Annual report 2009 - Currier Museum of Art

Dear Members and Friends,
This last fiscal year (July 1, 2008 through June 30, 2009)
was one of achievement and challenge. Strong attendance
throughout the year – almost 70,000 visitors – demonstrated
continued public interest in the “renewed Currier” during the
museum’s first full year of operation in its expanded facility.
The new additions, designed by Ann Beha Architects, received
five architectural awards. The building continues to perform
very well, fulfilling the promise to make more of the collections
publicly accessible.
Early in FY09 the Currier inaugurated its special exhibition
program with two very popular shows: Andy Warhol: Pop
Politics in the fall of 2008 and Building Books: the Art of David
Macaulay in the spring of 2009. The Currier also launched a
new exhibition series celebrating the strong artistic community
of the region with Spotlight New England. The first in the series
highlighted a dramatic site-specific installation by Seacoast
artist Kirsten Reynolds, and the second presented a dynamic
pairing of sculpture and painting by Gary Haven Smith of
Northwood, NH and drawings by Gerald Auten of Norwich, VT.
images
FROM TOP: Visitors enjoy the exhibition Andy
Warhol: Pop Politics.
Visitor pondering the exhibition Building
Books: The Art of David Macaulay.
Visitors explore Spotlight New England
featuring the work of Kirsten Reynolds.
Special exhibitions offered opportunities for many educational
programs through partnerships with colleague institutions like
the Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, the Millyard
Museum, the SEE Science Center, and the Seacoast Children’s
Museum. A young professionals task force provided input into
various programs, especially monthly First Thursdays, in an
effort to engage a new generation of visitors. The IMLS-funded
Art Afterschool project brought docents, staff, and artists to
five afterschool sites in the Manchester area for five months of
programming. This extensive partnership was evaluated by RMC
Research in an effort to strengthen the museum’s offerings for
youth during afterschool hours. The Currier offered two weeks
of programming free of admission to everyone during February
and April school vacations. Making the museum accessible to
as wide an audience as possible became even more important
during these challenging times.
Dear Members and Friends
1