GEORGIA ART MUSEUMS COLLABORATE TO SHARE RESOURCES AND COLLECTIONS ACROSS STATE

THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, ATLANTA, IN COLLABORATION WITH FOUR GEORGIA MUSEUMS, HAS ESTABLISHED THE GEORGIA ART MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND IN THE STATE THAT WILL ALLOW FOR THE SHARING OF RESOURCES AND COLLECTIONS AMONG MUSEUMS IN GEORGIA AND THE SOUTHEAST. THE FIVE PARTNERING MUSEUMS ARE THE HIGH MUSEUM OF ART, THE ALBANY MUSEUM OF ART, THE COLUMBUS MUSEUM, THE TELFAIR MUSEUM OF ART (SAVANNAH) AND THE GEORGIA MUSEUM OF ART (ATHENS). FOR THIS THREE YEAR PILOT INITIATIVE, THESE PARTNERS WILL DRAW ON EACH OTHER'S RESOURCES FOR EXHIBITIONS AND LOANS OF INDIVIDUAL OBJECTS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND CONSULTATIONS AND COLLECTION STORAGE. 'THIS NEW PROGRAM WILL BENEFIT THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA AND WILL BE MUTUALLY VALUABLE TO THE HIGH AND ITS PARTNERS', SAID MICHAEL E SHAPIRO, THE HIGH'S NANCY AND HOLCOMBE T GREEN, JR DIRECTOR. 'JUST AS WE'VE SEEN GREAT SUCCESS FROM OUR PAST PARTNERSHIPS WITH RENOWNED MUSEUMS INCLUDING THE LOUVRE AND THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, WE HOPE TO CREATE A FULL ECOLOGY OF PARTNERSHIPS HERE IN GEORGIA. TOGETHER, WE WILL WORK TO ENGAGE A WIDER AUDIENCE WITH GREAT ART AND EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING, INSPIRE COLLABORATION AND STRONGER RELATIONSHIPS WITH PARTNER INSTITUTIONS AND ENHANCE ART MUSEUMS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE REGION.' DURING THE INITIATIVE, THE PARTNERING MUSEUMS WILL NOT ONLY DRAW ON EACH OTHER, THEY WILL ALSO PARTICIPATE IN CUSTOMIZED WORKSHOPS. WORKSHOP TOPICS INCLUDE FUND-RAISING, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING, EXHIBITION DESIGN AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN CURATORS AND EDUCATORS. THESE MEETINGS WILL CREATE OPPORTUNITIES FOR COLLEAGUES TO SHARE IDEAS, RECEIVE FEEDBACK AND RELAY SUCCESSES. THE GEORGIA ART MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP WILL PROVIDE STAFF MEMBERS FROM EACH INSTITUTION ACCESS TO A STATEWIDE SUPPORT SYSTEM, WHICH WOULD INCLUDE PROFESSIONAL CONSULTATIONS AND CURATORIAL RESIDENCIES.