Dallin Art Museum Has Successful Year, Despite Pandemic

The Dallin Museum reopened in August, and visitors are once again treated to engaging experiences with its wonderful docents. The museum recently hired its first part-time, paid docent manager―and can now expand its docent program, and promote the museum more widely as a community resource and tourist destination.

In response to the pandemic, the museum developed a robust slate of programming to extend its reach beyond the museum’s walls.

* The art and architecture walking tour of Arlington Center, held monthly from May through September, attracted about 30 attendees per tour, many new to the museum. About half patronized local restaurants post-tour, demonstrating the museum’s positive economic impact in the community.

* Virtual talks on the Paul Revere monument, Storrow Memorial, Sculpture for Justice and Female Strength and Sculpture, and two new Dallin paintings attracted more than 650 viewers across the country. The museum’s online presence also expanded through the redesign of its website, Dallin.org, as well as a new online gift shop and Wikipedia entries for Dallin’s public works. The museum’s active and strategic social media engagement has dramatically increased our followers across all platforms.

* Given the centrality of Indigenous peoples in Dallin’s life, the museum increased its efforts to uplift their experiences and perspectives. The museum supported the Arlington Human Rights Commission’s Indigenous Peoples Day campaign and, in honor of the newly adopted holiday, hosted a virtual conversation with Ute Elder Forrest Cuch on trauma and healing. The museum is also innovating a new program to supply art materials to children in Indigenous communities in Utah that have been disproportionately affected by Covid.

While we all continue to adjust to these difficult times, one bright spot is a renewed sense of gratitude for those, like Cyrus Dallin, whose work was meant to make the world a more beautiful, kind, and just place. Dallin’s legacy endures, and the museum is more committed than ever to promoting itself as a place of dialogue, learning, and growth. “Not to love this gracious man is not to know him,” said one of Cyrus Dallin’s many adoring students.

Please remember the Dallin Art Museum in your charitable giving this year!

Contributions support the museum’s essential daily operations and provide experiences that enrich, inspire, and connect our community through art. The museum hopes you will continue to help make a positive difference in the lives of others by donating to the Cyrus Dallin Art Museum’s Annual Appeal!

To make a contribution and help the museum reach its $25,000 goal, tax-deductible donations are gratefully accepted at www.dallin.org (on the website’s main page, click “Give” and follow the prompts), or by check payable to the Dallin Museum and mailed to P.O. Box 266, Arlington, MA 02474.

Thank you for your generosity! The museum is grateful for your partnership as we share Cyrus Dallin’s inspiring art and legacy for the benefit of us all.

Volunteers Needed

Become a volunteer! Volunteers are crucial to the museum’s daily operations and can help on a weekly, monthly, or as-needed basis. The museum also seeks a new treasurer for the Board of Directors, as well as docents and associate trustees with experience in development, event planning, marketing, education, graphic/web design, social media or exhibit fabrication. For more information, visit www.dallin.org/volunteer.

The museum is open for visits on Saturdays and Sundays, 12 to 4 p.m. Group tours can be arranged by contacting Nancy Blanton, group tour coordinator, nblanton@dallin.org or 781.641.0747.

(photo: James McGough, museum co-founder and trustee emeritus, welcomes visitors)