OMA Award Spotlight - Toledo Museum of Art

On Sunday, April 14, the Ohio Museums Association held our Annual Awards dinner to recognize the winners of our 2018 Awards of Achievement and 2018 Visual Communication Awards, in conjunction with the 2019 Annual Conference in Akron.

In the beautiful Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens Manor House, OMA celebrated the outstanding achievement of Ohio museums in Visual Communications, individual and institutional achievement, and the tireless work museum professionals undertake to help to advance Ohio’s museum community both locally, and on a national level.

Over the next few weeks, we will be highlighting our 2018 OMA Award of Achievement winners with our OMA Award Spotlight. 

OMA Award Spotlight - Awards of Achievement

The Awards of Achievement are presented to reflect the outstanding quality and caliber of work by Ohio museums and their professionals in two categories: Institutional Achievement Awards and Individual Achievement Awards.

Nominations for these awards are incredibly detailed. This in-depth process helps to illustrate how these institutions and individuals have gone “above and beyond” the normal call of duty to support their institution, serve their public and advance the cause of the museum community.

Each year, the review panel is overwhelmed by the outstanding projects, innovative programming and dedication to our field as exhibited in each of the institutional and individual nominations. Congratulations again to each of our award winners! 

Today, we'll be featuring our winner for the 2018 award for Best Education and Outreach over $500,000.

Toledo Museum of Art - Teen Apprentice Program

Teen programs are a given in many museums, but most focus on the museum as the center of the program. The Teen Apprentice program was planned to center on the teens and their needs, using the museum as a tool to help develop future community leaders.

Established in 2015, the Toledo Museum of Art’s Teen Apprentice Program invites youth into the museum to learn more about museum careers, experience Toledo’s vibrant arts community, and collaborate with their peers and museum staff to design quarterly events.

The program includes “introduction to the museum” sessions in the fall and twice-a-month session in the spring where staff from various museum departments share presentations about their roles at TMA and engage the teens in hands-on experience related to the work done by the department. The program concludes with the opportunity for summer employment at the museum.

Teen Apprentices have created youth-focused events known as (Y)our Nights, inclusive parties that invite area teens to experience the museum in their own way – like DJs in the galleries, food, prizes, and opportunities to meet exhibit artists. The Teen Apprentices also design a marketing plan including brand identity, social media posts, and grass-roots marketing initiatives to promote the events.

In the words of one former Teen Apprentice (and current Graphic Design Intern at TMA), “I’ve grown a lot – specifically professionally…because it has been a hands-on learning experience that is setting me up for my career. I’ve grown a lot personally in my understanding of the community here and the importance of being involved. I didn’t appreciate the museum and Toledo in general, before being a Teen Apprentice. The museum is a huge part of my life now.”

Does your museum have an innovative and impactful education or outreach program planned for the 2019 season? Be sure to nominate it for the 2019 award for Best Education and Outreach Partnership! Learn more here.

Support OMA with your
tax-deductible donation!

A contribution to the Ohio Museums Association will help us continue to provide important programs and services to Ohio’s Museums.