The Irish American Heritage Museum’s Board of Directors has announced the appointment of Hayden-Grace Francis as the Albany, NY-based museum’s new Assistant Director.
Working closely with Executive Director Michael C. Clarke, Francis will help shape the Museum’s programming, operations and storytelling for new generations, said a release from the museum.
Added the release: "Francis brings a lifelong passion for Irish history, culture, and the arts. A summa cum laude graduate of Siena College with a degree in history, Francis is also a certified Irish dance instructor through An Coimisiun le Rinci Gaelacha, The Commission of Irish Dance, which is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Francis’ studies and love for global cultures have taken her from Ireland to South Korea, where she pursued historical studies in Korea University."
“I have been involved in the Irish arts since birth, thanks to my parents’ encouragement and love for our heritage,” said Francis.
“I am both thrilled and honored to work with Michael, the Board of Directors and with the remarkable community they have built at IAHM, and to continue telling the important story of the Irish in America.”
IAHM’s Board Chair, Liam McNabb, stated: “Just this year alone, the Museum’s exhibits and programming has gained attention on both sides of the Atlantic. We are excited to welcome Francis as Assistant Director, and look forward to the energy, talents and insight she will bring to advancing IAHM’s mission.”
Executive Director Michael C. Clarke added: “Like Francis, I am also the child of immigrant parents. Francis’ passion for our shared culture is both understandable and infectious. I am excited to see the impact Francis will have upon our Museum’s members and visitors alike, and upon IAHM’s future telling of the story of our Irish and American heritage.”
The Irish American Heritage Museum (IAHM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation founded by the New York State legislature in 1986 and permanently chartered in 1992 by the Board of Regents of New York as an educational institution.
Through exhibitions, first-person narratives, and cultural programming, IAHM tells the story of Irish immigrants and their descendants - from U.S. presidents and cultural icons to nameless soldiers and factory workers.
In addition to exhibitions, IAHM, according to its website, hosts a robust series of programs, including traditional Irish music sessions and performances, lectures, cooking demonstrations, once a month traditional and folk (“Trad/Folk”) Irish performances, film screenings, and assorted one-person shows, plays, and busking experiences. More at www.irish-us.org.
