VMHA Director Honored by Museums Alaska
Valdez, Alaska, October 12, 2020: At its Annual Meeting on September 25th Museums Alaska, a statewide organization that supports Alaska’s collecting institutions, presented Patricia Relay, Director of the Valdez Museum, with the Presidents’ Award. In the organization’s press release Relay was recognized for being “an outstanding individual advocate for all Alaska museums.” During her ten years as Director Relay has travelled to Washington, DC six times for Museums Advocacy Day. And she continues reaching out to state and national leaders, stressing the importance of museums in our communities. At the award presentation Monica Garcia-Itchoak said “Patty is a leader in our state–the first one to pick up the phone, send an email, write the template letters and educate us on raising our voices for museums across the state.”
From her perspective Relay calls it a labor of love, “When you love what you do it is not work, it is joy. My lifelong passion is to bring people together through the arts and culture. What better place to do that then in a museum?”
She clearly recognizes the importance of personal interactions, “Advocating for museums is all about relationship building and having conversations about the important work that we do in communities.”
Under Relay’s leadership the Valdez Museum has met the challenge to “stay connected” during an extended COVID closure this spring and summer, while moving forward with new exhibits and programs, both online as well as in the Museum. The VMHA Board and Staff are grateful to Museums Alaska for recognizing her hard work in advocacy and outreach for all Alaska museums.
For More Information Contact:
Executive Director Patricia Relay
Tel. 907-835-2764, Email: prelay@valdezmuseum.org
