Dear friends and members,
J U L E CO L L I N S SM I T H MUS E UM OF FINE ART, AU B U RN U N I VERSI T Y M I S S I O N STAT EM EN T
Art changes lives. Our mandate within the larger mission of Auburn University is to preserve, enhance, research and interpret the collections entrusted to us. Through the presentation of compelling exhibitions and programs to our diverse audiences, we foster the transformative power of art. A DM ISSI O N
Free, c o u r t e s y o f t he JCS M B u s i n e s s Partne r S po ns o r s hi ps S TA FF
Janice A l l e n, f in an cial a d mi n i s t r a t o r Melai ne Be nne t t , develo p me n t o f f i c e r Robbi n Bi r m i ng ha m , exe c u t i v e s e c r e t a r y Scott Bi s ho p, curat or of e d u c a t i o n Rebecc a Br e s l e r, educat i o n a s s i s t a n t Matth e w Ca r m i c ha e l , se c u r i t y m a n a g e r Mike Co r t e z, in f orm at ion t e c h n o l o g y s p e c i a l i s t Cindy Co x , m em bersh ip o f f i c e r Debor a h Fr o j o , t our coo r d i n a t o r Danie l l e Fu nde r bu r k , re g i s t r a r Janet G u y nn, m useum d e s i g n e r Todd H a l l , preparat or Kate H a nc o c k Co l e , dev e l o p me n t c o o r d i n a t o r Denni s H a r pe r, curat or of collect ion s a n d e x h i b i t i o n s Charl o t t e R. H e ndr i x , co m m un icat ion s an d ma r ke t i n g Andre w H e nl e y, curat or o f e d u c a t i o n , K – 1 2 H ayle y H i l l be r g, m ult im e d i a s p e c i a l i s t Jessica H u g he s , curat ori a l a s s i s t a n t Laure n H o r t o n, even t s c o o r d i n a t o r Marilyn La u fe r, direct or Renee Ma u r e r, sh op m an a g e r E lla M c N e c e , securit y m a n a g e r Delanne Ro be r t s o n, assi s t a n t p r e p a r a t o r Andy Te nna nt , assist an t d i r e c t o r Marga r e t Wr i g ht , recept i o n i s t E DITO R Cha r l o t t e R. H e n d r i x DE SIGN Ja ne t G u y nn PHOTO GR A P H Y Mi k e C o r te z
jc sm.au burn.edu
For those of you who know me, you realize that I am inherently cautious when it comes to making big changes. I like to gather data, ask for lots of input, measure pros and cons, and develop a strong convincing case before acting. That said, I also know that the huge strides this museum has made over the last dozen years are the result of a positive, proactive attitude that has allowed our leadership team to meet each new challenge head-on. By doing so, JCSM has embraced innovation and advancement as we worked for the future success of this institution. So, with these thoughts in mind, I am presenting to you—our members and friends—some transformative proposals that we hope you will support and embrace as they take effect over the next few months. To begin with, JULE, our award-winning member magazine, has garnered some high praise and great reviews since we launched it in the fall of 2013. We have received positive feedback about the well-written articles and interesting interviews that we regularly include. This year, we have decided to move to a biannual publication. Our members can continue to look forward to in-depth reportage but this approach will now allow our staff to leverage the third publication every year as a thorough annual report. This new issue will provide us the space and time to recap the year’s many activities, compile a complete list of exhibitions, acquisitions, memberships, and acknowledge special donations, significant patronage and showcase institutional successes. As always, you can call the museum for information or refer to the continually updated JCSM website for exact programming and calendar information. I know this is going to be a good thing. Over the last few months, museum staff, representatives from the Office of the University Architect, and a committee comprised of Advisory Board members have been working with consultants Guy Hermann and Jo-Anne Crystoff of Museum Insights to analyze the museum’s resources and physical constraints as they relate to our strategic planning goals, and to realistically study our prospects of achieving those goals. Identifying who we serve as Auburn University’s art museum and what is needed to better serve our many different constituents in the future has provided us solid groundwork for further dialogue. This important information was gathered through many hours of discussions with diverse local focus groups, interviews with our donors, evaluative surveys of our audiences, and engaging talented campus and community leaders who brought their diverse experiences and expertise to the conversation. We also identified benchmark museums as part of the preparation for this report. Our team conducted extensive site visits to the Frederick R. Weisman Art Museum at the University of Minnesota, the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia, and the Harn Museum of Art at the University of Florida. All three are very successful university art museums whose staffs shared with us the good and bad experiences of their day to day operations. It is interesting to note that each of these institutions over the last 20 years have had to expand their own facilities at least once in order to keep pace with their growing programmatic needs. More so, two are positioned as part of a dedicated cultural plaza for their universities, an important point that I will return to in a moment.
/ JCSMau burn For t o urs : JC S Mt o urs @a u b u r n . e d u ©2016 Jule Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art, Auburn University. Auburn University is an equal opportunity educational institution/employer.
ON T H E COV ER: H arold Eu gene “Doc ” Edgerton (A meri c a n, 1 9 0 3 – 1 9 9 0 ), Golf S wing, c a. 1938, v intage ferrotyped gelatin s ilv er p ri nt , i nsc ri b ed in penc il on v ers o: “B all hit on toe of c lu b” and “Simp so n, ” c o urt esy o f Charles I s aac s Photographs . © 2010 MI T. Cou rtes y of MIT Museum .