 With major funding from the McKnight Foundation, the new media initiatives department redesigned the mnartists.org Web site, a critical resource for Minnesota artists and a national model for the support of artists and arts organizations. The department also produced the Art on Call audio guide that utilizes visitors' cell phones to access information about the Walker's collection and programs, which was supported by a National Leadership Grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Interactive media for the Walker's new learning spaces was developed, including Dialog, a multimedia table designed in collaboration with Michael McAllister, Jakub Segen, and Marek Walczak to provide resources and promote social interactions among visitors, which was created for the new Best Buy Info Lounge with major support from the Bush Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. In the Best Buy Arcade, Dolphin Oracle II, a virtual dolphin with artificial intelligence capabilities designed by Piotr Szyhalski and Richard Shelton, was also supported by the Bush Foundation. When the Walker reopened to the public in April, the education and community programs department relaunched its most popular programs, including Target Free Thursday Nights, made possible with major support from Target Corporation. Free First Saturday was once again sponsored by Coldwell Banker Burnet, with programming support provided by the Medtronic Foundation and promotional support by WCCO-TV Channel 4. Teen programs and the Walker Art Center Teen Arts Council (WACTAC) were made possible by continuing support from the Surdna Foundation and Best Buy Children's Foundation. School and tour programs were relaunched with support from the Ted and Roberta Mann Foundation and Blythe Brenden and the Star Tribune Foundation. ArtsConnectEd, the award-winning educational Web site developed in partnership with the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, was supported in part by the Blandin Foundation. Throughout the past year, a number of special projects and programs across departments and disciplines were made possible by two generous multiyear grants from the Bush Foundation and the Wallace Foundation. Over the years, these two foundations have provided vital support for the Walker's initiatives to broaden, deepen, and diversify our audiences' participation in contemporary art and helped us realize our vision of becoming "more than a museum" with the opening of our expanded facility. On behalf of the Walker board and staff, I extend our deepest gratitude to the Bush and Wallace foundations for so generously supporting our work. |
   top to bottom: Dolphin Oracle II answers some pressing questions from young visitors; Ed Templeton signs autographs after his lecture as part of the Target Free Thursday Nights launch Photography: Gene Pittman |
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