Skip to content

Oakland Museum of California Named Finalist for 2022 IMLS National Medal for Museum and Library Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2022

Media Contacts

Oakland Museum of California Contact: Scott Horton, [email protected], 510-229-9739
IMLS Contact: Brittany Vanderpool, [email protected], 202-248-5487
 

OAKLAND, Cali.—The Institute of Museum and Library Services announced today that Oakland Museum of California is among 30 finalists for the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. Oakland Museum of California is one of three institutions in California to be selected as a finalist for this award. The Museum of Craft and Design in San Francisco and the Glendale Library, Arts & Culture in Glendale are also finalists.

“Being recognized as a finalist for IMLS’s National Medal for Museum and Library Service reinforces the importance and impact of the work of the Oakland Museum of California, particularly in serving as a civic gathering place and town square for Oakland and in helping to build trust, understanding and connection between and among people in our local community,” says Lori Fogarty, Director and CEO of Oakland Museum of California. “Engagement with the broader cultural field is also central to OMCA’s work, and we are proud of the recognition within the field that the nomination signifies and honored to be among the outstanding museums nominated for this distinguished Federal honor.”

The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that demonstrate significant impact in their communities. For more than 25 years, the award has honored institutions that demonstrate excellence in service to their communities.

“So many museums, so many libraries have done such good work over the last two very difficult years. We are proud to present the 30 finalists for the IMLS National Medal,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “Their work is emblematic of the response of the library and museum worlds to simultaneously fulfilling their mission and serving their communities.”

To celebrate this honor, IMLS is encouraging Oakland Museum of California’s community members to share stories, memories, pictures, and videos on social media using the #ShareYourStory and #IMLSmedals hashtags, and engage with IMLS on Facebook and Twitter. For more information, please visit the IMLS website.
 

National Medal winners will be announced in early June. Representatives from winning institutions will be honored for their extraordinary contributions during a virtual National Medal Ceremony this summer.

To see the full list of finalists and learn more about the National Medal, visit the IMLS website.

 

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services 
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. Our vision is a nation where museums and libraries work together to transform the lives of individuals and communities. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About The Oakland Museum of California
The Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) tells the many stories that comprise California, creating the space and context for greater connection, trust, and understanding between people. Through its inclusive exhibitions, public programs, educational initiatives, and cultural events, OMCA brings Californians together and inspires greater understanding about what our state’s art, history, and natural surroundings teach us about ourselves and each other. With more than 1.9 million objects, OMCA brings together its multidisciplinary collections of art, history, and natural science with first-person accounts and often untold narratives of California, all within its 110,000 square feet of gallery space and seven-acre campus. The Museum is a leading cultural institution of the Bay Area and a resource for the research and understanding of California’s dynamic cultural and environmental heritage for visitors from the region, the state, and around the world.

 

 

# # #