FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2014
Lyman Allyn Art Museum
Press Contact: Rebecca Marsie, Communications Coordinator
860.443.2545 x112 / [email protected]
LYMAN ALLYN ART MUSEUM ANNOUNCES THE APPOINTMENT OF VERA HARSH AS EXTERNAL AFFAIRS OFFICER
New London – The Lyman Allyn Art Museum is pleased to announce and welcome Vera Harsh as the Museum’s new External Affairs Officer. Vera comes to the Lyman Allyn with a wealth of experience, having spent the last 12 years working in development and fundraising. She assumed her new position with the Lyman Allyn on December 9, 2014.
“We are thrilled that Vera is the new External Affairs Officer, and her development knowledge has already made her a key addition to the Lyman Allyn family,” said D. Samuel Quigley, Director of the Lyman Allyn. “I’m confident that Vera will play a key role in broadening the Museum’s reach into the community.”
As a graduate of the University of Connecticut, and longtime Southeastern Connecticut resident, Vera Harsh is no stranger to this region. She began her career at the US Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association as the Assistant to the President and Development Associate. Later, as the Director of Development at New England Science and Sailing, she created the organization’s development department including infrastructure, fundraising, marketing, and event planning.
Harsh comes to the Lyman Allyn from the Steamship Historical Society of America, where she served as the Development Director. She was instrumental in managing planned giving, increasing donations, and developing educational outreach programs. In addition, she has been active on the boards and committees of community and educational organizations including Stonington Free Library, High Hopes Therapeutic Riding, the Williams School, Stonington Education Fund, and A Child’s Garden Montessori Preschool.
“I am excited to start a new challenge with the Lyman Allyn, and look forward to working with the team to further develop support for the Museum, and to reach out to the community – to reunite them with this unique cultural institution,” said Vera. “I am fortunate to be joining such a respected Museum that prides itself on bringing enjoyment of art to the people of New London and Southeastern Connecticut.”
For more information please contact Rebecca Marsie at 860.443.2545 x112 or at [email protected].
About the Lyman Allyn Art Museum
The Lyman Allyn Art Museum welcomes about 25,000 visitors annually from New London, Southeastern Connecticut and all over the world. Established in 1926 by a gift from Harriet Allyn in memory of her seafaring father, the Museum opened the doors of its beautiful neo-classical building surrounded by 11 acres of green space in 1932. Today it presents a number of changing exhibitions each year and houses a fascinating collection of over 10,000 objects from ancient times to the present; artworks from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe, with particularly strong collections of American paintings, decorative arts and Victorian toys and doll houses.
The museum is located at 625 Williams Street, New London, Connecticut, exit 83 off I-95. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm, Sundays 1:00 – 5:00 pm; closed Mondays and major holidays. For more information call 860.443.2545, ext. 129 or visit us on Facebook or the web at: www.lymanallyn.org.