FLORENCE COUNTY MUSEUM RECEIVES SOUTHEASTERN MUSEUMS CONFERENCE EXHIBITION AWARD
in recognition of the exhibition Kindred Spirit: The Personal Worlds of William H. Johnson
Florence SC, September 15, 2021 — Florence County Museum is pleased to announce they are the recipient of the 2021 Southeastern Museums Conference Bronze Award in the under $25,000 category for their exhibition Kindred Spirit: The Personal Worlds of William H. Johnson. The SEMC Exhibition Competition showcases the best in the museum profession and provides benchmarks for regional exhibition efforts in southeastern museums.
“We are honored to be recognized by the SEMC and hope this achievement not only promotes our museum, but continues to advance interest and scholarship in the art of William Henry Johnson,” said museum curator, Stephen W. Motte.
The Exhibition Competition recognizes exhibitions for overall excellence or for stretching the limits of content and design through innovation. Winning entries were well-designed exhibitions of merit with educational value which demonstrated respectful treatment of objects. Recipients of the awards were judged by an appointed jury of museum professionals across the region who specialize in curatorial studies and exhibition design.
“I am proud of the Florence County Museum staff for their dedication to providing mindful and interesting exhibitions that help us have a better understanding of our shared community, “ said FCM Director Andrew Stout. “William Henry Johnson is always of special interest to our museum and it is an honor to have the recognition of the SEMC organization for the outstanding work presented at the Florence County Museum.”
Kindred Spirit uses artworks from the museum’s principal collections as well as selections on loan from major partnering institutions in order to interpret Johnson’s life through the lens of the important relationships which defined his development. Of special significance are artworks recently acquired from The Voll Nachlass Sammlung, Denmark. The scope of selections spans 20 years of the artist’s life and includes oil paintings, watercolors, serigraphy, etchings, relief prints, textiles, and sculpture, with subject matter ranging from portraiture, genre scenes, landscapes, and still lifes, as well as biblical and historical imagery.
For many visitors, exhibitions are the public face of museums. The effective planning, management of resources, research and interpretation, collections care, public programs, publications, and fund raising all contribute to the fulfillment of a museum’s mission. Expectations and standards were exceptionally high for this year’s applicants. The SEMC Exhibition Competition received a record-breaking number of applications from a wide variety of museums across the southeast.
Award winners will be celebrated at the 2021 Annual Meeting Awards Ceremony on October 27, 2021 in Chattanooga, Tennessee as well as in the Fall 2021 Edition of INSIDE SEMC, a digital publication of the Southeastern Museums Conference. This designation recognizes the Florence County Museum’s contribution to professional standards in Southeastern museums.
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About the Florence County Museum:
The Florence County Museum reflects the region’s rich artistic, cultural and historic heritage. Through a dynamic range of exhibitions, studios, lectures and family programming, the FCM provides an engaging educational experience to visitors of all ages.
111 West Cheves Street
Florence SC
843.676.1200
http://www.flocomuseum.org/
About the Southeastern Museums Conference:
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC), a nonprofit membership organization, is an association of museums, museum staff, independent professionals and corporate partners. We focus on the Southeastern United State including: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Puerto Rico, and US Virgin Islands.
SEMC works to:
- Provide educational and professional development opportunities
- Improve the interchange of ideas and information
- Encourage respect and collegiality
The Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) is dedicated to providing a safe, inclusive, and welcoming conference experience for everyone. We do not tolerate discrimination or harassment in any form.
For more information about the Southeastern Museums Conference, visit https://www.semcdirect.net/.
