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The awards recognize institutions and individuals who have
gone “above and beyond” the normal call of duty to support
their institution, serve their public, and advance the cause
of the museum community.
Thompson was recognized for her vision and leadership, which
has been transformative for the Museum. She has been
instrumental in the Museum’s strategic planning process,
giving oversight to TMA’s 2020 vision and its
community-focused Master Plan. Her focus on excellence,
using brilliant coaching and mentoring, have improved the
organization’s capacity to deliver successfully for its
visitors and surrounding community. Her relationships with
both the business world and other nonprofits have resulted
in strong collaborative efforts that continue to position
the Museum as a leader in the region and among museums
nationally.
Her efforts as part of the campaign committee helped TMA
raise more than $46 million for the Polishing the Gem
fundraising campaign, which was designed to replenish the
Museum’s endowment after the 2008 crash and allow it to
remain a vital leader in art education. Leading by example,
she and her husband, Ronald, are members of the Founder’s
Circle and established a fund that will support Museum
interns, with a focus on high school students from Toledo
Public Schools (TPS).
“Cynthia’s experiences in the business and nonprofit worlds
give her a great deal of insight,” said Brian Kennedy, TMA’s
Edward Drummond and Florence Scott Libbey director. “She’s
seen amazing success as both an executive and an advisor.
Both of those sensibilities have served the Museum well
indeed. Her vision and leadership are remarkable, and her
accomplishments have been transformative for the Toledo
Museum of Art.”
The Teen Apprentice Program, which was recognized as the
best education and outreach program for museums of similar
size, serves the needs of the youth, the community, and the
Museum, and helps develop future community leaders.
As part of the program, Teen Apprentices visit the Museum on
a regular basis to collaborate with their peers and TMA
staff to design quarterly (Y)our Night events. Additionally,
they learn more about museum careers and Toledo’s vibrant
arts community. During the summer months, participants have
the opportunity to be employed part-time as part of TMA’s
education and engagement department to engage youth and
family visitors and work on projects with visiting artists.
This past year, teens from 33 area high schools—including 8
of 11 TPS high schools—were represented during the (Y)our
Teen Night events. The Teen Apprentice experience has
included the opportunity for summer employment at the
Museum.
The OMA Visual Communication awards recognize creative
excellence in printed and digital materials produced and
distributed by Ohio museums. TMA received a Silver Award for
Creating Community at the Toledo Museum of Art, a
three-minute film that showcases the popular installation
Rebecca Louise Law: Community, which was installed in
Canaday Gallery in 2018. The video, which was created by
Justin Camuso, digital content producer at TMA, includes
interviews with the artist, as well as Halona
Norton-Westbrook, the Museum’s director of curatorial
affairs and Maria Iafelice, TMA’s youth and family programs
manager. An important highlight of the video is showing how
volunteers from the Toledo region played an essential role
in installing the exhibition.
# # #
The Toledo Museum of Art is a nonprofit arts institution
funded through individual donations, foundation grants,
corporate sponsorships and investments. The Ohio Arts
Council helps fund programs at the Toledo Museum of Art
through a sustainability grant program that encourages
economic growth, educational excellence and cultural
enrichment for all Ohioans. Glass Pavilion® and Toledo
Museum of Art Glass Pavilion® are registered service marks.
Admission to the Museum is free. The Museum is open Tuesday
and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 10
a.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, Noon to
5 p.m.; and is closed Monday and major holidays. Thursday
evening hours are sponsored by Huntington Private Client
Group. Friday evening hours are made possible by Fifth Third
Bank.
The Museum is located at 2445 Monroe Street at Scottwood
Avenue, just west of the downtown business district and one
block off I-75 with exit designations posted. For general
information, visitors can call 419-255-8000 or 800-644-6862,
or visit
toledomuseum.org.
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