WMA receives grant from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama

DOTHAN:  The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) is pleased to announce it has received a grant in the amount of $30,000 from the Daniel Foundation of Alabama for exhibitions and programming support. Money from the grant is to be used within a year and will fund exhibitions and related arts programming from the summer of 2017 through the summer of 2018.

The grant, which was awarded in the Daniel Foundation's Arts, Culture and Community Assets priority category, will primarily support WMA in its efforts to promote and celebrate Alabama art and artists, including exhibitions and programming related to the observance of Alabama's bicentennial. Qualifying activities will include exhibitions featuring Alabama and regional artists, public lectures and visiting artist workshops.

Past support from the Daniel Foundation has funded WMA exhibitions including Made in Alabama, which featured the work of eight artists and makers from around the state; B16: Wiregrass Biennial; and Soul Glow: A Black Experience, featuring work from Birmingham, Alabama-based artist Darius Hill.

"We are grateful for the support from the Daniel Foundation over the years. This is the second year in a row they have awarded the museum funds for exhibitions and artist-related programs. I believe this speaks to the caliber of work we are bringing in and our shared commitment to the arts and artists of Alabama," said WMA Director and Curator Dana-Marie Lemmer.

With increased funding from the Daniel Foundation in the coming year, WMA will host at least 12 exhibitions along with unique artist interactions throughout the grant period. They will include Butch Anthony's Museum of Wonder, an exploration of the influence of place on the process of art making; Folktopia, guest curated by folk art collector and gallery owner Marcia Weber; Full Circle: A Decade in the Deep South, a glass exhibition featuring work by Mark Leputa; a showcase of photographs by P.H. Polk on loan from the University of Alabama's Paul R. Jones Collection of American Art; an exhibition of mixed media portraits of Alabama artists by Doug Baulos, an assistant professor of drawing and bookmaking at the University of Alabama at Birmingham; and selections from the permanent collection.

"We are pleased to support the diverse programming the Wiregrass Museum of Art brings to southeast Alabama, and excited about the opportunities to celebrate the Alabama bicentennial through the arts," said Maria Kennedy, executive director of the Daniel Foundation of Alabama.

  

About the Daniel Foundation of Alabama
The Daniel Foundation of Alabama's mission is to strengthen communities within Alabama and improve the quality of life for citizens from all regions of Alabama. This is achieved through support of effective organizations that are focused on building a healthy and well-educated population, living in a vibrant community.

 

The Wiregrass Museum of Art inspires a lifelong appreciation for the visual arts by providing innovative educational programs that engage diverse audiences through the collection and exhibition of quality works.

Since its founding in 1988, WMA has offered educational programs, nationally-acclaimed art exhibitions and community events throughout the year. Its Board of Trustees guides the long-term vision and strategic goals, while its membership, City and County support, and grant funding provide the resources needed to fulfill its mission. Because of the scarcity of art education in schools, the WMA Board of Trustees and staff have the responsibility to provide quality, accessible exhibitions and to reach out into the community through art education efforts. WMA fills crucial cultural needs in the Wiregrass area.