Washington, DC, 5/9/2007 - The American Association of Museums is pleased to announce the winners of the 2007 Brooking Paper on Creativity in Museums competition. The Brooking Paper is an annual writing competition honoring innovative ways of thinking about the museum field, in any area of museum operations. The 2007 first-prize winner is Amy E. Herman, head of education at the Frick Collection, New York, for “The Art of Observation: How the Long Arm of the Law Is Reaching the Frick Collection.” Her paper describes a program that uses the study of art to improve observation skills among law enforcement professionals.

Herman’s entry has been published in the May/June issue of Museum News magazine, and she received $1,000 plus $500 toward travel expenses to the AAM Annual Meeting in Chicago May 13–17.

Two honorable mentions were also awarded. Jessica Bicknell and Sonal Bhatt of the Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx Zoo, New York, were honored for “The Eco-Restroom: Inspiring Visitors to Think When They Flush.” Their paper detailed how a composting restroom accompanied by an exhibit educates the public on environmental concerns—with a touch of whimsy. David M. Tanner of the Indiana University Art Museum in Bloomington was cited for “Innovation and Teamwork: A Modest Ticketing Project Yields Accurate Attendance Figures.” His museum mastered the tedious but critical task of assessing attendance with an interactive visitor ticket, whose additional benefits include assisting in orienting visitors to the museum.

All three winning papers are available online at www.aam-us.org/pubs/index.cfm.

The competition is funded through the generosity of Dolores Brooking, retired professor of arts administration at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and former director of education, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas.

The judges were Ann A. Fortescue, director of education & visitor services, Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, Pittsburgh; Dan Freas, museum experience director, Conner Prairie, Fishers, Ind.; and Leah Arroyo, senior editor, Museum News.

Information about how to enter the competition for the 2008 Brooking Paper on Creativity in Museums will be posted on the AAM website in late May. For more information, please go to www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/nominate/awards.cfm. 

About the American Association of Museums
The American Association of Museums has been bringing museums together since 1906, helping to develop standards and best practices, gathering and sharing knowledge, and providing advocacy on issues of concern to the entire museum community. With more than 15,000 individual, 3,000 institutional, and 300 corporate members, AAM is dedicated to ensuring that museums remain a vital part of the American landscape, connecting people with the greatest achievements of the human experience, past, present and future. For more information, visit www.aam-us.org.

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