Georgia Museum of Art wins statewide awards

Monday, February 4, 2019

The Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia received two awards at the 2019 Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries (GAMG) annual conference for its exceptional work.

The awards presented by GAMG included museum professional of the year to Dale Couch, the museum’s curator of decorative arts, and patrons of the year to Larry and Brenda Thompson for their generous donation of African American art and creation of an endowed curatorial position. The awards ceremony took place at the Georgian Terrace in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, January 25.

Couch’s tremendous work in the decorative arts program has established the program on firm footing and strengthened its position at the museum. William U. Eiland, director of the museum, praised Couch for his outstanding work.

“Dale Couch has had a distinguished career of service to the state of Georgia. For many years as an archivist at the State Archives he advanced the study of the culture and history of Georgia. He continues to do so at the Georgia Museum of Art where he has almost singlehandedly made our initiatives in the study of material culture and the decorative arts premier in the nation,” said Eiland.

Larry and Brenda Thompson have been instrumental in pushing the museum to represent a more inclusive art history.

“Brenda has been a galvanizing force for the museum, for the community and even for the nation as she has represented us at board meetings, conventions and even at embassy gatherings in Washington. She has also been a great advocate for inclusion and has prompted several initiatives at the museum to make us not only a better facility but a more active agent of change,” said Eiland.

GAMG is a private, nonprofit museum and gallery association dedicated to serving and maintaining a diverse membership of museums across the state. It establishes a responsive network, serves as a resource base and promotes professionalism to uplift the Georgia museum community.