From the Morris Museum:
This September, the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) awarded a $100,000 Museums for America grant to the Morris Museum. The Museum will use the grant funds to help support Access-ABILITY, a pioneering initiative to create new programs and resources for individuals with special needs.
Access-ABILITY was launched at the Morris Museum in 2013 with the guidance of representatives from schools and community organizations that serve children and adults with disabilities.
The goal of the initiative is to deepen and expand the engagement and services offered to individuals with special needs through collaborative partnerships that leverage the Museum’s educational resources in innovative ways. Nancy Romain is the Accessibility Coordinator at the Morris Museum.
As part of the Access-ABILITY initiative, new programming has been established to provide inclusion for groups that do not usually have access to museum programs.
Some examples include: Extended access hours for children and adults with disabilities; film festivals for student filmmakers on the autism spectrum; pop-up art exhibitions to showcase the talents of persons with disabilities; audio descriptions of Main Stage performances and touch tours for people with vision loss; and coffee houses for performing artists with disabilities.
Longer range planning is currently underway for collaboration with our community partners in the areas of theatre, performance, and curriculum innovation.
“We are grateful to the IMLS for its recognition of the Museum’s innovation and commitment to community access for people of all abilities,” said Linda Moore, Executive Director.
About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow IMLS on Facebook and Twitter.
About the Morris Museum
Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum is an award-winning, community-based arts and cultural institution which serves the public through high caliber exhibitions in the arts, sciences and humanities. The Museum also offers educational programs, family events, and is home to the Bickford Theatre and its wide range of performing arts offerings. Continuously serving the public since 1913, the Morris Museum has been designated a Major Arts Institution and has received the New Jersey State Council on the Arts’ Citation of Excellence, among other awards. The first museum in New Jersey to be accredited, the Morris Museum was re-accredited in 2013 by the American Alliance of Museums.
The Morris Museum is a Blue Star Museum, offering free admission to active duty military personnel and their families, from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
Location & Hours
The Museum is located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morris Township, NJ, and is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 11 am to 5 pm and Sunday, Noon to 5 pm. In addition, the Museum is open evenings from 5 to 8 pm on the second and third Thursday of the month. Admission to the Museum is $10 for adults and $7 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for Museum members. For more information, call (973) 971-3700, or visit www.morrismuseum.org.
