The Museum Association of New York Awards Meredith Horsford for its Inaugural 2019 Annual Conference Cassetti Scholarship

Troy, NY — The Museum Association of New York (MANY) has awarded Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Executive Director Meredith Horsford its inaugural Cassetti Annual Conference Scholarship. The Scholarship Committee had many exceptional nominees from across New York State to consider, but Meredith’s nomination quickly rose to the top in the selection process.

Over the past four years, Meredith has focused on creating an inclusive community resource through expanded public program offerings and a growing list of community partnerships. Her nominator Donald Rice, Dyckman Farmhouse Museum Alliance (DFMA) Board President, noted that under Horsford’s supervision the DFMA has added board members from the local community, installed bilingual interpretive signage, increased community partnerships and began working with local artists to create exhibitions. Rice stated in his nomination, “These remarkable achievements pushed us toward the future with a complete and inclusive narrative, to better serve the neighborhoods of Inwood and Washington Heights and fulfill the mission of DFMA.”

“As the director of a small nonprofit organization, the Cassetti Scholarship will allow me to attend the 2019 Museum Association of New York Conference, where I will be part of a panel that will address how cultural organizations use their values as a spring board to infuse diversity, equity and inclusion in their programming and internal operations,” Meredith said in response to her scholarship award announcement. “This is also a great opportunity to engage with and learn from my peers and bring back new ideas to my staff.”

The scholarship was created to recognize Robert K. Cassetti’s, Senior Director of Creative Strategy and Visitor Engagement at the Corning Museum of Glass and former Museum Association of New York Board President, significant contribution to the advancement of New York’s museum field. This is MANY’s first, full scholarship for a museum professional to attend the annual conference.

Robert Cassetti stated, “I am honored that the scholarship will provide the support for this dynamic museum professional to attend the MANY conference.”

The scholarship includes conference registration, two nights in the conference hotel, and a $150.00 travel stipend.