ASYLUM EXHIBIT WINS AWARD

Bowling Green, OH –  The Wood County Historical Center & Museum was awarded the 2014 Ohio Museum Association (OMA) Award of Achievement for Best Community Partnership under $500,000 for its work done in conjunction with the exhibit ASYLUM: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals.

The Museum hosted the nationally-recognized photography exhibit by Christopher Payne from May 31 to December 19, 2014 along with a series of relevant mental health programming and a book signing by the photographer.

According to OMA’s Executive Director, Johnna McEntee, “(the) entry exhibited the type of outstanding quality and caliber of work that makes Ohio’s museums great, by going ‘above and beyond’ the normal call of duty to support (the) institution, serve (the) public and advance the cause of the museum community.”

The selection committee looked at how the Wood County Historical Museum, with a small staff and budget, used this exhibit as a springboard to bring together community partners in the mental health industries, as well as the world of art and photography, to “shed the light on the dark corners of our society, and (bring) hope for the future.”

This is the second award for this exhibit and related programming; the museum was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ohio Local History Alliance in October, 2014.

Partners included the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) of Wood County, Bowling Green State University, and the Wood County Historical Society. In addition, funding was provided by the Ohio Humanities Council, the Wood County Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services Board, and the Bowling Green Convention & Visitors Bureau.

For more information, contact the Wood County Historical Center & Museum at 419-352-0967 or visit www.woodcountyhistory.org.