Oakland Museum Of California Recognized As A 2022 Recipient Of Nation’s Highest Museum And Library Honor
(OAKLAND, CA) June 7, 2022 — The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) as one of six recipients of the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. Over the past 28 years, the award has celebrated institutions that are making a difference for individuals, families, and communities.
“IMLS is pleased to recognize the outstanding performance and meritorious community and professional service of our six National Medal recipients,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “We look forward to celebrating them and calling attention to their great work not only in their widespread locales but across the land!”
For more than 50 years, OMCA has inspired Californians to create a more vibrant future for themselves and their communities through its people-centered approach to exhibitions, public programs, and educational offerings. National recognition from IMLS signifies the important role OMCA has played not only in its local community, but as a leader in the museum field and a model for community engagement and social impact.
Selected from 30 national finalists, the 2022 National Medal for Museum and Library Service winners represent institutions that provide dynamic programming and services that exceed expected levels of service. Through their community outreach, these institutions bring about change that touches the lives of individuals and helps communities thrive.
“We are deeply honored to receive this award from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and are grateful to our Congresswoman, Barbara Lee, for the nomination,” said Lori Fogarty, OMCA Director and CEO. “While this recognition pays tribute to the work and service by the OMCA staff, Board, volunteers and community partners over more than five decades, it is also a call to action for our continued efforts. Museums are more necessary than ever before as places to build connection, trust, and belonging — to foster understanding of our history so we can imagine a more just and healthy future — and this award reminds us of this opportunity and obligation.”
“The Oakland Museum of California plays an important role for all of us in learning about the many stories of our State, particularly those stories that are untold and underrepresented,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee, who nominated OMCA for the IMLS Medal. “It is a Museum that reflects and uplifts voices from our communities and from our history while also inspiring our future artists, scientists, and history-makers. This ‘Museum of the People’ encourages each of us to create, take action, wonder at the natural world, and come together to celebrate our diversity and strength as Californians and Americans.”
The award will be presented at a ceremony next month in Washington, DC. For a complete list of 2022 recipients and to learn more about the National Medal winners, visit here.
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.
###