The Huntington Museum of Art is poised to move forward on a significant improvement project to its nature trail system thanks to a $143,550 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services and gifts from The Teubert Foundation and the Wing 2 Wing Foundation.
The improvement project titled “This Land is Your Land” includes extending the Teubert Foundation Sensory Trail at HMA. The Teubert Foundation provided a $15,000 grant to HMA to help start this project. This was followed by a gift of $145,000 from Brad and Alys Smith’s Wing 2 Wing Foundation, which put the Museum over the top.
“The great outdoors is one of West Virginia’s natural gifts to its people and the nation,” said Brad D. Smith, President of Marshall University and co-founder of Wing 2 Wing. “Anything we can do as a community to fuel the passion for outdoor adventure and preserve, protect and promote nature’s legacy, Wing 2 Wing will always support as part of its mission.”
In August 2021, the Huntington Museum of Art was awarded a $143,550 grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Services to make improvements to HMA’s Trail System. “We needed to raise funds to match the IMLS grant. I am pleased to announce that the gift of $145,000 from the Wing 2 Wing Foundation has provided the final amount needed to move forward with this project,” said HMA Executive Director Geoffrey K. Fleming.
The goal of the “This Land is Your Land” project is for HMA to expand and enhance its current nature trail system and provide opportunities for families and individuals to interact with and learn about nature.
“This project will double the length of the existing Teubert Foundation Sensory Trail in addition to enhancing both the sensory and hiking trails through the installation of educational signage and other conveniences,” Fleming said. “Completing this project will result in interactive opportunities for families and individuals, particularly those with visual or physical limitations, to learn about their environment. We hope this trail system results in a happier, healthier, more informed, more inclusive community which sees itself closely connected to nature.”
The Huntington Museum of Art is grateful to the IMLS, The Teubert Foundation, and the Wing 2 Wing Foundation for understanding the importance of the project. “Without the generous support of these organizations the Huntington Museum of Art would not be able to move forward on this important project,” Fleming said.
“As pillars of our communities, libraries and museums bring people together by providing important programs, services and collections. These institutions are trusted spaces where people can learn, explore and grow,” said IMLS Director Crosby Kemper. “IMLS is proud to support their initiatives through our grants as they educate and enhance their communities.”
This project was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (grant number MA-249209-OMS-21).
For more information on the Huntington Museum of Art, visit hmoa.org or call (304) 529-2701. HMA is fully accessible.
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