 2010 Visual Communication Award winners and to see their award winning material!

2010 Ohio Museums Association's
Award of Achievement Winners

Outstanding Achievement

Massillon Museum -- "Third Floor Collections Storage Renovation"

After years of planning and needs assessment, the Massillon Museum took on the project to renovate their third floor storage space - formerly left unfinished - and convert it into a thoroughly modern facility with appropriate environmental conditions for the preservation of art and artifacts. 
The renovation also involved the creation of a research room for conferences and other public outreach initiatives, while providing greater community access to the museum’s collections.
Such improvements to facilities, while not glamorous, are essential to the preservation and maintenance of art and historical objects. 
The project was made possible by significant, successful fundraising activities, including obtaining grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Hoover Foundation, the Timken Foundation, the Velma B. Erwin Estate, and private individuals.
The project also received strong support from legislators, museums members, and the local community.
This renovation is a fine example of applying best practices to store and preserve objects in the collection and thus, insure both current and future audiences will be able to enjoy them.
The Ohio Museums Association is proud to present the “Third Floor Collections Storage Renovation Project” with the 2010 award for Outstanding Achievement.

Best Education or Outreach

The Holden Arboretum -- “Growing Students in Science” 

For eight years the Holden Arboretum has served hundreds of school children in 13 school districts.
The Arboretum’s “Growing Students in Science” program provides an excellent example of how to combine an authentic museum and arboretum experience, with outreach to the schools in order to engage both students and educators.
The program includes workshops and other professional development activities for teachers, while supportive classroom materials demonstrate Holden’s commitment to providing pertinent content - which fulfilled school curriculum goals and addressed the Ohio educational standards.
The program has received strong, consistent praise from educators for substantially increasing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of their students in the natural sciences.
Due to the aggressive fundraising by the Arboretum, Holden is able to offer this program at absolutely zero cost to the schools or the students.
This partnership between the Arboretum and the schools has established a significant model of successful collaboration and outreach that may guide science centers, botanical gardens, zoos, and museums in the future.
The Ohio Museums Association is proud to present “Growing Students in Science” with the 2010 Best Education or Outreach Award of Achievement.

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