There are so many ways to get actively involved in SEMC! |
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Lance Wheeler, Landon Wheeler, Zinnia Willits, Marquette Folley, Deborah Nobles-McDaniel, Dr. Deborah Mack at the IAAM. |
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It was a pleasure to see many SEMC colleagues and friends at the event! Read more about the opening of the IAAM in the "Around the Region" section of today's E-News.
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Do you want regional exposure for a project or program you are PROUD of? Submit it for the next issue of Inside SEMC!
Inside SEMC is a digital newsletter, published three times per year. A link is posted on the SEMC website and past issues can be found online.
We are interested in receiving news about exhibition openings, awards, personnel, acquisitions, professional development, grants, capital improvement projects, and other newsworthy items.
Submit an article. GET PUBLISHED!
The content deadline for the Summer 2023 Edition of Inside SEMC is July 31, 2023
Questions or ideas for submission? Contact Zinnia Willits zwillits@semcdirect.net
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SEMC Annual Meeting - Truth Builds Community
November 13-15, 2023, Louisville, Kentucky
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The Southeastern Museums Conference will hold its 2023 Annual Meeting November 13-15 at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.
The SEMC2023 Annual Meeting will be in-person with onsite sessions and events at the The Galt House Hotel in downtown, Louisville. SEMC2023 attendees will have opportunities to network beyond the hotel at evening events at cultural organizations in and around Louisville as well as pre-and post-conference tours and excursions.
We can't wait to see YOU at SEMC2023!
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About the 2023 Conference Theme
Purposefully developed by the local arrangements team in Louisville over many planning meetings, the 2023 SEMC Conference theme is Truth Builds Community. Louisville and many cities across our country have experienced much social unrest during the past several years. The cultural community and institutions have actively created programs and exhibits that shed light, lift up underserved and underrepresented communities, and create space for community engagement for healing and open dialogue.
Register now to take advantage of early bird pricing and make your travel plans!
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The SEMC2023 Preliminary Program Is Available |
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You can access the SEMC2023 Preliminary Program via PheedLoop web access. It's never too early to begin planning your 2023 Annual Meeting experience in Louisville!
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*Please note this is a working program; final details are subject to change.
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SEMC2023 Evening Event Highlight: Art and History in the Derby City |
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On Tuesday, November 14, SEMC attendees will take a short trip through Old Louisville—one of the country’s best-preserved Victorian districts—to two Louisville institutions: the Speed Art Museum and the Kentucky Derby Museum.
Founded in 1927 by Hattie Bishop Speed, the Speed’s collection spans 6,000 years of human creativity, from the arts of ancient cultures to cutting-edge contemporary work. Along with new installations and interpretations of the museum’s permanent collections, SEMC visitors can enjoy the major traveling exhibition, “Stories Retold: American Art from the Princeton University Art Museum.”
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At the Kentucky Derby Museum, you’ll explore the history and tradition behind this landmark event and its importance to the City of Louisville and Commonwealth of Kentucky. Permanent exhibitions include Black Heritage in Racing, a 50th anniversary celebration of the great Triple Crown champion Secretariat and the contributions of Latinx jockeys to the Thoroughbred industry. You’ll also want to take time to immerse yourself in Derby Day by viewing “The Greatest Race,” a 360 degree, 4K high-resolution experience.
- 6:00pm-7:30pm: Speed Art Museum (2035 South Third St)
- 7:30pm-9:00pm: Kentucky Derby Museum (704 Central Ave)
Did we mention that transportation is provided and access to all evening events is INCLUDED in your registration?
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SEMC2023 Official Host Hotel |
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The 2023 Annual Meeting will be held at the newly renovated Galt House Hotel, Louisville's only waterfront hotel and the southeast's largest meeting and convention hotel.
The SEMC2023 Room Rate is $166 + tax
This rate is available through October 13, 2023 (or until the block fills...)
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The Galt House Hotel (Trademark Collection by Wyndham) is the official hotel reservation company for SEMC2023. If another company contacts you, please contact Zinnia Willits at zwillits@semcdirect.net immediately. SEMC works to prevent the unauthorized solicitation of SEMC2023 exhibitors and attendees and will pursue these companies to prevent further contact.
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Claim Your Booth for the SEMC2023 Expo! |
The SEMC2023 Annual Meeting Expo will take place on Monday, November 13 and Tuesday, November 14 2023 in the Archibald Ballroom (West Tower) at The Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky.
SEMC Corporate Partner and Friend memberships include a booth in the Expo Hall.
If you are interested in exhibiting at SEMC2023, please register your interest in a booth today and Zinnia Willits will follow up with the Expo layout and available spaces.
Don't delay! Expo Hall Booths will sell out!
