2013 Alberta Museums Association Leadership Award: Engagement

Lethbridge – The Galt Museum & Archives is pleased to announce it will receive the 2013 Alberta Museums Association Leadership Award for Engagement, at the Stories of Alberta Awards Dinner on Friday, September 20, 2013 as part of the AMA's Conference Landscapes to Languages: What Shapes Us? at The Westin Edmonton Hotel.

The Alberta Museums Association (AMA) Leadership Awards are grounded in the belief that excellence, innovation, and creativity form the foundation of outstanding museums. Award categories recognize the exceptional work and innovative thinking in the museum community that contribute to the social, cultural, and educational fabric of Alberta. Award recipients take the lead in creating value, accessibility, and relevance in their communities.

“I believe that the award from the Alberta Museum Association is because of the effort and creativity the Galt staff and volunteers show every day. The process is a conscious use of energy to engage advisors, participants and learners in the history of our area,” says Susan Burrows-Johnson, CEO/Executive Director at the Galt.

“The Galt staff and volunteers are continually searching for ways engage the public with the history of southwestern Alberta,” adds Burrows-Johnson.  “The Galt engages our community as a habit and a foundation of our work. We seek our community’s advice, conversation, and participation. 

“We share the responsibility and opportunity to tell the story of our community with many groups. The Galt staff and volunteers make room for community members to participate in many forms — from asking advice on the exhibition schedule and seeking input on exhibit content to the Lethbridge & District Horticultural Society’s Centennial Native Plants garden and most recently the giant chess set by the Chinook Woodturning Guild, we work with our community to care for the civic museum.”

Charleen Davidson, President of the Galt Board of Directors, believes the Galt’s “commitment to public service and community engagement has been recognized by colleagues in museums across Alberta,” and congratulates the staff and volunteers for “this well-deserved leadership award, and the service to the citizens of this area.” 

In addition to the Galt’s Leadership Award for Engagement, other institutions to receive awards include the Reynolds-Alberta Museum (Leadership Award: Sustainability), Okotoks Museum & Archives (Leadership Award: Education) and Fort Whoop-Up National Historic Site (inaugural Robert R. Janes Award for Social Responsibility). For more information, please visit www.museums.ab.ca.

For more information on current exhibits, programs and events at the Galt Museum & Archives, visit www.galtmuseum.com, call 403.320-3954, or email info@galtmuseum.com.