Excellence in Design

This award acknowledges extraordinary achievement in design in three categories: Publications/Graphics, Media/Marketing Campaigns, and Exhibition Design.

Publications & Graphics

Historic Hudson Valley – “KOFI’S FIRE: A Spark of Resistance”

KOFI’S FIRE: A Spark of Resistance is an interactive digital graphic novel that brings to life the historic uprising of 1741 in New York City through the perspective of Kofi, a dock worker enslaved by Adolph Philipse. Accused of being a mastermind behind the so-called New York Conspiracy, Kofi's story serves as a gateway for middle and high school students to engage with an often-overlooked chapter of American history. Developed by Historic Hudson Valley (HHV) with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the project integrates rigorous historical scholarship with an immersive digital experience.

Based on primary source analysis and scholarly research, KOFI’S FIRE is a robust educational resource. The digital platform includes maps, timelines, and classroom activities aligned with New York State’s social studies curriculum, supporting educators in teaching about colonial New York and American slavery. HHV has long been a leader in interpreting the history of Northern slavery, having previously developed People Not Property: Stories of Slavery from the Colonial North, a Webby Award-winning documentary that reframed narratives of slavery by highlighting personal experiences, resistance, and community.

Building on this work, KOFI’S FIRE aims to restore empathy and human connection to the historical record by highlighting the Black community’s resilience, solidarity, and resistance—elements often erased from conventional histories of the 1741 uprising.

Media & Marketing

New York Transit Museum – “Subway at 120”

In October 2024, the New York Transit Museum (NYTM) celebrated the 120th anniversary of New York City’s subway with a special exhibit titled The Subway Is…. This exhibit, featuring objects and images from NYTM’s collection, explored the many ways to complete the phrase “The subway is…”—highlighting its role in engineering, infrastructure, community-building, and public art. To extend the reach of this celebration, the Museum launched a multi-channel marketing campaign that engaged audiences worldwide.

The campaign emphasized the deep integration of transit into New York life. Press coverage, social media collaborations, subway station ads, and in-person experiences invited people to reimagine their relationship with the subway. NYTM partnered with major New York institutions like Bryant Park, The Met, and the Museum of Natural History to create Instagram content linking their collections to transit history. Social media users, including influencers, contributed their own stories with the hashtag #TheSubwayIs..., generating engagement across platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

In a creative collaboration with OUTFRONT, NYTM transformed digital screens in subway cars and station platforms into historical “portals.” Archival images, such as vintage maps and early subway construction photos, appeared on screens as “digital doors” opened, allowing commuters to enter the past visually. This interactive experience encouraged riders to explore the Museum’s exhibits further.

Exhibition

Museum of the City of New York – “Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100”

The Museum of the City of New York opened Changing the Face of Democracy: Shirley Chisholm at 100 in June 2024, marking the first museum exhibition dedicated to the groundbreaking New York congresswoman. This visually striking exhibition, designed to engage audiences of all ages, explores Chisholm’s life, political career, and lasting impact through 200 objects, images, hands-on interactives, and bold graphic treatments. The exhibit celebrates Chisholm’s centennial by making her story accessible and highlighting her contributions to American politics.

The exhibition’s design plays a crucial role in conveying Chisholm’s journey. A checkerboard pattern in presidential colors acknowledges her Caribbean heritage and historic political campaigns, from her election to the New York State Assembly in 1964 to her groundbreaking 1972 presidential run. Light wood walls and silver-painted sections reflect the aesthetics of her era and symbolize her lasting influence. Despite the limited archival materials on Chisholm, curators creatively supplemented the exhibit with fine art, campaign memorabilia, costumes, a striking political button installation, and historical materials depicting the communities she championed. Large-scale portraits in the entrance hallway set the tone for an exhibition examining Chisholm’s symbolism and substance.

Engaging Communities

These awards celebrate organizations that use exceptional and resourceful methods to engage their communities and build new audiences. Awards are made based on the size of an organization’s operating budget.

