Ringling Receives Awards from Florida Association of Museums
SARASOTA, Fla. – Jan. 13, 2005 – The Florida Association of Museums (FAM) honored employees and volunteers from The John and Mable Museum of Art during its annual service awards program on Dec.10, 2004. The Ringling Events Department earned the Innovator Award, Jennifer Lemmer, Tibbals Collection Manager, won Outstanding New Professional and Jan Silberstein captured the Outstanding Volunteer award.
In a unique twist, the Innovator Award, usually awarded to an individual, was given to the entire team in the Ringling Events Department. Through their own initiative the department developed a plan to showcase the Museum, bring many first-time guests to the Museum, and offer the local community very affordable events in a stunning setting. The Events Department’s creation of Third Thursday, Cocktails at Cà d' Zan and the Courtyard Concerts have been enormously successful. From Nov. 2003 to May 2004, these events attracted more than 6,000 people and raised over $20,000 for education programs at the Museum. Both events are being continued this season.
Jennifer Lemmer won the award for Outstanding New Professional. Jennifer joined the Archives and Circus Museum staff in 2002. Since then, she has embarked on a massive digitization project of the Howard Tibbals circus collection, involving more than 1,000,000 objects. The digitization project included wardrobe design sketches, historical photos documenting the circus that Mr. Tibbals used to build the model, and his 4,961-piece poster collection. The new Tibbals Learning Center will double the size of the Circus Museum and is scheduled to open in early 2006.
Volunteer Jan Silberstein won the award for Outstanding volunteer. Ms. Silberstein has enjoyed volunteering at Ringling for 26 years. Assisting the curatorial staff and archivist, she helps compile historical documents that create an archival data base of artists who have had works exhibited at the Museum since its opening in 1931.
The awarding of these honors from the prestigious Florida Association of Museums is another source of great pride for Ringling employees and volunteers, and the entire Sarasota community.
General Admission includes the special exhibition, Ringling Museum of Art, Cà d’Zan Mansion, Circus Museum, Rose Garden and 66 acres of landscaped grounds. Adults are $15; senior citizens (65 and over) are $12. Free Admission for children 12 and under accompanied by an adult, museum members, and Florida students and teachers with valid ID cards. Information Line: 941.351.1660. Advance Tickets are recommended; call 941.358.3180.
The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, Florida State University, is the state art museum of Florida. It preserves, develops, and enhances the legacy of John and Mable Ringling and engages and educates a large and diverse audience in a world-renowned collection of art, Cà d'Zan (the Ringlings’ mansion) and its historic contents, collections documenting the circus and its history, the historic Asolo Theater, and the architecture, courtyard, gardens, and grounds overlooking Sarasota Bay.
The Museum’s exhibitions and programs are made possible in part through support by the Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax through the Board of County Commissioners, the Tourist Development Council and the Sarasota County Arts Council; the State of Florida, Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Florida Arts Council; and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership, and a lifetime of learning.