About SAMA
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (SAMA) is a community art museum founded in 1976. SAMA successfully operates the nation’s longest-running museum satellite system
with five museum facilities in the southwestern Pennsylvania cities of Altoona, Bedford, Johnstown, Ligonier and Loretto. The Museum maintains a permanent collection of more than 7,500 works of local, regional, national and international artists. SAMA’s five museums offer award-winning education programs, special events, and approximately thirty to forty exhibitions annually.
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art (SAMA) is a community art museum founded in 1976.
Questions? Call 814.472.3920
Since 1976
Our Mission
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art exists to preserve, exhibit, and advance American art and is dedicated to making its programs and activities accessible to the people of the southwestern area of central Pennsylvania. By establishing and maintaining a museum of art and by providing programs and activities of a public, charitable, civic, cultural, literary, and educational nature, the Museum serves the people of the region. Charged with the development, maintenance, and perpetuation of a permanent collection, the Museum mounts exhibitions designed to evoke an interest in and an understanding and appreciation of American art. As well, it serves as a repository for distinctive collections.
Awards
The Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art is the proud recipient of the following awards:
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Initiative Awards in Community Involvement, Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Awards (2018)
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Blair County Arts Hall of Fame inductee (2011)
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President’s Award of the Allegheny Mountains Convention & Visitors Bureau (2011)
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National Award for Museum Service, Institute of Museum and Library Services (2002)
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“Power of Creativity” Community Arts Education Award Initiative, Americans for the Arts and Binney & Smith (2001)
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Best Practice in Pennsylvania Arts Education Award, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and Pennsylvania Department of Education (1997/98)
History
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SAMA opened its doors in June of 1976 with a permanent collection consisting of 47 paintings, drawings, and sculpture, and a collection of 20 etchings by John Sloan
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Michael M. Strueber was appointed as SAMA’s first Director, with the Rev. Sean M. Sullivan, T.O.R., the first President of the Board of Trustees
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SAMA received accreditation from the American Association of Museums (AAM) in 1996
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SAMA has been a partner of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA) since 1998
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The Museum welcomes approximately 81,000 visitors annually
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SAMA’s service region covers Bedford, Blair, Cambria, Fayette, Somerset, and
Westmoreland counties
Museum Staff
Sarah E. Henrich
Director and Senior Curator
Jessica Campbell
Education Coordinator
SAMA-Johnstown & Loretto
Site Coordinator
Sandra Hampton
Office Manager
Beverlie Hartnett
Registrar
Hannah Harley
SAMA-Altoona
Site Coordinator
Erica Kilbride
Communications Coordinator
Kristin Miller
SAMA-Ligonier Valley
Education Coordinator and Site Coordinator
Lee Rummel
Facilities Manager
Morgan Young
SAMA-Bedford
Site Coordinator
Michael M. Strueber
Director Emeritus
Board of Directors
Barry Newborn
President
Ann Benzel
Vice President
Nancy Devorris
Vice President of Development
Larry Savino
Treasurer
Gerald Hawk
Secretary
Karen Azer
Mari-Pat Beene
Mary Borkow
Nicole Clark
George Conte
Hon. Timothy Creany
Fr. Richard Davis, TOR
John K. Duggan, Jr.
Glenda Forosisky
Stephen George
Jeanne Gleason, Emerita
Dede Kazmaier
Deborah Kimball
H. Dean Lemley
Joan McCreary, Emerita
Joan Mudge
Edward O’Brien
Michelle Passarello
Blair Pawlowski
Shirley Pechter, Emerita
Stephen Sloan
Chantel Ventura
Mary Weidlein, Emerita
Gerald P. Wolf, Emeritus