MetLife Foundation today announced the grant winners of its 2009 Museum and Community Connections program. The grants, ranging from $45,000 to $100,000 and totaling $1,000,000, were awarded to 15 museums for exhibitions, artist residencies, and other programs that extend their reach into diverse communities and make art a part of people's lives.

"MetLife Foundation has a long history of partnering with museums to support educational opportunities for people of all ages," said Dennis White, president and CEO of MetLife Foundation. "Museums are a vibrant force in our communities and play an important role in helping people experience and understand our world. MetLife Foundation is pleased to recognize these museums for their innovative projects."

The goal of this competitive program is to broaden arts programming and promote museums as centers of education without boundaries. Winners were selected on the basis of their potential to engage diverse populations in the arts, creativity and innovation, and commitment to community.

Recipients are:

• Asian Art Museum (San Francisco, Calif.) for the Shanghai exhibit and accompanying education and public programs.


• Boise Art Museum (Boise, Idaho) for the Rural Art Education initiative, which brings arts to rural classrooms through hands-on art lessons, teacher training and web resources.


• Buffalo Bill Historical Center (Cody, Wyo.) for the Splendid Heritage: Perspectives on Native American Art exhibit and, accompanying family days, lecture series, and artist residencies.


• Holter Museum of Art (Helena, Mont.) for a new audience initiative focused on engaging veterans/active military and their families through public events and hands-on workshops.


• Japanese American National Museum (Los Angeles, Calif.) for Mixed: Portraits of Multiracial Kids exhibit featuring portraits, hand-drawn statements, and stories of multiracial children in the United States.


• Los Angeles County Museum of Art (Los Angeles, Calif.) for EAT LACMA, which is a multi-faceted exhibit, education and outreach program focused on improving quality of life through growing, preparing, and sharing of food.


• Museo de las Americas (Denver, Colo.) for the From the Earth exhibit, which will feature works created "from the Earth" by 10 artists, such as pottery, wood carvings and textile weaving, as well as family days, lectures, and workshops.


• Museum of Contemporary Art Denver (Denver, Colo.) for the Energy Effects exhibit, which focuses on energy expenditure and conservation and accompanying education and public programs.


• Museum of Photographic Arts (San Diego, Calif.) for a lifespan learning initiative for seniors, which uses photography to explore identity, creativity and expression.


• Portland Art Museum (Portland, Ore.) for the Object Stories initiative, which includes story booths, workshops, hands-on activities, and an exhibit to connect diverse audiences through sharing of stories about objects that matter to them.


• San Jose Museum of Art (San Jose, Calif.) for Moving Images: Art from the Pacific Rim exhibit featuring works by film, video, animation, gaming, virtual reality, and other dynamic media artists living in Pacific Rim countries.


• Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma, Wash.) for the Mighty Tacoma exhibit, which commissions works by 11 regional artists and engages the public through portraits and hands-on activities.


• The Contemporary Museum (Honolulu, Hawaii) for the TCM On the Go! program, which extends the reach of the museum beyond its walls through hands-on activities with multicultural and intergenerational audiences.


• Tucson Museum of Art (Tucson, Ariz.) for ongoing support and creation of new elements for its free onsite and offsite programming for underserved populations.


• Wing Luke Asian Museum (Seattle, Wash.) for the Asian Pacific Islander American Art Making: Explorations in Identity and Community initiative, which includes exhibits and corresponding public programs and workshops.

MetLife Foundation was established by MetLife to continue the company's long tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. Grants are made to support health, educational, civic and cultural organizations and programs. The Foundation contributes to arts and cultural organizations, with an emphasis on increasing opportunities for young people, reaching broad audiences through inclusive programming, and making arts more accessible for all people. For more information, please visit www.metlife.org.

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation

MetLife Foundation was established in 1976 by MetLife to carry on its long-standing tradition of corporate contributions and community involvement. MetLife and MetLife Foundation have invested more than $15 million for Alzheimer's research and public information programs, including $10 million through the Awards for Medical Research program. Working with the Alzheimer's Association, the Foundation has supported caregiving videos, resources for the Hispanic community and the Safe Return identification program, which addresses the problem of senior wandering. The Foundation has expanded its focus on aging issues, including helping people remain physically and mentally fit and remaining engaged in the community. It also supports programs addressing issues of caregiving, intergenerational activities and volunteer opportunities. Grants support health, education, and civic and cultural programs. More information about MetLife Foundation is available at www.metlife.org.

More from MetLife Foundation