WMA receives challenge grant, must raise matching funds
The Wiregrass Museum of Art (WMA) has received a multi-year challenge grant from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama for a total amount of $120,000 over three years. The grant will provide $40,000 each year in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for unrestricted funding to support WMA’s annual arts programming and daily operations, but must be matched dollar-for-dollar to receive it each year.
“The quality arts programming of WMA makes for a vibrant Wiregrass region. The Daniel Foundation of Alabama is pleased to support their impressive work and to issue this challenge encouraging the community’s support of WMA,” said Maria Kennedy, executive director of The Daniel Foundation of Alabama.
With this grant and additional community giving, the museum will sustain more than 90 annual happenings, including events and programs that attract people of all ages, from toddlers to seniors. WMA offers free daily admission, and creates monthly family days, seasonal festivals, classes and workshops with area and visiting artists, as well as special after-hours opportunities for area creatives to connect.
Additionally, grant funds will support the creation of up to 14 annual exhibitions with artists from Alabama and across the Southeast, and will provide needed funding for collections care and management for art objects which WMA holds in the public trust. This grant and community giving will also ensure that new areas of programming within the museum’s 2023-2025 Strategic Plan are well positioned for growth, like outreach programs focused on health and wellness, expanded visitor experiences with interpretation for toddlers, families, and seniors, and comprehensive marketing and communication planning.
“WMA is grateful for this opportunity from The Daniel Foundation of Alabama, and we’re asking individuals and businesses in the Wiregrass community and beyond to contribute to the museum’s mission. The museum is an anchor for downtown Dothan, and has a wide impact across the Southeast Region. We make arts participation more accessible for residents and visitors, partner to provide crucially needed arts education services for area school systems, and our role as an essential part of the creative ecosystem makes the Wiregrass a better place to live, work, and learn. We’re grateful for 35 years of support from Wiregrass residents, and are excited about meeting this challenge to expand access to quality art experiences for our community,” said Dana-Marie Lemmer, WMA’s executive director and curator.
For more information about the challenge grant or WMA’s annual arts programming, call 334-794-3871 or visit wiregrassmuseum.org/donate. The Wiregrass Museum of Art is located at 126 Museum Avenue in downtown Dothan, and open to the public Wednesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
To make a contribution and help WMA meet this challenge grant, visit wiregrassmuseum.org/donate
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