SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES NEW SERIES OF WORKSHOPS FOR 2023 CENTERED AROUND “HONORING AND CELEBRATING”

The Savannah African Art Museum has announced this year’s theme of “Honoring and Celebrating” and lineup of upcoming workshops. This will be a three-part series centered around honoring & celebrating ancestors, family traditions, trailblazers, and the earth. Each workshop will be interactive with hands on activities for all participants. The first installment will focus on “Honoring”, with the first event scheduled for January 14 at their Upbeat Village Terracotta Gallery, 201 East 37th Street, Savannah.

Continue reading

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES LINE-UP FOR ADULT EDUCATION CLASSES ON GENDER IDENTITY

SAVANNAH, GA – OCT. 20, 2022 The Savannah African Art Museum announces a new series of free adult education classes, “Becoming Gendered: Gender Identity in Africa”. This three-part series will feature classes “Creating Gender, Making Art”, “Gender through the Igbo Lens”, and “Mukanda Models of Gender”.

Each class will be led by Edwin Hamilton Johnson, Ph.D. and will focus on gender within the context of traditional, sub-Saharan, African societies. Although gender is often defined in terms of biology, this series will focus on the culturally sanctioned and derived nature and significance of gender identity. This lecture series will look at initiation societies, masquerades, and other practices that perpetuate cultural norms relating to gender.

“It’s interesting to see the similarities and differences between our cultural norms and the African norms,” Johnson said. “These classes will put into perspective the importance of gender in traditional African societies and how it has shaped their communities.”

“Creating Gender, Making Art” will take place Friday, October 21 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. This class combines a general introduction to the current state of gender studies coupled with how it applies to the analysis of gender within the context of traditional African societies. This is combined with how gender is granted, and norms are perpetuated through initiation societies and professions among a select sampling of traditional African societies.

“Gender through the Igbo Lens” will take place Friday, November 18 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. This class will continue its focus on the subject of gender with a special focus on the Igbo peoples of southeastern Nigeria. It begins with a look at how the novel, Things Fall Apart by the Igbo artist Chinua Achebe, touches upon gender issues within the context of a traditional Igbo community from an Igbo perspective. This lecture also includes how ritual and art is used within traditional Igbo communities to perpetuate gender roles, norms, archetypes and stereotypes within these patriarchal communities.

“Mukanda Models of Gender” will take place Friday, December 30 from 3:00-4:00 p.m. This third and final class in the series focuses on the Mukanda initiation society. Not only is this a look into the initiation society as an institution, it also looks at how it negotiates with the subject of gender. This includes how the Mukanda society disseminates ideal examples of gender types. This lecture also looks at how rituals are used to reinforce cultural norms of behavior and relationships between genders.

Each class is free to the public, with prior registration, and will be held on the second floor of the Upbeat Village Terracotta Gallery, located at 201 East 37th St Savannah, GA 31401. This location is stair access only. An online version of this lecture will be provided through Facebook Live.

For more information or to register for an in-person class, please visit https://www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org/classes/becominggendered2022

The Savannah African Art Museum is a non-profit institution devoted to spreading awareness and appreciation of African culture. They hold a collection of over 1,000 objects that hail from West and Central Africa. The museum’s collection spans over 28 countries and represents over 180 cultures. For more information about the museum, access virtual tours, workshops, and initiatives, please visits www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or follow them on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest using the handle @SavannahAfricanArtMuseum.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.coom or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950.

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM’S FALL WORKSHOP SERIES SHINES A LIGHT ON AFRICAN SYMBOLISM PAST AND PRESENT

SAVANNAH, GA. – OCT. 6, 2022 – Savannah African Art Museum will continue its fall workshops lineup, slated to run through Saturday, Dec. 10. The series’ theme focuses on past and present-day use of African symbols in African art and culture, as well as pop culture. All workshops will be held on Saturdays from 11am – 1pm at the Savannah African Art Museum, 2nd floor of the Terracotta Gallery Workshop Room, at 201 E. 37th Street/corner of Abercorn Street.

The Oct. 8 workshop will consist of a tour of the Cowrie Shell Exhibit and creating bracelets with cowrie shells, beads, and other materials. Those who have seen the film “Woman King,” may have noticed the Dahomey Warriors were adorned in cowrie shells. Come and learn more about the origin of the shells, their prestige, economic, cultural, sacred significance, and importance. See the beautiful artwork of West & Central Africa created with them.

