Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art, Salisbury University

The Ward Museum creates spaces and opportunities for learning about artistic traditions, community heritage, and connections to the natural environment. Surrounded by wildlife in the heart of the Atlantic Flyway, the Ward Museum is named in honor of Stephen and Lemuel Ward, whose vision and artistry in carving decoys pioneered the transition in the role of the decoy from a working tool to an expressive wildfowl sculpture. With a 4.5 acre waterfront facility and 12,000 square feet of exhibition space, the Ward Museum is a major destination for tourists and a resource for local residents who enjoy its year-round offerings. With a staff of 20+ professionals and a volunteer pool of over 200, the Ward Museum is a significant part of the local economy, community fabric, and the regional arts scene. Through educational programs and services, the museum serves more than 20,000 school children annually. The Ward Museum is also the host of the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition and Art Festival. The World Championship is an international event where carvers, collectors, and visitors convene at the end of each April in Ocean City, MD. From highly decorative works of art to functional hunting decoys, about 1,200 different wildfowl carvings representing more than 150 species from around the world can be viewed at the most prestigious competition in the world. Competitors of all levels – from youth to world champions – compete against their peers for the chance to win a portion of roughly $60,000 in prize money, as well as other recognition including ribbons, medallions, plaques and trophies. There are more than 40 different divisions in which an artist can compete: decorative life-size and miniature wildfowl, floating waterfowl, interpretive, gunning decoys, contemporary antiques, sculpture, and feathers & fronds.