Hello all!  I will start out by saying that Virginia is inundated with Civil
War everything-not just during the anniversary years, but all the time.
That said, it is what brings people here, and I would be interested in an
exhibit that explores the War from a new perspective.not something that has
been overdone before.  You might take a look at the American Civil War
Center's exhibits here in Richmond for ideas.  I think they do a splendid
job of highlighting elements of the war that most museums don't.  

 

So I think Virginia would be interested, and I don't think it would need to
open in 2011.  

 

That said, please pray that our state's humanities council (which helps us
bring these exhibits to Virginia) will survive the upcoming budget bill.
They are slated, along with our state commission for the arts, to be totally
eliminated.  This, of course, would make any future MOMS exhibit here
impossible.

 

Jennifer

 

Jennifer Weiskotten Thomas

Program Director

Virginia Association of Museums

804-788-5823

 

Register now for VAM's annual conference!

 

From: Museum on Main Street [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Harsh, Carol
Sent: Monday, March 01, 2010 4:44 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: New MoMS exhibition ideas

 

Dear MoMS family and friends,


We are exploring some ideas for the next MoMS exhibition and want to get
some quick feedback in preparation for a meeting on March 17 with some
curators at the National Museum of American History and the National
Portrait Gallery.

 

There was a lot of talk at the Federation Conference about the upcoming
150th anniversary of the Civil War.  We are exploring the possibility of
developing an exhibition on the Civil War Homefront.  This is something that
we discussed with quite a few folks at the conference and heard resounding
support.   Since you have hosted MoMS exhibitions in the past you have a
good feel for potential interest among the host communities, so we are
interested in knowing your reaction to this idea, too. 

 

So, I have three questions:

 

(1)    Are you interested in a MoMS exhibition centered on the homefront
during the Civil War?

(2)    If we were to do such an exhibition is it crucial that it open in the
anniversary year-2011;  or could it open later, maybe Fall 2012 or Spring
2013?  

(3)    Do you think programs about the Civil War would only be popular in
the anniversary years from 2011 to 2015, or is there generally an interest
in the topic?

 

We have been hearing about a lot of programming planned around the
anniversary year.  Please let us know at your earliest convenience if you
think your council would be interested in hosting a MoMS exhibition on the
subject.

 

All the best,


Carol

 

Carol G. Harsh

Director, Museum on Main Street

Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

P.O. Box 37012, MRC 941

Washington, DC  20013-7012

202-633-5333

202-465-5267 (cell)