Hi All, Carol, I read this e-mail to Jamil who loved the idea! He said this is an important topic (of course being situated in the South, we have been 'wrangling' different types of program ideas for the CW Sesquicentennial - both local and statewide). In answer to your numbered questions: 1. Yes yes and yes 2. Jamil did not believe it necessary to limit the events to 2011. As you mention, the war did last four years. Some of the regional committees that have formed in Georgia (for the Sesquicentennial) plan on stretching their programs throughout the four years. 3. Take it from someone who lives in Hot-lanta, I am here to tell you that the topic of the Civil War is its own -highly successful-tourism lure always (I believe my brethren southern states will agree). In this state alone you will see things like the "Blue and the Gray Trail", Civil War related cemetery tours, Civil War gift shops, Civil War re-enactor events (on-going), Gone With the Wind tours, etc. etc. People come from around the world to see these things too. In my humble opinion ANYTIME you choose to introduce something "new" on the topic of the Civil War there will be enthusiastic interest (you do not even have to build it and they will come!). So the state of Georgia votes YES to an exhibit on this topic! Cheers, Arden Ms. Arden Williams Program Officer Coordinator, "Key Ingredients" in Georgia Georgia Humanities Council 50 Hurt Plaza, Ste. 595 Atlanta, GA 30303 Phone: 404-523-6220 ext. 17 Fax: 404-523-5702 http://www.georgiahumanities.org <http://www.georgiahumanities.org/> The Smithsonian exhibit, "Key Ingredients: America By Food"- the Georgia tour- has ended. Check out the GHC/Georgia "Key Ingredients" web site: <http://www.georgiafoodtour.org/> www.georgiafoodtour.org for information on any of our host sites. "Key Ingredients - the Georgia Tour" has won a Georgia Association of Museums and Galleries Award in the "Best Special Project" category. The exhibit catalog won a GHRAB Award for "excellence in archival program development". If you missed receiving a Key Ingredients catalog - we will be happy to send you one. Contact the GHC offices. Due to statewide budget cuts, the GHC "partnership grant" category will be eliminated for 2010. Please check the GHC web site for more details. The Georgia Humanities Council is the home of the New Georgia Encyclopedia <http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/> http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org _____ 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)