Athens, Ga. – The Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries recently recognized Mr. and Mrs. B. Heyward Allen Jr. of Athens as “Patrons of the Year” for their service to the Georgia Museum of Art at the University of Georgia.
“Buddy” Allen and his wife, Lucy, have worked to advance the missions of both GMOA and the University of Georgia through their many civic endeavors.
The Allens are past co-presidents of the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art, GMOA’s membership organization. Buddy is currently the vice-chairman of the museum’s Board of Advisors and is the longest serving member of the board. Lucy is a member of the Decorative Arts Advisory Committee, which supports the museum’s Henry D. Green Center for the Study of the Decorative Arts. In 2002, she chaired “Bella Sera: An Elegant Salute,” one of GMOA’s most successful events ever, with more than 300 in attendance. Buddy chaired the fundraising committee for the event, which raised more than $100,000 for the museum.
The Allens have a collection of works by Georgia artists, which they have lent to the museum for exhibitions. In addition, they have inspired members of their family to join them in service to GMOA. Members of the Allen family have served on the Friends’ Board of Directors as well as GMOA committees. Allen family members also have hosted various events and dinners benefiting the museum.
The Allens are members of the museum’s Director’s Circle, providing unrestricted funds to the museum, and are major supporters of both of GMOA’s current capital campaigns.
Recognizing the need for visual arts education, the Allens have funded bus transportation each year so that every fifth-grade class in Athens-Clarke County has the opportunity to visit the museum. Since 1985, Heyward Allen Toyota and Heyward Allen Motor Company, have sponsored Family Days at the museum, which have introduced thousands of children and their parents to art. GAMG honored Heyward Allen Motor Company with its Corporate Sponsor of the Year award in 1992.
For their dedication to the museum, the Allens were honored at an awards luncheon on Friday,Jan. 22, during the association’s annual meeting, held this year in Thomasville.
GAMG gives the “Patron of the Year” award annually to an individual or group who has worked closely with a museum demonstrating leadership and providing assistance; who is a major promoter of the museum in his or her local areas or statewide; and who in the past year has made a significant contribution and will continue to be a supporter in the future. Previous recipients of the award associated with GMOA include Shannon Candler, Jane Mullins, Louis T. Griffith and C.L. Morehead Jr.
Museum Information
Partial support for the exhibitions and programs at the Georgia Museum of Art is provided by the Georgia Council for the Arts through appropriations of the Georgia General Assembly. The council is a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts. Individuals, foundations and corporations provide additional museum support through their gifts to the Arch Foundation and the University of Georgia Foundation. The Georgia Museum of Art is located in the Performing and Visual Arts Complex on the East Campus of the University of Georgia. The address is 90 Carlton Street, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602. The museum’s galleries and shop are now closed for construction of the museum’s expansion. Events and programming are continuing while the museum is under construction as part of “GMOA on the Move,” a series of off-site events and exhibitions. For more information and event times and locations or to shop GMOA online, see www.uga.edu/gamuseum or call 706/542-4662.
