Anchorage Museum becomes first Smithsonian Affiliate in Alaska
The Anchorage Museum has been named an official Smithsonian Affiliate. The designation formally acknowledges the museum's longtime partnership with the Smithsonian Institution and increases opportunities for collaboration. The Anchorage Museum is the first Smithsonian Affiliate in Alaska.
As an affiliate, the Anchorage Museum will have increased access to additional Smithsonian resources, including its 137 million-object collections, scholarships and traveling exhibitions.
"We look forward to new opportunities to work with the Smithsonian's unparalleled staff, collection and scholarship," said Julie Decker, Anchorage Museum director. "We are looking for additional ways to collaborate with the Smithsonian and its affiliates nationwide on education opportunities, shared exhibitions, artifact loans and more."
The Anchorage Museum has a long history of partnership with the Smithsonian. In 1994, the museum worked with the Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center to open an Anchorage office. In 2010, the museum debuted a world-class exhibition of 600 Alaska Native artifacts on long-term loan from the Smithsonian Institution.
"We are delighted to welcome the Anchorage Museum into our Smithsonian partnership program," says Harold A. Closter, director of Smithsonian Affiliations. "We look forward to engaging the Anchorage Museum even more, sharing resources and educational collaborations which highlight the important work of both of our organizations and developing new avenues of understanding our history and culture."
ANCHORAGE MUSEUM
The Anchorage Museum is the largest museum in Alaska and one of the top 10 most visited attractions in the state. The museum's mission is to share and connect Alaska with the world through art, history, science and Alaska Native culture. Learn more online at anchoragemuseum.org.
SMITHSONIAN AFFILIATIONS
Established in 1996, Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term, collaborative partnerships with educational organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian artifacts, scholars, educational programs and professional development opportunities. The program's long-term goal is to increase discovery, inspiration and lifelong learning in communities across America. Learn more at affiliations.si.edu.
Anchorage Museum press release