Georgia Museum of Art receives nine statewide and regional awards
GAM board members with Callan Steinmann in Kennesaw, Georgia, February 2026
ATHENS, GA.—
The Georgia Museum of Art received three awards at the Georgia Association of Museums (GAM) annual conference in Kennesaw this February and six awards at the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) in Montgomery, Alabama, last October.
GAM award committee chair Alyson Vuley presented the museum with an exhibitions award for “The Awe of Ordinary Labors” and an honorable mention in the special project category for the in-gallery conservation of Joan Mitchell’s painting “Close.” GAM’s exhibitions awards recognize exhibitions that demonstrate “scholarship and originality” that contribute to the state’s culture and artistic innovation. Callan Steinmann, the museum’s director of learning and engagement, received GAM’s museum professional of the year award. Dr. Steinmann was recognized for her exemplary leadership in museum education and community engagement. in She also received the Georgia Art Education Association’s outstanding museum art educator award in 2025.
“We are very pleased to present this award to a very deserving recipient,” said Vuley. “Our members represent a good cross section of museums and cultural organizations in Georgia’s communities, large and small. We are happy to honor institutions, staff members, volunteers, patrons, exhibits and special projects that have excelled in providing inspiring programs and leadership.”
SEMC’s exhibitions competition recognizes innovation, creativity, and overall excellence in exhibitions. Exhibitions competition chair Michelle Schulte presented the museum with two honorable mentions for “Waffle House Vistas” in Exhibitions < $10,000 and “Southern/Modern: Rediscovering Southern Art from the First Half of the Twentieth Century” in Exhibitions > $100,000. These exhibitions, different as they were, provided thought-provoking windows into southern life and culture while celebrating the region’s artistic traditions.
SEMC’s publication design competition rewards excellent graphic design, effective communication, creativity and institutional image. Competition chair Christian Edwards presented the museum with first place in magazines and newsletters for Facet (designed by the museum’s graphic designer, Noelle Shuck), second place in brochures and rack cards for “Feel the Beat” (also designed by Shuck) and third place in campaigns for its recent rebrand (designed by Pentagram). The museum’s rebrand features a custom typeface, Georgia Facet, which appears in the logo and throughout brand materials, and a refreshed color palette that draws from the University of Georgia's signature colors. Pentagram’s guidance and Shuck’s excellent applied designs come together in a cohesive, engaging brand identity.
Last, SEMC’s technology competition recognizes innovative use of digital media, creativity and accessibility. Competition chair Scott Warren presented the museum with a bronze award in Virtual Media: Project Budget < $1,000 for its Instagram slideshows. This regular social media feature highlights artists in the museum’s collections and exhibitions, providing audiences with deeper insights into the artists’ minds and experiences. Recipients of the SEMC awards were judged by an appointed jury of museum professionals across the region who specialize in fields related to each category.
