American Mural Project

Mural and building updatefocus remains on preparation and installing the collaborative pieces in the gallery behind the Mural. More of these projects were installed by the end of 2023, and work continues on these sections. A lighting system for the artwork was install in this space as well.amp made further 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. During 2023, amp was approved to serve alcohol and pre-packaged food at this station.after the roof repair and improvement of the buildings two-story wing that occurred in 2022, the upper level of the wing was outfitted to be a dedicated education program room, which was transformative for the organizations educational offerings. The lower part of the wing was also improved in early 2023, and the administrative offices, formally in the small white house on the property, moved over to the main building (lower floor of the wing), allowing for greater interaction and consistent management of activities occuring in the main building.

Public programmingamp saw over 6,300 people come through its doors in 2023.public programming includes public access to the exhibit on fridays, saturdays and sundays; special exhibit activities; and public events offered as part of the live @amp series, the recycled runway and other similar events. 2023 was the first full calendar year during which the exhibit was available to the public, and there were many unknowns for the january june 2023 period. We piloted a homeschool program, a teen art studio session the 2nd saturday of the month, and a happy hour piano series the evening of the fourth friday of the month. Exhibit attendance goals were met for the year, assisted by the states summer at the museum grant program which supported free admission for families.the live @amp series and other events that were presented achieved the goal of introducing amp to new and younger audiences. We made several improvements to the way we managed these events throughout the year. We presented four concerts of various genres of music and the recycled runway.to support the growth of activity in these areas, amp added a part-time marketing and communications director to its staff and a full-time operataions coordinator.

Education programsin its 23-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 2023, amp hosted afterschool programming for winchester elementary school students. Amp also provided weekly summer enrichment programming, monthly teen art studio sessions, field trips for grade schools and for transitional academies serving young adults with special needs, as well as professional development workshops for educators. The internship program, continuing through our partnership with ct state community college northwestern, was expanded to include not only internships in amps education program department and visitor services, but in marketing and public relations as well