By PAM HARBAUGH
More bragging rights for patrons of Florida Tech’s beautiful RUTH FUNK CENTER FOR TEXTILE ARTS.
The institution, the only one of its kind in the state, has been chosen as one of the 75 institutions to participate in the Collections Assessment for Preservation, which is run by the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation of Historic and Artistic Works.
Two professionals from the Foundation will come to the Funk Center to make their assessment report.
Participating in this inaugural program will help the Funk Center improve the assessment and care of its collections, which number more than 1,500 textiles and related artifacts from five continents and covering 500 years of history.
In a press release, Keidra Daniels Navaroli, the center’s assistant director and curator, said participating in the program will help the Center “identify the strengths and challenges” in its collections.
Keidra Daniels Navaroli, left, assistant director and curator at the Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts, and Director of Collections Sarah Smith inspect an item from the center’s permanent collection.
And by the way, public money helps make this possible as CAP program receives some funding from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a federal grant-making agency that supports museums and libraries.
Upcoming exhibitions include: “Flora & Fiber” opening May 20 and running through Aug. 26; and “Cloth as Community: Hmong Textiles in America” opening Sept. 16 and running through Dec. 16.
The Ruth Funk Center for Textile Arts is on the campus of Florida Tech, 150 W. University Blvd., Melbourne. (Park in the lot on Babcock Avenue.) Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Call 321-674-8313 or click here.
