American Mural Project Inc

Public programmingamp saw over 6,000 people come through its doors in 2024.public programming includes public access to the exhibit on fridays, saturdays and sundays; special exhibit activities; and public events offered as part of the live @amp series, amp talks, and other similar events. 2024 was the second full calendar year during which the exhibit was available to the public. The exhibit was enhanced with the addition of thirteen audio stories available to exhibit visitors to listen to via amps podcasters or theirown mobile phone. We also piloted a monthly family days program and continued successful 2023 initiatives such as the monthly teen art studio program and the happy hour piano series. Exhibit attendance goals were not met for the year, and we assume that was largely due to the discontinuation of the states summer at the museum grant program which supported free admission for families.the live @amp series and the piano series continued to introduce amp to new audiences. We presented four live @amp concerts of various genres, hosted talks by two mural subjects edwind raymond and melissa bennett - and produced a sandra boynton christmas holiday event.the board and executive director acknowledged the need to hire a full time development director and did so in march of 2024. The person in the role of development consultant helped orient the new development director and transitioned to programming consultant. Other staff changes involved the visitor services/education program coordinator shifting to a part time role of education program coorinator, and the hiring of a full time visitors services/membership program coordinator.

Education programsin its 24-year history, amp has grown through two distinct phases, each with a different focus. The initial years of creating the mural were built on strategic creative partnerships across the country to create each states collaborative project. In recent years, amp has focused programming efforts on establishing its identity and as a place in the winsted community and surrounding towns where learning occurs. Local partnerships with the community college, public schools, local businesses and other arts organizations are the bedrock of amps program growth. Amp has recruited a small, high-caliber group of contracted teaching artists whose innovative ideas for programming and philosophy of working with students reflects amps approach to student directed learning and collaboration.in 2024, amp hosted afterschool programming for winchester elementary school students. Amp also provided weekly summer enrichment programming, monthly teen art studio sessions, field trips for grade schools and for transitional academies serving young adults with special needs, as well as professional development workshops for educators. The internship program, continuing through our partnership with ct state community college northwestern, was expanded to include not only internships in amps education program department and visitor services, but in marketing and events.