For Immediate Release
Date: June 4, 2015

The Coastal Museums Association (CMA) held its second annual CMA Awards of Excellence on Wednesday, June 3, 2015 to recognize the exceptional educational and cultural programming delivered by local museums and cultural institutions during the 2014 calendar year. The City of Savannah won two awards:

• Excellence in Outreach & Collaboration to City of Savannah, Research Library & Municipal Archives for City Hall Student Art Exhibits. Prompted by Mayor Edna Jackson’s request to bring more local art into City Hall and a desire to reach out and engage local youth, the Research Library and Municipal Archives organized art competitions for local high school and college students that resulted in three long term/permanent exhibits in City Hall. A gallery of the exhibits can be viewed online by visiting www.savannahga.gov/MunicipalArchives.

• Individual of Excellence award for service excellence above-and-beyond to Lacy Brooks at the City of Savannah, Research Library & Municipal Archives for her work on the history of municipal slavery in Savannah, which can be viewed online at www.savannahga.gov/slavery.

“The Coastal Museums Association Board was overwhelmed by the quality and diversity of award applicants this year,” said Sophia Sineath, Vice President of the Coastal Museum Association. “It is exciting for us to recognize the excellent work being done by the historical and cultural institutions that make the Georgia and South Carolina Lowcountry a wonderful place to live and visit.”

The Coastal Museum Association (CMA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit membership organization founded in 1984. CMA is comprised of museums and cultural sites from Savannah and the surrounding coastal area. CMA is dedicated to serving its members by providing a forum for networking, discussing issues impacting the museum community, exchanging ideas and experiences, and facilitating professional development. CMA meets from September through June on the first Wednesdays of every month. Museums, cultural institutions, and individuals are encouraged to join.