NON-COMPETITIVE AWARD INSTRUCTIONS Superior Achievement The Superior award recognizes achievement that is a model for the profession and reaches a greater audience than is normally reached by the institution. Award of Excellence This award recognizes work of excellent quality that uses available resources well, is creative, and meets professional standards. Award of Merit A merit award recognizes a project that makes a significant contribution in its category and meets professional standards. Non-Competitive Award Instructions A. Follow the General Instructions listed on page two of this brochure. Use the these nomination forms. All projects may have started earlier but should have been completed within the twelve months prior to the submission deadline date. B. Evidence of the implementations and evaluation of the project is required with each nomination. The nomination must include 1) The institution’s mission statement and an explanation of how the project implemented that mission, 2) the institution’s annual budget, 3) the project’s budget, including staff and/or volunteer time and in-kind contributions and 4) and evaluation of the project. The nomination packets might also include news clippings, letters of support, other support material (either printed or audio-visual.) Follow all other special instructions given under the appropriate category. Non-Competitive Award Categories 1. Collection Conservation Conservation projects of collections of scientific, historic, or art materials are entered in this category. The narrative should include a conservator’s report if available, information about how the project was implemented to follow accepted museum standards, and how the project relates to the institution’s general conservation plan. 2. Building and/or Site Preservation Building and/or site preservation nominations must include a description of the scope of the work done on the building/site, information about phases of the project, evidence to justify the restoration decisions made (photographs, old documents, architectural evidence, etc.,) a structural report if one was prepared, and before-and-after photographs. 3. Exhibits The narrative of this nomination should include a description of the planning process for the exhibit, and an evaluation of its effectiveness. Support materials should include photographs of the exhibit in place, sample label copy, drawings showing the layout and size of the exhibit. 4. Educational Programs Both formal and informal educational programs used either in the institution or in schools are eligible for this category. The nomination should include planning strategies, educational objectives and goals, teachers’ guides and lesson plans, and any supplementary material pertinent to the program. 5. Periodicals All regulatory released publications (annually, quarterly, monthly, etc.) may be nominated in this category. Periodicals that have previously won an award from IAM should either wait five years between nominations or should demonstrate a new design or new focus. If major changes have been made, before-and after examples should be included. 6. Scholarly Publications This category is reserved for serious, scholarly writing about a historic, scientific, or art-related subject. The publication should include a bibliography and/or footnotes. While it may be the work of a single individual, this project must show the direct involvement of the member institution, and the relationship between the publication and the mission of the institution. 7. Popular Publications Pictorial books, cookbooks, guidebooks, coloring books, and some exhibit catalogs are examples of publications appropriate to this category. The nomination should include information about planning for the publication, authorship and design, and the relationship between the publication and the mission of the institution. 8. Promotional/Informational Materials Informational brochures, pamphlets, development program publications, annual reports, calendars, posters, policy and procedures manuals, docent training manuals, etc. should be nominated in this category. 9. Audio-Visual Programs Informational videos, slide/tape programs, taped tours, and multi-media educational programs belong in this category. 10. Promotional Merchandise Mugs, T-shirts, pens, pencils, key chains and other non-print merchandise either to be sold or given away and created to promote the member institution are eligible for awards in this category. 11. Special Projects This category honors all one-time projects that were developed and implemented for a specific reason or to celebrate a specific event. The nomination should include goals and objectives of the project, how the project relates to the mission of the institution, how the project was implemented, and an evaluation of its effectiveness. Non-Competitive Award Form (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)