Institute of Museum and Library Services Honors LUAG with Significant Grant Award
The University Art Galleries (LUAG) at Lehigh University have received a significant boost, thanks to a $65,598 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). The Museums Empowered grant, awarded in September, aims to build capacity, increase impact, and better serve LUAG's diverse audiences.
LUAG's collection spans over 16,000 works of art from diverse cultures and time periods, encompassing various media such as photography, painting, video, and sculpture. This grant will enable LUAG to enhance its organizational management, resulting in more strategic, efficient, and meaningful work for its audience.
The strategic plan, funded by the grant, emphasizes collaborative initiatives that serve Lehigh students, faculty, alumni, local artists, K-12 classrooms, and the wider community. LUAG aims to position itself as a vital cultural resource and an inclusive space for artistic exploration and reflection.
The grant will aid in creating and implementing a strategic plan, training staff, and bringing guest experts to Lehigh. These experts will have opportunities to meet with members of the campus community and interact with the public, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the arts.
LUAG also plans to expand engagement with the region's growing Hispanic and Caribbean community due to its sizeable collection of art from Latin America and the Caribbean. The galleries will work with a local community advisory committee to identify ways to serve the community's needs.
In addition, LUAG shares goals with the university, including a well-rounded student experience and interdisciplinary research and programming. The staff will collaborate with an external consultant and meet with colleagues at peer institutions in New York City and Philadelphia.
The staff will also share the art museum's work at a national conference, showcasing Lehigh's commitment to arts education and public engagement. LUAG's initiatives align with Lehigh University’s broader goals to connect visual arts with curricular work, community outreach, and the celebration of cultural heritage in Bethlehem and beyond.
The grant will also allow LUAG to assess outcomes, focusing on the benefits to people, such as knowledge, skills, attitudes, or behaviors. This approach underscores LUAG's commitment to fostering community engagement and educational outreach.
Recent examples of LUAG's initiatives include Margaret Wertheim's "Hands-On Hyperbolic Construction" workshop in the "Crochet Coral Reef" exhibition, and future collaborations with the university's College of Health on projects exploring the relationship between art, health, and well-being.
With this grant, LUAG looks forward to furthering its role as a dynamic cultural hub within Lehigh and the Bethlehem community.
- The faculty and students at Lehigh University will benefit from the increased impact of LUAG, thanks to the implementation of the Museums Empowered grant.
- The grant will help LUAG to develop and implement a strategic plan that incorporates online education and self-development, enhancing the university's education and research capabilities.
- LUAG's initiatives will focus on fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of art within the community, including collaboration with the region's growing Hispanic and Caribbean community.
- The grant will enable LUAG to assess the outcomes of its educational outreach programs, focusing on factors such as knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors, with the aim of promoting health, culture, and well-being.