Patrons of the Nov. 12 workshop will receive a tour of the King Ibrahim Njoya Exhibit & create a short basic comic strip. Many were fans of the “Black Panther” Marvel comic before it became a 2018 blockbuster film and highly anticipated sequel with a Nov. 11 release date. Note the creative symbols (jewelry, colors, etc.) used to represent characters, themes, etc. Come join us to learn about this historic king and his creation of a writing system using symbols to maintain the Bamum people’s culture, which is still used today; and learn about his nephew, Africa’s first comic book author.

Rounding out the last of the fall workshops is the Kwanzaa banner workshop on Dec. 10. Attendees will design and decorate a Kwanzaa banner for their home or as a Kwanzaa gift. Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African celebration based on the agricultural harvest celebrations of Africa called “First Fruits,” which are times of harvest, ingathering, reverence, commemoration, recommitment, and celebration. Harvest festivals are celebrated all over Africa and are filled with lots of music, singing, and dancing, with dancers adorned in traditional masks and costumes, some of what is seen in the museum’s collection. Come learn the roots of this African American cultural celebration and how it is celebrated while making a keepsake or a gift.

“This fall, we are enjoying a lineup of hands-on and informative workshops for people of ages  of 6-up to participate in, Education Coordinator Lisa Jackson said. “Seeing people engaged during our workshops as they embrace more about African art and culture, is one of the many reasons we love doing what we do.”

To register for the workshops, please visit the Eventbrite link located under the desired workshop’s page on SAAMs website at www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org/ 

The Savannah African Art Museum is a non-profit institution devoted to spreading awareness and appreciation of African culture. They hold a collection of over 1,000 objects that hail from West and Central Africa. The museum’s collection spans over 28 countries and represents over 180 cultures.

For more information about the museum, access virtual tours, workshops, and initiatives, please visits www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or follow the museum on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Pinterest using the handle @SavannahAfricanArtMuseum.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.coom or 912-547-3100, or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950.

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM COLLABORATES WITH THE CARNEGIE LIBRARY TO HOST A “TELLING YOUR STORY” WORKSHOP – AUG. 27

Savannah, Ga. – August 18, 2022 – The Savannah African Art Museum in collaboration with the historic Carnegie Library will host a “Telling Your Story” Workshop at 11 a.m. on August 27 at the Carnegie Library, located on 537 East Henry Street in Savannah.

This workshop will celebrate Carnegie Library’s 108th anniversary and its remarkable journey by having attendees write their stories. Attendees will create a personalized journal to begin authoring their own stories by expressing who they are, their gifts/talents, victories, aspirations, and more. They will have access to African print fabric, Adinkra symbol stamps and other stamps to design and decorate their journals; along with a list of Affirmations, African Proverbs and Quotes as inspirations to get started. Attendees are invited to bring a photo of themselves to personalize their journals.

This activity will be accompanied by viewing a Ted Talk video from award-winning Nigerian author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, entitled “The Danger of a Single Story.” She shares how she found her authentic cultural voice and warns that if we hear only a single story about another person or country, we risk crucial misunderstandings.

“Storytelling is an art that takes many mediums, whether it be through the spoken word, written word, performance arts or visual arts. We feel it is so important for all people to have a platform to create their own life narratives and share their stories, said the museum’s Education and Outreach Coordinator, Lisa Jackson. “We are proud to collaborate with the Carnegie Library  with this workshop, engaging in the African tradition of storytelling and celebrating the library’s story!

This workshop is free and open to the public, but reservations are required. To learn more about the museum, upcoming workshops, and the museum’s newest collections, please visit www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org and follow the museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @SavannahAfricanArtMuseum.

The Savannah African Art Museum is a nonprofit institution that introduces all audiences to African art and culture. Its mission is to provide engaging experiences that educate and start conversations about the power, diversity, and spirituality of African art.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950, Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100, or the LFPR office at 912-417-5377.

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM TO HOST SECOND ANNUAL JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION

SAVANNAH, GA – MAY 31, 2022 – The Savannah African Art Museum will hold its second annual Juneteenth Celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, June 18, 2022, on the museum grounds, at 201 E. 37 St. The festivities will reflect on and honor the past while celebrating the future. This event will feature music and dancing, spoken word performances, a marketplace, African food samples, and more. The event is free and open to the community, but donations are welcomed and appreciated.

