The ToonSeum moved to its own gallery space on
Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh's downtown
Cultural District on November 8, 2009, aided by the
Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. In 2009, the ToonSeum established its NEMO Award, given to notable individuals "for excellence in the cartoon arts". Recipients to date include veteran comic-book artist
Ron Frenz, editorial and comic-strip artist
Dick Locher, and comics artist, editorial cartoonist and artists' rights advocate
Jerry Robinson. In May 2013, the ToonSeum hosted the two-day North American Conference of the
National Cartoonists Society. During that same month, plans for expansion of the museum were announced. On February 16, 2018, the leadership of the ToonSeum announced via the organization's
Facebook page that it would close the physical location on Liberty avenue February 24, 2018 to focus on direct community outreach. == See also ==