Volunteer - $99,999

Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio – “Shinnecock Speaks”

The Shinnecock Speaks exhibition, held in 2024 at Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio, showcased the work of 27 contemporary Shinnecock artists, emphasizing themes of cultural resilience, sovereignty, and identity. This significant project amplified Shinnecock voices while educating audiences on their history and struggles. Featuring diverse media, including painting, photography, film, and sculpture, the exhibition engaged both the Shinnecock community and the broader Hamptons audience. Artist talks, workshops, and panel discussions encouraged intergenerational conversations, fostering pride and mutual understanding.

To expand its reach, Shinnecock Speaks leveraged digital technology, offering virtual tours, artist interviews, and social media promotion. Collaborations with institutions like the Southampton History Museum and The Church further integrated Shinnecock culture into the Hamptons' artistic scene. Educational programs with schools and universities reinforced the importance of Indigenous perspectives in contemporary art, strengthening connections between the Shinnecock Nation and non-Indigenous audiences.

$100,000 - 250,000

Ganondagan State Historic Site – “WAMPUM/OTGOA”

Ganondagan’s mission focuses on building relationships, particularly healing historical disputes through the Good Mind, a principle of resolving conflicts with respect and understanding. The Wampum/Otgoa exhibit plays a key role in this effort, bringing together Native people from across North America and local communities to honor wampum, which carries Indigenous people's laws, culture, and beliefs. The exhibit emphasized the sacredness of wampum, which serves as a medium for truth and unity.

A key part of the exhibit was the collaboration between Ganondagan and the Musée du Quai Branly – Jacques Chirac in France, where wampum objects had been stored for centuries. Through negotiations, objects were loaned to the museum, and a ceremony welcomed them back to the Native community. The wampum’s importance was reinforced by the words of John Mohawk, Seneca, and the museum president, who highlighted its sacred voice and continued relevance.

The exhibit not only fostered healing between Native communities but also addressed the historical conflict between the French and Seneca. It engaged diverse groups, including school children, local museums, and contemporary Native artists, creating a rich educational experience. Ultimately, the exhibit successfully demonstrated wampum’s ability to heal, protect, and restore peace.

$251,000 - 499,999

The Heckscher Museum of Art – “Soundwalk: Arthur Dove & Helen Torr Cottage”

The Heckscher Museum marked the 25th anniversary of its stewardship of the Arthur Dove/Helen Torr Cottage by increasing accessibility to this historic home by creating an innovative new Soundwalk. Museum staff worked with community members, students, and local artists to produce this new audio experience. Collaborating with Girls Inc. Long Island engaged middle-school students in the design process. An Accessibility Advisory Group was assembled to provide advice and expertise. One of this project's most important and unique aspects became the utilization of community-centered design principles with emergent technology to increase access to the arts and historic spaces.

The museum collaborated with community members, students, and local artists to create the Soundwalk. Middle school students from Girls Inc. Long Island were engaged in the design process, contributing their voices to the project. An Accessibility Advisory Group provided advice and expertise, ensuring the Soundwalk was inclusive and accessible.

$1,000,000 - 4,999,999

Hudson River Museum – “Free First Fridays”

The Hudson River Museum's "Free First Fridays" program, launched in November 2023 with support from the Art Bridges Foundation, offers free admission and innovative programs on the first Friday of each month from 5-8 pm.

The initiative has successfully attracted over 1,200 visitors from diverse zip codes. It aligns with the museum's core values by building relationships with new audiences, engaging current audiences in new ways, and emphasizing innovative interdisciplinary programming.

Based on community needs and audience surveys, the program offers a dynamic range of activities, including dance performances, live music, DJs, theater productions, planetarium shows, and sketching workshops in both English and Spanish. It also collaborates with community-based arts groups throughout the region.