This year’s Juneteenth theme is Sankofa, an African word from the Akan people in Ghana. The literal translation is, it is not taboo to fetch what is at risk of being left behind” – they believe the past serves as a guide for planning the future. The Akan people believe wisdom is derived from creating a robust knowledge of the past. To accomplish this, the Savannah African Art Museum invites the public to celebrate Juneteenth as the museum exhibits African roots and makes its world history connections through music, art, food, and storytelling. The museum will also share information of local resources and services available. Please be aware there will be limited disability parking available with a valid State Disability Parking Permit. Some seating will also be available, but patrons are welcome to bring their own folding camp or lawn chairs to the event.

Some of the activities and attractions Juneteenth attendees can expect to enjoy include tours of the museum’s West African collection, performances by Deep Slam Artists, presentations from the Pinpoint Museum on Gullah/Geechee history and culture, Dancing to African & African influenced music by DJ Santiago, Zumba with Mai Evans, African Food Samples, Ghanaian fine artist William Kwamena-Poh, Fine Artist Viyanca, The African Diaspora Marketplace, Savanna Naturals, Ari’s Handmade Jewelry, voter registration opportunities, and informational tables hosted by the African-American Health Information & Resource Center, the Bull Street Library’s Kaye Kole Genealogy & Local History Room, and the Book Nation of Dreamers, Children’s literacy program.

Juneteenth is the oldest national date of remembrance and celebration of the abolition of chattel slavery in the United States, dating back to June 19, 1865, when Union soldiers, led by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger landed at Galveston, Texas, with news that the war had ended and the enslaved were now free. This came two and a half years after President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, as there were not enough Union troops in Texas to regulate and enforce its order. However, it was after Gen. Robert Lee’s surrender in April 1865 and the arrival of Gen. Granger’s regiment that the forces were finally strong enough to overcome the resistance of enslavers and all slaves were then set free on what became known as Freedom Day – Juneteenth.

The news was met with shock and utter joy. The day became a celebratory time for prayer, song, and the telling of stories about Africa by the elders, as families gathered and sought other relatives from plantations near and far. Education, empowerment, and self-improvement quickly became top priorities. Activities such as rodeos and fishing were part of the celebration, as were foods like barbecue, black-eyed peas, watermelon, cornbread, okra, and hibiscus tea. The celebration soon spread from Texas to other regions of the southern U.S., including Georgia and South Carolina.

During early Juneteenth observances, mainly African American communities participated in the festivities. With every passing year, the annual commemoration flourished but there were declines in the early 1900s. Additionally, during the Great Depression and the Civil Rights Movement, Juneteenth encountered both declines and resurgences in participation. The celebration gained traction in the 1980s and continued to grow in the 90’s on into the new century with 47 states and the District of Columbia all passing legislation recognizing Juneteenth as either a state holiday or day of observance. Last year on June 17th, 2021, President Joe Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, establishing June 19th as a federal holiday.

 

“Juneteenth marks a day of reflection, remembrance, and freedom that we all can commemorate “ said Savannah African Art Museum Education and Community Outreach Liaison Lisa Jackson. “Last year was the museum’s first Juneteenth celebration and  the first year Juneteenth was observed as a federal holiday! We were so pleased to have so many join us in celebration of both firsts! We look forward to returnees and others to come celebrate with us, enjoy the festivities, experience our collection, and meet new friends.”

 

To learn more about the museum, upcoming workshops, and the newest collections, please visit www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org and follow the Savannah African Art Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @SavannahAfricanArtMuseum.

 

Savannah African Art Museum is a nonprofit institution that introduces all audiences to African art and culture. Their mission is to provide engaging experiences that educate and start conversations about the power, diversity, and spirituality of African art. Learn more by visiting www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or dropping by their location at 201 E. 37th St. for a free tour.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651 or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM WINS ‘BEST ART AND HISTORY HOUSE’ IN CONNECT SAVANNAH’S CONTEST

SAVANNAH, GA. – May 26, 2022 – The Savannah African Art Museum was awarded the title of “Best Art and History House” in Connect Savannah’s 2022 Best of Savannah Readers’ Poll. This year’s online voting competition was fierce, with more than 30,000 total votes cast, according to the Connect Savannah editorial team. Voting ran from Feb. 28-March 18, and the winners were announced May 25. All award recipients will be honored at a party on Thursday, June 2 from 6-9 p.m. at the Kehoe Iron Works.

