Deadline for 2012 nomination is Jan. 31
The Nancy Hanks Memorial Award for Professional Excellence honors notable accomplishments by a museum professional with less than ten years experience in the museum field. It recognizes a specific achievement that has benefited either the honoree’s home institution or the museum field in general. It carries a $1,000 stipend to be used in furtherance of the honoree’s professional development.
First given in 1985, the award commemorates the lifelong support by the late Nancy Hanks of cultural endeavors, and in particular her encouragement of young professionals in the cultural arena. Nancy Hanks served eight years as Chairman of the National Endowment of the Arts, among other accomplishments. Museums of all types and sizes are encouraged to nominate a candidate.
Nomination Criteria
Nominees for this award must have less than ten years in the museum field. The award recognizes a specific achievement benefiting either the nominee's home institution, or the museum field in general. The cited achievement may be in any area of a museum’s operation: administration, exhibitions, education, public relations, registration, collections management or development. Alternatively, the accomplishment may benefit the museum field generally (for instance, a development plan, membership plan, exhibition design or collection policy that can serve as a model for other museums).
Nomination Instructions
The nomination must be submitted by the nominee’s director or by a trustee if the nominee is a director. Individuals cannot self-nominate. A complete nomination application packet includes:
- Cover sheet with nominee and nominator contact information and the following supplemental information:
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- Justification for receiving the Nancy Hanks award.
- Describe the scope of the institution, its collection, programs and services.
- Describe the nominee’s position and responsibilities.
- A narrative (no more than 5 pages double-spaced) describing the nominee’s outstanding contribution to the institution or museum field and its impact
- A curriculum vitae of the nominee. The application may include sample copies of work, which support the nomination as well as a bibliography of published work.
Download the Nomination form.
List of Past Recipients
