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Hirschhorn Foundation Endows Community Outreach Coordinator Postition at the Walters Art Museum
11/7/2007

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts:
Amy Mannarino                        
410-547-9000, ext. 277                       
amannarino@thewalters.org                    

Jessica Weglein
410-547-9000, ext. 394
jweglein@thewalters.org

HIRSCHHORN FOUNDATION ENDOWS COMMUNITY OUTREACH COORDINATOR POSITION AT THE WALTERS ART MUSEUM

Baltimore—The David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, Inc. has granted the Walters Art Museum $750,000 over five years to create an endowment supporting The David Hirschhorn Community Outreach Coordinator position. Within the museum’s education division, this position will strive to build and expand new audiences for the Walters, especially those traditionally underserved by the museum.

“This is a wonderful tribute to David Hirschhorn who served as a museum trustee from 1982 to 1993,” said Walters Director Gary Vikan. “The generosity of this grant will allow the Walters to honor his dedication to the institution and continue to fulfill the museum’s mission ‘to bring art and people together for enjoyment, discovery and learning’.”

“My father had a deep commitment to broaden access to the arts so we are pleased the foundation can honor his legacy with a grant that will expand the museum’s ability to serve the public,” said Daniel B. Hirschhorn, president of the David and Barbara B. Hirschhorn Foundation, Inc.

The new coordinator will develop and promote museum programs and events for target audiences by working with diverse arts organizations, community partners, neighborhood associations and social service agencies. The Walters envisions the coordinator facilitating community input and participation in select exhibitions and programs both inside and outside the museum. The coordinator may also build on successful projects that engage contemporary artists with the historical collections of the museum.

“The education division is happy to be able to establish a position devoted to approaching diverse communities, cultivating and engaging new audiences, developing programs that appeal to a variety of groups and encouraging the usage of the Walters as a community gathering place,” said Jackie Copeland, director of education and public programs at the Walters. “What’s most exciting is that we are developing a 21st-century community outreach program that promotes the Walters as a resource for learning and cultural development.”

The Walters Art Museum is located in Baltimore’s historic Mount Vernon Cultural District at North Charles and Centre streets. Its permanent collection includes ancient art, medieval art and manuscripts, decorative objects, Asian art and Old Master and 19th-century paintings.  Peabody Court is the official hotel of the Walters Art Museum. For hotel reservations, call 1-800-292-5500.