The annual Best of Savannah contest allows Connect’s readers to support their favorite people, places and things to do in the Hostess City. The categories include music and the arts, restaurants, nightlife, shopping, sports and more. Voting was limited to once per day per category.

Savannah African Art Museum is a nonprofit institution that introduces all audiences to African art and culture. Their mission is to provide engaging experiences that educate and start conversations about the power, diversity, and spirituality of African art.

“We are so grateful to the Savannah community for their consistent support,” said Museum Founding Director and Chief Curator Billie Stultz. “We are happy that the artistic, cultural and educational opportunities we work hard to provide, free of charge, to the community are appreciated and recognized. We look forward to our continued role as a valuable resource and celebrated regional attraction.”

Since 2016, the Savannah African Art Museum has provided education to the community on African history and culture with over 1,000 pieces of art native to West and Central Africa. The museum has an agenda full of educational opportunities in the form of classes, events, workshops and exhibits for the coming months, including the Juneteenth celebration on Saturday, June 18 from 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

For more information on the Savannah African Art Museum please, visit  www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or follow Savannah African Art Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @SavannahAfricanArtMuseum.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651 or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377). 

 

 

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM’S VIRTUAL TOURS GAIN POPULARITY, DRAW OUT-OF-STATE VISITORS

SAVANNAH, GA. – MAY 24, 2022 – The Savannah African Art Museum’s remote learning option, through video conferencing, is gaining tremendous popularity, allowing visitors from around the nation to experience what this museum, on the arts and cultures of the African continent, has to offer.

Tours of the museum’s collection, utilizing video conferencing technology, were first introduced when the COVID-19 pandemic began. It turned out to be an engaging way for guests to learn about the museum’s art collection. This is a service that continues to be offered by the Savannah African Art Museum as a way of reaching a larger global audience. Alisa Evans-Newsome, the museum’s Chief Administrator of Operations, and Dr. Edwin Johnson, the museum’s Registrar and Volunteer Coordinator, have been providing engaging, educational experiences through the virtual gallery tours. These insightful, informative, and even entertaining, sessions have included sizable groups of students, of many different age groups, from different regions in the United States.

Previously, the Savannah African Art Museum used web-based social media such as Facebook to broadcast videos on objects and themes represented in the museum’s collection. This was followed by university professors registering at the museum to have their students remotely attend guided tours of the galleries. This enabled these students to remotely experience what the museum has to offer when classes were being held online.

Evans-Newsome has been at the forefront of the museum’s pursuit of educational accessibility as elementary school teachers begin to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the museum through distance learning. Earlier this month, she conducted a tour, via Zoom, for 380 seventh-grade students at the West Chatham Middle School in Georgia. On the same day, Evans-Newsome provided an enriching educational experience for a group of third-grade students from the Elysian Charter School in Hoboken, New Jersey. By her accounts, these students were engaged and demonstrated a genuine interest in the cultures of the African continent. This was evident due to how these young students frequently commented on what they saw and how often they asked many questions about what was covered during the conferencing session. In addition to fueling the curiosity of these young students, Evans-Newsome found the experience to be remarkably rewarding.

Younger participants are increasingly utilizing virtual tour options provided by the museum. It is heralding a new chapter in this museum’s efforts to reach out to larger, farther flung, and more diverse audiences. The Savannah African Art Museum will continue to provide remote learning opportunities for educational institutions that range from elementary schools to universities, close to home and further afield. Additionally, remote learning opportunities are also available to individuals who want to learn more about the arts and cultures of the vast and diverse continent of Africa. The museum recently expanded the capacity of their conferencing service, which now allows up to 100 devices to log onto one session at the same time.

Anyone who is interested in booking an online for themselves or an educational group can find more information at www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org  or by emailing visit@savannahafricanartmuseum.org.

