District's Work Highlighting Kinsey Art Exhibition Wins State And National Communication Awards

The School District's Public Affairs Department has won a national  Golden Achievement Award for its educational programming for the Kinsey Art Exhibition last year. The communications and public relations programs that highlighted the exhibition at the Norton Museum of Art won the award from the National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) " for exemplary public relations."

The  award will be presented at the NSPRA conference in San Francisco on July 2. "The Personal Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey: In the Hands of African American Collectors"  broke records between April and July 2008 when it attracted nearly 7,000 students, hundreds of educators and thousands of community members to the Norton Museum of Art in West Palm Beach. The Public Affairs Department, assisted by a committee of key district personnel, staged community events, a Principals' Academy and education receptions for education, business and political leaders around the exhibition. The unusual exhibition inspired both art  and history lessons and projects throughout the schools, including through the African American Studies Department and school guidance counselors.

The 90-piece collection of African American paintings, artifacts, rare books, sculptures, documents, manuscripts and photographs dating to 1632 is  the personal collection of  Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, son and daughter in law of the late Ulysses B. Kinsey,  a veteran local educator for whom the U.B. Kinsey Elementary School of the Arts in West Pam Beach is named. The exhibition brought together diverse audiences and showcased the local family, the community and the unique world-class art exhibit that had never been seen before in Florida.  "The exhibition made art and history lessons more relevant for students, teachers and the community," said Nat Harrington, Chief Public Information Officer. Bank of America sponsored the project and provided a $30,000 grant to fund the projects. The Palm Beach Cultural Council partnered with the district to stage the events.  Original student art work was displayed during the exhibition and several original student art pieces not on display were presented as gifts to the sponsor and partners.

Public Affairs also won the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association  Sunshine Medallion Award "for excellence in communications and stake holder relationships." The Sunshine Medallion Award will be presented at the Florida Association of School Administrators (FASA) conference Monday, July 27 in Buena Vista, Florida.

For more information, contact Connie Ayers in Public Affairs at 561 434-8228.