Over $5M

Museum of the City of New York – “Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega”

The Museum of the City of New York's "Byzantine Bembé: New York by Manny Vega" exhibition, its first artist-in-residence program, showcases Vega's work, integral to East Harlem's visual landscape. His mosaics and murals adorn the neighborhood, celebrating Puerto Rican and Latinx figures.

The exhibition explores Vega's "Byzantine Hip-Hop" style, blending ancient mosaic techniques with modern Sharpie drawings, and his storytelling merges community narratives with themes from African deities to urban mythologies. The exhibit has strengthened the museum's bond with El Barrio by offering the community opportunities to engage with Vega's art and the life of a local artist.

Through interactive programs, community members participated in workshops led by Vega, including figure drawing, sketching, mosaic making, and painting. They could also sit for watercolor portraits by Vega, which were then included in the exhibition, and enjoy salsa performances while he created art.

Individual Achievement

The Individual Achievement Award honors a dedicated museum professional or volunteer who played a significant role in advancing their organizations.

Elizabeth B. Jacks

Executive Director Emerita

Thomas Cole National Historic Site

Hired in 2003 as the Founding Executive Director of the Thomas Cole National Historic Site, Jacks left her position at the end of 2024, becoming Executive Director Emerita. During her tenure, she expanded the campus from one building to six, increased the number of staff from one to twenty-four, and grew the organization’s operating budget and visitation by tenfold. Major projects include restoring Cole’s 1839 Old Studio, reconstructing Cole’s 1846 New Studio, restoring the Main House interiors, creating award-winning audiovisual story-telling installations, organizing major traveling exhibitions, publishing over 30 books, mapping a hiking trail to the places that Cole painted, and opening the historic site’s new all-season visitor center building: the Cole Center.

Rising Star

The Rising Star award celebrates museum professionals with five years or less experience who think creatively, inspire change, spark innovation, and exemplify leadership.

Jeremy Dennis

Executive Director, Ma’s House & BIPOC Art Studio

Jeremy Dennis, a Shinnecock Indian Nation member, is the Executive Director of Ma's House & BIPOC Art Studio, Inc., a space for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) artists on the Shinnecock Reservation. A contemporary fine art photographer, Dennis uses his practice to explore themes of Indigenous identity, cultural preservation, and the intersection of modernity and tradition.

Under Dennis' leadership, Ma's House fosters creativity, inclusivity, and cultural exchange. He is known for his collaborative spirit and ability to inspire. He has cultivated a network of artists, scholars, and community leaders who share his vision for equity and justice in the arts. Through the Ma's House residency program, Dennis provides BIPOC artists with space and resources to develop their work while fostering cross-cultural dialogue.

His inclusive and empowering leadership style values the voices of those around him and actively seeks opportunities to uplift others. This has led to partnerships with local and national organizations, broadening Ma's House's reach and ensuring its sustainability as a vital cultural institution.

Steph Adams

Director of Interpretation, Erie Canal Museum

In their two years at the Erie Canal Museum, Adams has been a transformational force in the Museum's interpretation. Beginning as an intern in the summer of 2023, Adams immediately brought a fresh perspective to the Erie Canal Museum, and quickly began advocating for more decisive measures in the Museum's efforts to broaden the Canal's narrative in advance of its bicentennial. Following a successful internship coordinating and leading innovative cycling and walking tours throughout the Canal Corridor, Adams was hired full-time to lead the Museum's interpretation efforts as it began creating an intensive reinterpretation plan.

Adams has been the project lead in several major programs at the Museum, notably as the lead facilitator in several reading and discussion groups focused on Indigenous and women’s history, a collaborative event with the Neighbors of the Onondaga Nation illustrating Indigenous land dispossession, and the Museum’s largest lecture of 2024 featuring a presentation on Indigenous basketmaking. Furthermore, Adams encourages their colleagues to explore new research areas –exploring LGBTQ+, working class, Indigenous and Black communities along the Canal, environmental conservation, religion, and folkways of the Canal.