Savannah African Art Museum is a nonprofit institution that introduces all audiences to African art and culture. Their mission is to provide engaging experiences that educate and start conversations about the power, diversity, and spirituality of African art. Learn more by visiting www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or experiencing the collection in person at the museum’s location at 201 East 37th Street for a free tour on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651 or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM SEEKS VOLUNTEER DOCENTS FOR SUMMER BREAK

SAVANNAH, GA. – MAY 11, 2022 – Savannah African Art Museum is looking for eager docents and volunteers with good communication skills to assist with daily operations at the museum in the historic Thomas Square Streetcar District. This is a wonderful opportunity for those interested in learning and teaching the history and art of West and Central Africa. As the summer nears and students prepare for a break, donating time and energy in an educational capacity is a wonderful way to give back to the community while broadening their own knowledge.

Docents will have the opportunity to teach the history of West and Central Africa to a variety of different groups  and ages – from Savannah locals to tourists from all over the world and from grade school and up! No prior experience as a docent or knowledge of African Art and history is required as all docent volunteers will go through training and will learn the provided talking points before giving tours of the museum’s art collection. General volunteers are also needed to help with additional tasks, clerical duties, organizing, assisting at workshops, our 2nd Annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 18, 2022, and other duties.  Those who volunteer their time and talents will gain invaluable knowledge, volunteer or community service hours, recommendation letters, and experience with public speaking and customer service.

Thanks to the museums’ varying hours, volunteer shifts offer flexible time commitments that are sure to meet the availability of those with even the busiest schedules. Shifts are available during the museum’s regular operating hours on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tours are provided to visitors on either a walk-in basis or by appointment.

During docent training, volunteers will learn about the Savannah African Art Museum and its collection through instruction from the volunteer coordinator and current docents. New volunteers will also shadow current docents on tours to gain a better understanding of the process and how each docent brings something different to each tour. Docent talking points will be explained and reviewed, and volunteers will be provided with literature to complement the tour talking points. Upon training completion, docents will be expected to give tours to guests visiting the museum. Over time and with constructive feedback, volunteers will become effective teachers and public speakers as they amass impressive knowledge on African art and cultures.

To apply or for more information, please email an updated resume to ehjohnson@savannahafricanartmuseum.org, call the Savannah African Art Museum at 912-721-7724, or visit in person at 201 E. 37th St., Savannah, GA 31401.

Savannah African Art Museum is a nonprofit institution that introduces all audiences to African art and culture. Our mission is to provide engaging experiences that educate and start conversations about the power, diversity, and spirituality of African art. Learn more by visiting www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or dropping by their location at 201 E. 37th St. for a free tour.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651 or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).

 

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES NEW WORKSHOPS CELEBRATING MOMS AND DADS

SAVANNAH, GA – May 2, 2022 – The Savannah African Art Museum has announced it is hosting two upcoming workshops for participants of all ages to commemorate Mother’s Day and Father’s Day on May 7 and June 11, respectively, at the Upbeat Village Terracotta Gallery, 201 East 37th St., Savannah. The nonprofit will also host a Juneteenth celebration, a day reserved for the commemoration of the abolishment of chattel slavery in the United States.

  • May 7 – “Making an ‘All About Mom’ Collage”: Africans are known as storytellers; that is how their history is passed on to future generations. This workshop is an opportunity to create a piece of art that lets participants – children and adults alike – demonstrate how interested they are in their moms’ and mother figures’ stories. Attendees will create collages about their mothers or mother figures, highlighting things like her birthplace, things that bring her joy, her taste in music, books and art, and places she’s visited or would like to travel to. Participants may choose to create a timeline with images and dates. The museum will supply attendees with a canvas, paint, crayons, markers, fabric, glue, and magazines. Participants are encouraged to bring personal photos, other visuals or mementos, keepsakes, written words, etc., to create collages that tell their moms, “Yes Mom, I see you, happy Mother’s Day!” The event will be held from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

  • June 11 – “Making an ‘All About Dad’ Collage”: Africans are known as storytellers; that is how their history is passed on to future generations. This workshop is an opportunity to create a piece of art that lets participants – children and adults alike – demonstrate how interested they are in their dads’ and father figures’ stories. Attendees will create collages about their fathers or father figures, highlighting things like his birthplace, things that bring him joy, his taste in music, books and art, and places he’s visited or would like to travel to. Participants may choose to create a timeline with images and dates. The museum will supply attendees with a canvas, paint, crayons, markers, fabric, glue, and magazines. Participants are encouraged to bring personal photos, other visuals or mementos, keepsakes, written words, etc., to create collages that tell their fathers, “Yes Dad, I see you, happy Father’s Day!” The event will be held from 11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

All workshops will be held on the second floor of the museum’s Upbeat Village Terracotta Gallery. Please note that it is stair access only, no elevator or wheelchair access available. However, the main museum building does offer elevator and full wheelchair access for tours.

