PHX Perspective

Airport Museum Director Honored by State Museum Association

The Director of the Phoenix Airport Museum was recently honored by the Museum Association of Arizona (MAA). Lennée Eller received the Association's 2009 Award for Contribution May 15 at MAA's Annual Conference in Bisbee. For decades, Lennée has served the museum community well by promoting its cultural institutions and artists, by actively participating in its professional organizations, by collaborating with schools and by providing a cultural welcome-wagon to literally millions of visitors to Arizona. Immediate Past President Tom Wilson presents the award to Lennée in the photo on the right.

When travelers deplane at the three terminals at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, at Deer Valley Airport, or at Goodyear Airport, their first impressions of Arizona are most likely influenced by the Airport’s dashingly displayed exhibitions of Arizona art and artifacts. These informative and culturally significant exhibits are mounted by the Phoenix Airport Museum, one of the largest airport art museums in the United States and an award-winning point of pride for the city of Phoenix; and, for nearly twenty years, the work of energetic, efficient, and jovial Eller.

Eller, in implementing the mission of the Phoenix Airport Museum, is committed to promoting Arizona’s unique artistic and cultural heritage. Museum people, artists and collectors alike confirm how significant the Sky Harbor exhibitions are as promotion for them personally or for their institutions. Many visitors who might not ordinarily have made time for a museum visit did so after seeing an airport exhibit of artifacts pulled from a museum’s collection.

Despite the heavy demands of her job, Eller has always freely given time to the Museum Association. Over the years, she has served on the board as Western Museums Association representative, as MAA Banquet auctioneer and as an integral part of many MAA committees. Professional-development workshops offered by Eller and her staff are always in great demand and attract large numbers of eager attendees.

Congratulations Lennée!