Dear Ears,

I'll try to find time to ponder this. As for a more narrow-minded
concern: What are the space requirements for Journey Stories? My initial
search for this information failed and I thought you might know off the
top of your haid.

Thanks,
DVD

-----Original Message-----
From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Harsh, Carol
Sent: Wednesday, May 30, 2007 9:29 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: 

Hi all,

It's time again to start thinking about the next MoMS exhibition, beyond
Journey Stories which will open in May/June 2009.  The next exhibition
would open in 2011, so we have a little time, but we need to start
thinking about the topic.

The MoMS staff has decided to throw it out to you in the Council world
to help us think about good exhibition topics.  Please think about broad
themes or ideas that you think will make a good MoMS exhibition--music
or food, for example.  As you know, its a little tricky to find a good
topic, because it needs to be a national story with a strong local
connection.  It is this local connection that really makes the
difference.  Every town in every state in the country needs to be part
of the national story. It can't be too narrow or regional.  People at
the local level need to feel passionate about it. We have found that
topics are most successful that focus on Americana and allow for
celebration while also inspiring serious reflection and sharing at the
community level.

So, please give us your best ideas about topics.  Please share on the
Listserv so that others can consider your ideas. 

After about two weeks we will call an end to the broad theme discussion
and try to narrow our discussion to a five or six ideas.  Then, we will
task all of you to help us find a curator and even an existing
exhibition that we could adapt to make it a MoMS story.  Several of our
last few exhibitions are sort of made from scratch, so to speak, and for
staffing and financial reasons, we feel that it is very important for
this next one to draw from an existing body of research and scholarship.

So, have at it.  Give us your best ideas!!!  We are all ears.

Kind regards,

Carol
Carol Harsh
Co-Director, Museum on Main Street
Smithsonian Institution
P.O. Box 37012, MRC 941
Washington, DC  20013-7012
202-465-5267 (cell)
202-633-5333 (office)