The Museum’s second annual Juneteenth Celebration will be hosted at the museum on Saturday, June 18 from 12-4 p.m. honoring the past and embracing the future with tours of their Central & West African collection, music, crafts, storytelling, African food samples, resource/information tables, and more. Ghana native and Savannah-based fine artist, William Kwamena-Poh, will return with paintings for sale (original, limited edition, and prints). Savannah’s Diaspora Marketplace will join the celebration with authentic African merchandise for sale including clothing, jewelry, fabric, masks, statues, wall hangings, books, and so much more. The community is invited to this free event.

“We are so excited to bring these free, engaging workshops to the community so they can learn more about and engage with African art and culture, especially our new Cowrie Shell Exhibit. We wanted to host Mother’s Day and Father’s Day workshops because family lineage, community and continuity of such are very highly prized in African culture, and it is important that we honor and demonstrate that. We hope the community will join us for these workshops and further their exploration of their family stories,” said Savannah African Art Museum Education Community Outreach Liaison, Lisa Jackson. “We also invite all to the museum for our Juneteenth Celebration where there will be something for everyone to engage and enjoy!”

Workshops are free but reservations are required. To register, please visit www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org/workshops. Participants must be age 6 or older.

To learn more about the museum, the Juneteenth celebration, and the museum’s newest collections, please visit www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org and follow Savannah African Art Museum on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @SavannahAfricanArtMuseum.

Savannah African Art Museum is a nonprofit institution that introduces all audiences to African art and culture. Its mission is to provide engaging experiences that educate and start conversations about the power, diversity, and spirituality of African art.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651, or Allie Robinson at allie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-547-3100.

SAVANNAH AFRICAN ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAMS FOR STUDENTS

SAVANNAH, GA – April 13, 2022 The Savannah African Art Museum will offer three summer internship programs: Curatorial, Educational, and Collections Management. These programs for college students are available starting in May, and will be based at the museum, located at 201 E. 37th St., Savannah, GA 31401.

The Curatorial internship involves the completion of a capstone project that will consist of five major stages, each of which builds upon the previous stage. These stages provide the intern with the skills they need to carry out their role as a professional museum curator. This includes the formulation of a topic, art historical research, and exhibition design.

The Educational internship is designed for those interested in a career in museum education and allows participants to do a capstone project on one of three options. This includes the creation of something that a group would make together, such as an arts and crafts project. Other options for the intern’s capstone project include designing a project that would be demonstrated in front of a group, or design of educational outreach presentations, which would be presented to a group. 

The Collections Management internship provides participants with a unique opportunity to learn about condition reports, object conservation, and the cataloging of objects on a digital database. The capstone for this project involves doing condition reports and catalogue entries for three radically different objects that present unique conservation and cataloguing challenges.

Applicants will have the opportunity to work directly with an internship advisor to complete their project in stages, receiving feedback from their advisor as the intern completes each stage.

“We are excited to offer three very different internship programs this summer,” said Billie Stultz, founding director and chief curator at the Savannah African Art Museum. “Educating a younger generation on the history and culture of art is a passion we all share at the museum. Depending on the program an applicant chooses, they may learn anything from how to properly care for priceless artifacts to designing the layout of exhibitions within the museum.” 

Applicants who apply for and are selected for internship programs will need a flash drive, lined notebook, writing utensil, and a laptop, tablet, or Chromebook with Microsoft Office. PC computers are available within the museum for applicants who do not have access to their own laptop. Business casual dress is required. 

To apply for the program or for more information, please visit www.savannahafricanartmuseum.org or call 912-721-7745.

The mission statement of the museum is the following: The Savannah African Art Museum is a nonprofit institution that introduces all audiences to African art and culture. Our mission is to provide engaging experiences that educate and start conversations about the power, diversity, and spirituality of African art.

– ENDS –

For media inquiries, please contact Hollie Barnidge at hollie@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-272-8651 or Lesley Francis at lesley@lesleyfrancispr.com or 912-429-3950 or the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).