American Mural Project Inc

MUSEUM: CONSTRUCT AND EXHIBIT THREE DIMENSIONAL PAINTING CALLED THE AMERICAN MURAL PROJECT DEPICTING AMERICANS WORKING AT VARIOUS JOBS; A CELEBRATION OF AMERICAN INGENUITY, PRODUCTIVITY AND COMMITMENT TO WORK

MURAL AND BUILDING UPDATEFOCUS REMAINS ON PREPARATION AND INSTALLING THE COLLABORATIVE PIECES IN THE REAR RAMP GALLERY. SEVERAL OF THESE PROJECTS WERE INSTALLED BY THE END OF 2022, AND WORK CONTINUES ON THESE SECTIONS.THE ADDITIONAL GUARDRAILS AND FINISHING TOUCHES TO THE VIEWING PLATFORMS IN THE EXHIBIT GALLERY WERE COMPLETED AND THE CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY FOR THOSE LEVELS WAS APPROVED, ALLOWING AMP TO OPEN THE FULL EXHIBIT SPACE TO THE PUBLIC. AMP ALSO MADE IMPROVEMENTS TO ITS SMALL CATERING STATION TO ALLOW FOR A DEDICATED AREA TO SERVE BEVERAGES AND FOR CATERERS TO BRING IN PREPARED FOODS DURING EVENTS. THE ROOF FOR THE BUILDINGS TWO-STORY WING SECTION WAS IN SERIOUS NEED OF REPAIR AND THIS WAS COMPLETED, ALONG WITH THE INSTALLATION OF NEW FLOORING, LIGHTING/POWER OUTLETS AND PLUMBING/SINK AREA AND BATHROOM FOR THE UPPER LEVEL OF THE WING. THIS UPPER LEVEL WAS THUS PREPARED TO TRANSITION IN 2023 TO BE THE NEW DEDICATED EDUCATION PROGRAM ROOM.SIGNIFICANT ADDITIONS TO EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR SIGNAGE WERE MADE. THESE INCLUDED DIRECTIONAL SIGNAGE ON THE SURROUNDING ROADS, AND EXTERIOR SITE SIGNAGE FOR PARKING AND ENTRANCES, ALONG WITH INTERIOR SIGNAGE TO DIRECT THE PUBLIC WHEN VISITING THE EXHIBIT.

EDUCATION PROGRAMSIN ITS 22-YEAR HISTORY, AMP HAS GROWN THROUGH TWO DISTINCT PHASES, EACH WITH A DIFFERENT FOCUS. THE INITIAL YEARS OF CREATING THE MURAL WERE BUILT ON STRATEGIC CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO CREATE EACH USA STATE COLLABORATIVE PROJECT. IN RECENT YEARS, AMP HAS FOCUSED PROGRAMMING EFFORTS ON ESTABLISHING ITS IDENTITY AND AS A PLACE IN THE WINSTED COMMUNITY AND SURROUNDING TOWNS WHERE LEARNING OCCURS. LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, PUBLIC SCHOOLS, LOCAL BUSINESSES AND OTHER ARTS ORGANIZATIONS ARE THE BEDROCK OF AMPS PROGRAM GROWTH. AMP HAS RECRUITED A SMALL, HIGH-CALIBER GROUP OF CONTRACTED TEACHING ARTISTS WHOSE INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR PROGRAMMING AND PHILOSOPHY OF WORKING WITH STUDENTS REFLECTS AMPS APPROACH TO STUDENT DIRECTED LEARNING AND COLLABORATION.IN 2022, AMP FULLY RESUMED ITS IN-PERSON, ON-SITE OFFERINGS OF AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR WINCHESTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AND SUMMER PROGRAMMING. ADDITIONALLY, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS FOR ART EDUCATORS AND SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS WERE SUCCESSFULLY PILOTED IN THE FALL, AND POSITIONED SOLIDLY TO OFFICIALLY OFFER AS NEW PROGRAMS FOR 2023. THE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM, CONTINUING THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTHWESTERN CT COMMUNITY COLLEGE, WAS EXPANDED TO INCLUDE NOT ONLY INTERNSHIPS IN AMPS EDUCATION PROGRAM DEPARTMENT, BUT ALSO IN VISITOR SERVICES IN SUPPORT OF AMPS EXHIBIT.

EXHIBITTHIS AREA OF ACTIVITY IS NEW TO AMP. WITH THE MURAL 95% INSTALLED, AND THE EXHIBIT GALLERY APPROVED FOR PUBLIC ACCESS, AMP PREPARED TO OPEN THE EXHIBIT TO THE PUBLIC. EXHIBIT MATERIALS WERE CREATED TO GUIDE VISITORS THROUGH THEIR EXPLORATION OF THE MURAL EXHIBIT. AMP ALSO HIRED TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS TO COVER THE NEW DEMANDS OF VISITOR SERVICES. TO SUPPORT THE LONG-AWAITED EXHIBIT OPENING, AMP CONTRACTED WITH A PUBLICIST WHO WOULD BE DEDICATED TO OBTAINING MEDIA COVERAGE FOR THE OPENING. THE EXHIBIT OPENED ON JUNE 18, AND EACH FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AFTER THAT DATE. IN JUST OVER SIX MONTHS OF BEING OPEN IN 2022, AMP SAW OVER 4,200 PEOPLE COME THROUGH THE DOORS TO SEE THE MURAL.