Interpreting Anniversaries and Milestones at Museums and Historic Sites
By (author) Kimberly A. Kenney
Publication date:
11 November 2016Length of book:
248 pagesPublisher
Rowman & Littlefield PublishersISBN-13: 9781442264465
Interpreting Anniversaries and Milestones at Museums and Historic Sites is an invaluable resource for a wide range of cultural organizations that are attempting to plan an historical anniversary celebration or commemoration, including museums, churches, cities, libraries, colleges, arts organizations, science centers, historical societies, and historic house museums.
As you plan a milestone anniversary for your institution, learn from what others have already accomplished in their own communities. What worked? What didn’t work? And why?
The book begins with an examination of why people are drawn to celebrating and commemorating anniversaries in their own lives and in their communities, as well as the institutional benefits of planning this type of programming.
The rest of the book features case studies of specific institutions that have planned and executed an anniversary celebration or commemoration. In-depth interviews with key staff members involved in the planning process at each organization provide the reader with ideas that can be adapted to their own celebrations, as well as pit-falls to avoid, funding opportunities, marketing plans, and visitor response.
Chapters are organized by the type of anniversary activity:
·Signature Events
·Programs and Tours
·Fundraising Campaigns
·Exhibitions, Books and Documentaries
·Audience Outreach and Community Involvement
·Preservation
·Partnerships
·Commemorative Products and Souvenirs
A wide range of sizes and types of organizations are represented from across the country and around the world, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, The Andy Warhol Museum, The Imperial War Museum, Mackinac State Historic Parks, Woodrow Wilson House, the National Corvette Museum, Stan Hywet, Cincinnati Preservation Society, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, the City of South Bend, and much more. Plans can be scaled up or down, depending on your institution’s resources.
As you plan a milestone anniversary for your institution, learn from what others have already accomplished in their own communities. What worked? What didn’t work? And why?
The book begins with an examination of why people are drawn to celebrating and commemorating anniversaries in their own lives and in their communities, as well as the institutional benefits of planning this type of programming.
The rest of the book features case studies of specific institutions that have planned and executed an anniversary celebration or commemoration. In-depth interviews with key staff members involved in the planning process at each organization provide the reader with ideas that can be adapted to their own celebrations, as well as pit-falls to avoid, funding opportunities, marketing plans, and visitor response.
Chapters are organized by the type of anniversary activity:
·Signature Events
·Programs and Tours
·Fundraising Campaigns
·Exhibitions, Books and Documentaries
·Audience Outreach and Community Involvement
·Preservation
·Partnerships
·Commemorative Products and Souvenirs
A wide range of sizes and types of organizations are represented from across the country and around the world, including the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, The Andy Warhol Museum, The Imperial War Museum, Mackinac State Historic Parks, Woodrow Wilson House, the National Corvette Museum, Stan Hywet, Cincinnati Preservation Society, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo, the City of South Bend, and much more. Plans can be scaled up or down, depending on your institution’s resources.
Interpreting Anniversaries and Milestones at Museums and Historic Sites is a wonderful resource for professionals at any museum or cultural site, large or small, who is looking forward to celebrating an anniversary or noteworthy event in the life of their organization. Kenney’s interviews with multiple museum professionals in the US and abroad are golden in learning of effective celebrations and commemorations including challenges, pitfalls, opportunities, and successes. This is not only a ‘go to’ publication for guidance on anniversary celebrations and commemorations, but also helpful for tips on developing effective programs, events, and fundraising and marketing campaigns for a thriving and engaging museum or cultural site. I highly recommend this book.