Results of assessments of artworks and audiences will guide planning

INDIANAPOLIS – The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art received some important recognition recently when it was accepted into two prestigious national programs, the Museum Assessment Program (MAP) and the Collections Assessment for Preservation (CAP).  Both programs will help the Eiteljorg strengthen operations and plan for the future.

Through guided self-study and on-site consultation with museum professionals from MAP and CAP, Eiteljorg Museum staff and management will gain insights into better serving their community and improving the care of their collections and building.

MAP’s community and audience engagement assessment helps museums gather input from their constituents, develop a more nuanced view about the community’s demographics and needs, respond to changing audiences and incorporate these findings into planning and operational decisions.

By providing support for conservation assessments of the museum’s collections and building, the CAP program will help the Eiteljorg identify preventive conservation needs and prioritize collections care efforts.

“We are excited to be chosen to participate in CAP. The Eiteljorg is one of only 75 institutions nationwide that were chosen for the Collections Assessment for Preservation,” Eiteljorg Director of Museum Collections Allison Evans said. CAP is supported by the Foundation for Advancement in Conservation and the Institute for Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS).

The separate Museum Assessment Program began in 1981 and has served more than 5,000 museums; it is a joint venture between the American Association of Museums (AAM), and the IMLS.

“Choosing to be part of the MAP program is indicative of the commitment to civic involvement, public service and overall excellence on the part of the Eiteljorg Museum,” AAM President Laura Lott said.

The Eiteljorg houses approximately 9,000 objects in its collections, including historic and contemporary Native American artworks and cultural items, and works by artists of the American West. The museum’s Collections Department staff catalogs and researches the objects, ensures their preservation by monitoring and maintaining an appropriate storage environment, prepares them for installation in the museum’s galleries, rotates them into and out of exhibitions and coordinates loans of objects to other institutions.

The Eiteljorg Museum is temporarily closed to visitors due to COVID-19 and will reopen as soon as conditions allow. In the meantime, museum staff continue to secure and protect the collections, maintain the building and prepare for future exhibitions and programs. The Eiteljorg applied for the two programs before the temporary closure began, and the MAP and CAP peer reviewers’ assessments will take place after it reopens.

About the Eiteljorg Museum
A cultural pillar for more than 30 years in downtown Indianapolis’ scenic White River State Park, the Eiteljorg Museum seeks to inspire an appreciation and understanding of the art, history and cultures of the American West and the Indigenous peoples of North America by telling amazing stories. Located on the Central Canal at 500 West Washington St., the Eiteljorg is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. It was named one of the USA Today Readers’ Choice 10 Best Indiana Attractions.

Image caption
Front exterior view of the Eiteljorg Museum. Photograph courtesy of Jessica Strickland Photography, 2013.

Media Contacts:
Bryan Corbin
Public Relations Manager
317.275.1315
bcorbin@eiteljorg.com

Bert Beiswanger
Director of Marketing and Communications
317.275.1317
bbeiswanger@eiteljorg.com

Hyacinth Rucker
Digital Communications Manager
317.275.1388
hrucker@eiteljorg.com