Anne Ackerson Innovation in Museum Leadership

The Anne Ackerson Innovation in Museum Leadership Award honors a museum professional who made significant contributions to the museum field or to their organization. Award winners are selected for their commitment to accessibility, equity, and inclusion, and their dedicated work towards community engagement, relevance, and sustainability.

Ward Mintz

Ward Mintz’s distinguished career in the arts reflects his deep commitment to advancing museums, promoting diversity, and strengthening connections between art and communities. His leadership has profoundly influenced institutions, the museum profession, and the broader cultural landscape.

As Director of the Museum Program at NYSCA, Ward administered millions in grants, enhancing collaboration among museums. At the Jewish Museum, he oversaw exhibitions like Bridges and Boundaries, exploring African American and Jewish relations. His tenure at the Newark Museum brought impactful initiatives celebrating the city’s cultural diversity. As an educator at FIT, he mentored future museum professionals, leaving a lasting impact on the field.

Ward’s leadership at the Coby Foundation supported exhibitions on textiles and underrepresented artists, emphasizing equity and inclusion. In Kingston, he helped establish the Kingston Arts Commission and contributed to organizations preserving local heritage.

At the Samuel Dorsky Museum of Art, he served as advisory board chair for nearly seven years. Under his leadership, the museum grew its reach and influence with initiatives such as an exhibition on Ben Wigfall, the influential African American artist. Ward also spearheaded programs connecting underserved communities to the arts, fostering accessibility and engagement with new audiences.

Through his transformative leadership at institutions across New York State and beyond, Ward’s career exemplifies the power of museums to inspire, connect, and educate. His enduring legacy continues shaping the museum field, enriching cultural institutions and communities.

Board of Directors Special Achievement Award

The Board of Directors special achievement award is given to individuals or museum projects that deserve exceptional attention.

Clermont State Historic Site: “Redefining The Family: The Livingstons and the Institution of Slavery in Early America”

The exhibition Redefining The Family: The Livingstons and the Institution of Slavery in Early America at Clermont State Historic Site explores the life of Christiana Taylor Livingston Williams and the history of enslavement by the Livingston family. Until 2020, Clermont’s interpretation focused on the Livingstons' achievements, omitting the stories of enslaved individuals, servants, and tenant farmers.

Christiana, born free in 1812 to Barbara Williams, was likely the daughter of her mother’s enslaver, Philip Henry Livingston, making her both a Livingston family member and their property. Due to New York’s gradual manumission laws, she remained enslaved until she was 15. Her story was first publicly shared at Clermont by her descendant, Rep. Christopher Rabb, in 1996.

In 2021, Clermont staff and state historic site officials collaborated with Rabb to research his family’s history and the Livingstons' involvement in slavery. Designers Lindsay Farano and Mark Gregory helped develop the exhibition panels. Open from June 2024 to June 2025, the exhibit broadens Clermont’s narrative and serves as a model for inclusive historical interpretation, emphasizing community engagement and the importance of telling a fuller, more truthful history.

Seward House Museum: “Rooted in Reform”

The Seward House Museum (SHM) has become a leader in carceral storytelling, pushing beyond its comfort zone to explore incarceration’s historical and contemporary impact. This transformation culminated in the exhibition Rooted in Reform, which launched in 2023 and marked a significant shift in SHM’s interpretation, outreach, and programming.

The exhibit tackled difficult narratives, addressing the Seward family’s role in the rise of Auburn Prison and its lasting ties to a system of unfree labor. This was a bold choice for a mid-sized historic house museum in a prison community with deep economic and emotional connections to incarceration. While initially met with skepticism, Rooted in Reform has had a profound impact, reshaping SHM’s programs and interpretation to connect the Seward family’s history with the broader story of American incarceration.

The success of Rooted in Reform demonstrates the power of museums to confront uncomfortable histories, engage communities, and drive meaningful dialogue about justice and equity.