(Morristown, NJ) -- The Morris Museum is pleased to announce that it will participate in “Museums Helping Museums: A National Relief Effort for the Gulf Region.” During the months of November and December, the Morris Museum will take contributions from the public to support museum recovery and conservation efforts in the aftermath of the recent hurricanes. The Morris Museum joins together with others in the American museum community to support colleagues in the Gulf region as they work to care for damaged collections and to restore the vital educational, cultural, and economic roles of their museums.

All funds collected will go to an assistance fund established by the Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC), and will be distributed according to policies established by the SEMC Board of Directors. Funds will be used for direct assistance to museums and museum professionals in the affected region. Assistance will be available to museums of all types, including art, history, science, children’s, zoos and aquaria, and gardens.

"The impact of Hurricane Katrina has been devastating on a human level, and the Morris Museum community shares the shock of everyone in our nation and around the world,” said Steve Miller, executive director.“As a museum, we are also saddened by the losses sustained by so many leading cultural organizations along the Gulf coast. We are therefore joining with colleagues across America to help support the considerable work that lies ahead as museums, historic sites, and other institutions there strive to rebuild."

Communities along the Gulf coast have suffered a tremendous loss of natural and cultural patrimony. Some museums have been destroyed and many others have experienced damage to or loss of collections. There is an urgent need not only to assist these institutions to reconstruct and stabilize their collections but also to provide support until their communities can be rebuilt and financial support systems re-established.

For more information, visit the American Association of Museums website at www.aam-us.org/sp/mhm.

Founded in 1913, the Morris Museum explores and celebrates the arts, sciences, and history through exhibitions, educational programs, performing arts and special events. The museum serves over 211,000 adults and children each year.

The Morris Museum, located at 6 Normandy Heights Road (at the corner of Columbia Turnpike) in Morristown, NJ, is open Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.; and Sunday, 1-5 p.m. Admission to the museum is $7 for adults and $5 for children, students and senior citizens. Admission is always free for museum members and is free to the public every Thursday between 1 and 8 p.m. For more information, call 973.971.3700 or visit www.morrismuseum.org.     

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