Award Nomination Guidelines

Please read all guidelines thoroughly before submitting your nomination. 

Each year the Arkansas Museums Association presents awards to celebrate and encourage excellence within Arkansas museums. Successful award recipients will be honored at the upcoming Arkansas Museums Association Annual Meeting. The AMA Awards Committee, comprised of a representative from each district, seeks nominations and serves as the selection committee for AMA. The awards committee assesses all submissions and winners are selected by majority vote. If the committee is unable to identify a suitable achievement, no award is given. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

The Arkansas Museums Association invites nominations in the following categories:

• Award of Outstanding Achievement in Education
  
• Award of Outstanding Achievement in Exhibit Design
  
• Award of Outstanding Achievement in Collections Care Conservation
  
• Award of Outstanding Achievement in Media
  
• Museum Studies / Public History Graduate Student of the Year
  
• Outstanding Museum Volunteer of the Year
  
• Distinguished Museum Professional of the Year
  

Award of Outstanding Achievement in Education:

For children and/or adult programming (not a special event) that advances knowledge and understanding of a particular subject and demonstrates exceptional standards.

Checklist:

1. Provide a description of the educational program. (1200 words or less)

2. Provide copies of any accompanying materials such as a teacher guide, pre- and post-activities, handouts, etc.

3. Provide information as to how the program was relevant to the mission of the museum. (500 words or less)

4. Include evaluations from target audience if available. (Maximum of 5 evaluations)

   
   

Award of Outstanding Achievement in Exhibit Design:

For temporary, permanent, or traveling exhibitions that effectively and distinctively contribute to public understanding of a subject.

(Please be sure to submit your nomination in the correct budget category. There will be two awards—one for museums with an annual budget of less than $150,000 and another for museums with an annual budget of $150,000 or more.)

Checklist:

1. Provide a description of the exhibit. (1200 words or less)

2. State whether the exhibit is permanent, temporary or traveling.

1. If a brochure, catalog or other form of print or digital materials were produced for the sole purpose of accompanying the exhibit, please submit information describing those materials and provide examples.

2. Provide information as to how the exhibit was relevant to the mission of the museum and its benefits to the target audience. (500 words or less)

Award of Outstanding Achievement in Collections Care Conservation:

For excellence in preservation and conservation which highlight the quality of work undertaken on restoration and conservation projects. Demonstrates project and conservation planning and processes of single objects to entire buildings that safe guard for the future generations its historical and/or cultural importance. Preservation and conservation practices may include but are not limited to paper, textiles, paintings (framed or unframed), photographs, ceramics, glass, metal, scientific specimens, bone, leather, and stone.

Checklist:

1. Provide historical significance of the object(s) and its importance in the collection and the mission of the museum. (1200 words or less)

2. Describe the object(s), the conservation method, and provide photographs (pre- and post-conservation).

   
   

Award of Outstanding Achievement in Media:

For outstanding achievement in all forms of media that is distinguished by quality of concept, content and design; effectively reaches the intended target audience; illustrates creativity, clarity, and consistent theme throughout; and exemplifies best practices in the use of graphics, layout, and organization. Media forms may include books and catalogues, brochures, flyers, newsletter (print or digital), guides, podcasts, audio tours, all forms of social media, blogs, interactive kiosks, multimedia installations (photography, video, sound, etc.), website, and any other form.

Checklist:

1. Provide a description of the media project and how it furthers the mission of the museum. (1200 words or less)

2. Describe how this media project is aimed at and effectively reaches the target audience of the museum. (500 words or less)

3. Provide a link or example of the media project.

   
   

Museum Studies / Public History Graduate Student of the Year:

For a graduate student in the area of museum, public history, archival management or related field who has shown academic excellence with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and has a minimum of 12 hours completed in the program. The successful nominee demonstrates initiative in museum and or public history studies and related projects. Has shown a willingness to collaborate with faculty, staff, and other graduate students and is committed to working in the museum, public history, archival management, or related field.

Checklist:

1. State the specific graduate program to which the student is enrolled.

2. Provide the name of the college or university.

3. Provide the name and contact information for the graduate students’ advisor.

4. State the students current GPA.

5. Number of hours completed in the graduate program. (Minimum 12 hours required)

6. College or university faculty must submit nominations. (Required)

7. Nominations by museum staff, fellow graduate students or other individual may accompany the nomination. (Optional)

8. Provide a description as to successful candidate’s academic excellence, the initiative and leadership skills, their willingness to collaborate with faculty, staff, and other graduate students, and what is known of the students’ commitment to working in the museum, public history, archival management or related field. (1200 words or less)

Outstanding Museum Volunteer of the Year:

The outstanding volunteer will have worked with a museum at least two years. Current volunteer duties may include but not be limited to front-desk duties, interpretation, and conservation, processing of collections, tour guide, gift shop sales, inventory design, and grounds maintenance. This individual is non-salaried, volunteer, docent, trustee, and museum associate or similar title. The recipient of the award will have shown outstanding qualities in hospitality, dependability, reliability, trustworthiness, and dedication.

Checklist:

1. Include the number of hours per month the volunteer donates to the museum.

2. Describe the nominee’s involvement and achievement that furthers the mission of the museum and the activities offered. (500 words or less)

3. Provide a description of why this person deserves to be recognized for their service to the museum. (500 words or less)

Distinguished Museum Professional of the Year:

The distinguished museum professional award recognizes an individual who has worked for two or more years within the museum profession and who exemplifies professionalism, teamwork, creativity and vision. This individual collaborates with museum staff, but volunteers, visitors, other agencies and museums, the community, and with those who might pursue a museum career. This individual has made strides within the past year in interpretation, exhibit design, collections and archival management, administration, accounting, marketing, and/or others areas of museum operations.

Checklist:

1. Provide a title, brief job description, and number of years served with the museum. (150 words or less)

2. Provide a statement as to why this person deserves to be recognized for distinguished service to the museum and museum profession. (1200 words or less)