Doing Whatis Impossible

Dear Friends,

I write this new year message to say how grateful I am that you are part of the Albany Museum of Art family. For us, every season is one of gratitude for friends like you. You have enabled us to share with our community an array of exciting, original, and very popular programs this past year, while we plan for even more innovative and impactful programs in 2023. We do this with the talented team of museum professionals I am proud to call my colleagues, an engaged board that supports our mission and vision, and through our partnerships with community allies.

You all may notice several stylistic and design shifts in this edition of our seasonal publication. It is reflective of the wholesale rebranding of the AMA and represents the imaginative and intuitive conscience of this museum whose primary concern is to be the place where all can find themselves, be seen for who they are, and commune with others in the presence of cutting-edge art by up-and-coming regional artists.

As the world has transformed right under our feet these last few years, the AMA has adapted too by building the right culture for the right mission to be a cultural center not just for one segment of Albany’s population, but for a broad and diverse audience that transcends social, political, and geographical barriers. We innovate in order to become a safe haven for “courageous conversations” about political and social issues and a host of other ideas that are in dire need of civil discussion in this world in need of healing.

Our deep-dive area is our power to tailor our programs to community needs and wants. To this end, we base our strategy on things that will not change, remaining aware that so many people live on the edge as they weather the freight of political, social, and economic challenges we all face today.

That is why we work every day to be that safe, stimulating space where all can see themselves and others and connect with one another while in the presence of exceptional examples of artistic creativity. We are a place where kids and adults alike can play creatively through art experiences that serve as a reminder that when we are creative, we have control over our lives. Here at the AMA, there is a life of freedom all can enjoy.

I am often asked what it is like to work in a museum, if it is a quiet place—a temple where we worship the arts—where change happens slowly, where we perhaps live in disconnect from the outside world. I am happy to report that our internal culture does not resemble this assumption in the least. Our workplace is intense, curious, and inspiring. Why? It is this way because we believe in what we do and remain stubborn in our vision to be the hub of artistic and cultural energy in Southwest Georgia. And how do we do this? It takes our whole team, and all of you, to be an ergonomic museum, that responds to real-life events. We as a museum team make this process, for lack of a better term, fun as we navigate the twists and turns of creative interaction that will lead to improved and innovative ways we respond to our vision.

And, of course, while it is business as usual at our current site, we are working daily behind the scenes on design development and construction drawings for our new site in downtown Albany, where we shall break ground on the new museum this summer. So again, how do we approach this reality of substantive challenges, from the fiscal to the creative to the innovative? We—each and every one of us—remain fiercely optimistic, entrepreneurial and creative, and believe we shall achieve the impossible. To borrow the idea from St. Francis of Assisi, we “first do what is necessary. Then do what is possible. Then suddenly you are doing what is impossible.”

From the AMA to all of you, please join me in doing what is necessary and possible as we achieve the impossible.

I wish you a special and spectacular 2023 and we look forward to seeing you here.

Your friend,

Andy

As the world has transformed right under our feet these last few years, the AMA has adapted too by building the right culture for the right mission to be a cultural center not just for one segment of Albany’s population, but for a broad and diverse audience that transcends social, political, and geographical barriers.

AMADirectorof DevelopmentandMembership

ChloeHinton

AMADirectorof Educationand PublicProgramming AnnieVanoteghem

Andrew Wulf Named To Georgia 500 List

In November, Albany Museum of Art Executive Director Andrew J. Wulf, Ph.D., received statewide recognition through his inclusion on Georgia Trend magazine’s inaugural Georgia 500, a comprehensive list of 500 influential local leaders who are driving the state’s economy.

Wulf, who has served at the helm of the AMA since October 2019, was recognized in the Arts, Entertainment & Sports category. Wulf is leading the $34 million project that will result in the Albany Museum of Art relocating from its current location at 311 Meadowlark Drive to the former Belk department store in the 100 block of West Broad Avenue. The move will more than double the amount of usable space for the museum’s exhibitions, events, educational programs, and collections storage. The relocation also is seen as a catalyst for the revitalization of downtown Albany.

“It is a humbling honor to be included in Georgia Trend’s inaugural Georgia 500 cohort,” Wulf said. “I believe in the transformative power of the arts, for individuals and communities. The lion’s share of this recognition goes to the AMA’s team of extraordinary museum professionals. This honor motivates me to continue with the deepest commitment to this work, my team, our museum stakeholders, and Albany, Georgia itself, the place my family and I are delighted and proud to call home.”

Semc Presentation

On the week of Oct 24, Albany Museum of Art Director of Development and Membership Chloe Hinton, and AMA partner Todd Ahrens, Vice President of Arts Consulting Group, presented at the Southeastern Museum Conference. They shared information on what it takes to prepare for and start a capital campaign.

Grantmakers Alliance Presentation

Albany students traveled with the Albany Museum of Art to the Atlanta Botanical Gardens to participate in a panel discussion Nov 30 at the Georgia Grantmakers Alliance conference. During the panel, these students discussed the impact of AMA’s Courageous Conversations About Race program.

During their presentation, the students broached the uncomfortable and tough conversations that are necessary, illustrating the importance of the conversations continuing and growing in Albany. The AMA plans to expand this program to teachers, college students, and community leaders with the support of the United Way of Southwest Georgia.

Participants were Brianna McCoy, Dougherty High School student; Anna Plowden, Westover High School graduate; Sophie Singleton, Deerfield-Windsor School student; Jovi Hall, DWS student; Leeann Feng, Lee County High School student; Jayla Carmichael, DHS student, and Tobias Brown, DHS student.

Accompanying the students were AMA Director of Education and Public Programming Annie Vanoteghem and Director of Development and Membership Chloe Hinton; United Way of Southwest Georgia President and CEO Shaunae Motley and Special Projects Manager Philip Gentry, and parents Brandi Singleton and Joshua McCoy.