Tennessee State Museum Wins Multiple Awards at State Conference

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — April 2, 2018 — The Tennessee State Museum was recognized with six awards at the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) Awards Ceremony on March 21 at the Latta Performing Arts Center in Selmer, Tennessee. A list of awards follows.

Awards of Excellence:

• Temporary Exhibit:  Alan Shuptrine: Appalachian Watercolors of the Serpentine Chain
• Publication: School Tour Brochure
• Educational Event: Homeschool Day at the Tennessee State Museum

Awards of Commendation:

• WWI Declaration Day Ceremony, in collaboration with the Great War Commission, Tennessee State Parks and the Tennessee Dept. of Veterans Services.
• A Tennessee Waltz 25th Anniversary Program

Curatorial Assistant Sharon Osofsky won the Emerging Professional Award.

“I am very proud of the exhibitions, events, and educational programming that the Tennessee State Museum has organized over the past year,” stated Ashley Howell, Tennessee State Museum Executive Director. “It is very rewarding for our work to be recognized by historians and museum professionals statewide, especially during this exciting time as we plan for the new Tennessee State Museum to open in October.” 

About the Tennessee Association of Museums
Founded in 1960, the Tennessee Association of Museums fosters communication and cooperation between museums, cultural societies, and other members on matters of common interest to all. Our goal is to inform the public on the importance of understanding and preserving Tennessee's cultural, historical, and scientific heritage. We also encourage publication and dissemination of information on the state's past as well as the development of professional standards of members who bring that past to the public.

About the Tennessee State Museum
The Tennessee State Museum was established by law in 1937 “to bring together the various collections of articles, specimens, and relics now owned by the State under one divisional head,” and “to provide for a transfer of exhibits wherever they may be.”  

Today, the Tennessee State Museum is housed in the James K. Polk building in downtown Nashville, where it has been for nearly 37 years. Gov. Bill Haslam proposed and the Tennessee General Assembly approved $120 million in the FY-2015-16 budget to build a new home for the Tennessee State Museum on the Bicentennial Mall to maximize the state’s rich history by creating a state-of-the-art educational asset and tourist attraction for the state. The governor also announced that $40 million would be raised in private funds for the project.

A 140,000 square foot facility is being built on the northwest corner of the Bicentennial Mall at the corner of Rosa Parks Boulevard and Jefferson Street to tell Tennessee’s story in a way that the museum is unable to do in its current and outdated location by showcasing one-of-a-kind artifacts, art and historical documents in an interactive and engaging way.

# # #

For further information contact:
Joe Pagetta
Director of Communications
Direct: 615-741-5134
Joseph.Pagetta@tn.gov