National Art Galleries From Our University Chosen for Nationwide Examination Directed by the American Alliance of Museums
Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) Joins Museum Social Impact in Practice (MSIIP) Cohort
Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG) has been selected to join the Museum Social Impact in Practice (MSIIP) cohort, a three-year initiative launched in January 2024 by the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
The MSIIP initiative aims to provide technical assistance to museum professionals, helping them measure their social impact using a specialized toolkit developed in a prior project called Measurement of Museum Social Impact (MOMSI). The community of practice formed by MSIIP includes 40 museums from 25 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico.
LUAG, the only museum in Pennsylvania to participate in the MSIIP cohort, is among only five academic museums nationwide that will join this research cohort. Stacie Brennan '03, curator of education at LUAG, expressed her excitement, stating that the MSIIP collaboration aligns with LUAG's mission to be a catalyst for cultural engagement and education.
LUAG boasts a diverse collection of over 20,000 artworks from various time periods and cultures. The galleries' exhibitions are amplified by social, experience-based programs, making them a significant cultural resource for both the university campus and the wider community. LUAG's education and community programming serve a range of audiences, including K-12 students, educators, Lehigh faculty and students, and community members of all ages.
The MSIIP cohort collaboration provides valuable insights that shape future initiatives for LUAG. The university art galleries aim to use the social impact study and cohort to learn and develop best practices to analyze and prioritize their offerings for better audience engagement. LUAG is committed to using the findings from the MSIIP study to drive meaningful, measurable social impact.
The LUAG campus presence includes a network of seven satellite galleries. An outdoor exhibition lines the 1.9-mile long South Bethlehem Greenway, featuring 56 sculptures located across the campus grounds.
Museums, according to William Crow, are vital community assets that create public value and benefit all. By participating in the MSIIP cohort, LUAG demonstrates its dedication to community engagement, impact, and inclusivity, further solidifying its role as a valuable asset to the Lehigh community and beyond.
[1] American Alliance of Museums (AAM) and Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) press release, January 2024.
- Lehigh University Art Galleries (LUAG), as a member of the MSIIP cohort, will receive technical assistance to measure their social impact, using the specialized toolkit developed by the Measurement of Museum Social Impact (MOMSI) project.
- LUAG's mission aligns with the MSIIP collaboration, which aims to be a catalyst for cultural engagement and education, serving a diverse range of audiences, including K-12 students, educators, Lehigh faculty and students, and community members of all ages.
- As one of five academic museums nationwide in the MSIIP cohort, LUAG is dedicated to continuous learning and development, using the social impact study and collaborative insights to analyze and prioritize their offerings for better audience engagement.
- LUAG's commitment to community engagement, impact, and inclusivity is further demonstrated by its extensive campus presence, including seven satellite galleries and an outdoor exhibition along the 1.9-mile South Bethlehem Greenway.
- Through its participation in the MSIIP cohort and by hosting a diverse collection of over 20,000 artworks, LUAG not only serves as a significant cultural resource for Lehigh University's campus but also contributes to the wider community, embracing lifelong learning and online education initiatives in its overall culture of education and self-development.
