Western Illinois Museum issued the following announcement on May 15.
Over the last few months, the Western Illinois Museum Board of Directors have been asking questions, listening, and looking at trends on how people use museums. Thanks to everyone who has taken time to share your ideas and thoughts about how the Western Illinois Museum can grow AND be sustainable, all while better serving the community. It’s a tall order but the take away is that there is a lot of goodwill towards the museum and its programs. With your confidence in us …and help, we’re all in!
Here’s what on the agenda for the next few months.
Our Front Porch is our first experiment in exploring new ways to bring local history and culture to the community. This recently built space actively challenges the idea that artifacts need to be behind glass in a display case and that museum wall panels tell you all you need to know.
Our goals for this space are to:
Create a place for a shared experience around the things we value as a community such as music, food, crafts, and even a good joke.
Start a conversation around the artifacts in our collection while getting to know your neighbor.
Take time to celebrate our accomplishments and consider how change is impacting our community.
The Speakeasy is another experiment we are currently building. This space will be our first exhibit in the east side of the building. The raw space, once used as a garage, is a perfect fit for a prohibition era exhibit that tackles the complex issue around the 18th amendment –all while enjoying a, now legal, beverage.
Our goals for this space are to:
Create a place for a shared experience that immerses guests into the prohibition era using music, drink, dancing, clothing and other cultural phenomena.
Learn about the multi-faceted issues surrounding prohibition through a
conversation over a drink or at a temperance meeting.
For more information about our upcoming programs follow us on Facebook.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Western Illinois Museum
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