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Thank You SEMC2023 Sponsors |
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Is your company interested in supporting the SEMC2023 Annual Meeting through sponsorship? Contact Zinnia Willits to learn more about sponsor opportunities, levels and benefits at zwillits@semcdirect.net or 843-224-0876
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SEMC2023 Student Work in Museums |
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An Opportunity for Students to Highlight Their Work! |
SEMC invites submissions for the Student Work in Museums (S.W.I.M) poster session at the 2023 Annual Meeting in Louisville. The purpose of the S.W.I.M poster session is to showcase projects and research by students or a group of students in museum studies programs or related academic programs who have conducted museum-based projects. This is an opportunity for students to share ideas and research, and network with museum colleagues in a professional setting.
Please help SEMC spread the word about S.W.I.M. to our student populations!
The submission deadline is
August 1, 2023
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SEMC Executive Director, Zinnia Willits with Ahmad Ward, recipient of the 2021 Museum Leadership Award. |
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Each year SEMC presents awards in recognition of innovation, service, and leadership by museum professionals to deserving members of our community. The SEMC Awards Committee needs your help to identify and honor outstanding colleagues who have helped shape the world of museums.
Please consider friends, colleagues, and mentors who, through their work with museums and their activities in museum associations, have provided exemplary service to the southeastern museum community.
Nominations will be accepted through July 31, 2023.
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SEMC 2023 – Register for the 5K
Did you know that each year SEMC offers a fun 5K run at the conference? Runners, joggers, woggers, walkers - everyone is welcome! It’s a great way to start your day and a terrific opportunity to explore Louisville.
The 2023 5K will take place on Tuesday, November 14th at 7:00am. Did I mention your 5K registration comes with cool swag? All runners receive a 2023 collectible SEMC t-shirt!
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The running group at SEMC2021 in Chattanooga! Masks made that year's 5K extra memorable.... |
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As always, let me know if you’ve got membership ideas, feedback or suggestions. I love hearing from you! And don’t forget to follow us on social media so you can stay in the know about all things SEMC!
Have a fantastic week,
Carla
Carla Phillips
Membership & Communications Manager
Thank you for supporting SEMC through membership!
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News from SEMC's Summer Intern: Leila Withers |
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Hi everyone!
There is a new calendar feature on the SEMC website that I have been working on! The 2023 Events and Calendar page shows all the virtual events (including monthly happy hour information and Zoom link!) and programs scheduled for the year. This calendar can be found by hovering over the News and Resources tab on the top bar of the SEMC website.
Additionally, the 2023 Conference Events Schedule can be found by hovering over the Conference tab on the website. This calendar shows the special events and tours that will be held during the annual conference. We hope you find these calendars to be an effective way of staying up to date with SEMC’s events and programs. I have enjoyed building these pages and hope you utilize them to the fullest!
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Meet SEMC's Summer Intern, Leila Withers! |
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In case you missed the last E-News, SEMC welcomed our summer intern, Leila Withers, in June!
Leila is a rising third-year Psychology major, Curatorial Studies minor from Washington, DC studying at Spelman College. With a strong interest in art marketing, content curation and design, and research, Leila has been working on adding pages to the website, creating content for the summer issue of Inside SEMC and helping analyze SEMC metrics and data.
Leila will be with SEMC for a few more weeks and has already been a tremendous asset to the team!
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SEMC IS GRATEFUL TO THE 2023 SUMMER INTERNSHIP SPONSOR: |
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A Note From the SEMC Program Administrator |
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I hope all of you are having a wonderful summer!
The 2023 Annual Meeting may seem distant, but it's approaching faster than you realize. We are thrilled to share more details about the conference and robust program. The SEMC staff and Program Committee are committed to offering a diverse and welcoming experience including sessions that apply to the unique positions we hold as museum professionals.
Today, I want to highlight two sessions that embody that commitment.
Creating a Successful Event Rentals Program
Monday, November 13, 1:15 PM
How can spaces in museums be used for event rentals while keeping the integrity and mission of the museum intact? Representatives from history and art museums will share their experiences in offering event spaces and renting them out to organizations and individuals to boost revenue and footfall. Speakers and attendees will exchange ideas on how to minimize disruptions in the museum through effective policies and logistics, while also providing an unforgettable experience for renters and their guests.
The Art of Story-Telling in Museum Stores
Tuesday, November 14, 9:00 AM
This session will explore the various ways a museum store conveys narratives in connection to a museum’s mission. Museum store professionals will discuss successful practices that have been implemented to effectively further their mission through vendor and product selection. The significance of staff training in interacting with visitors will also be discussed.
Whether you are on the events team, the museum store manager at your institution, or have a small staff and these duties fall under your supervision, we trust these sessions can provide fresh insights.
Heather Nowak
SEMC Program Administrator
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Upcoming Virtual Programs |
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SEMC Virtual Happy Hour
Friday, August 25, 2023
5:00PM EST (4:00PM CST
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The dog days of summer are here! Join your colleagues from around the region for SEMC's monthly virtual happy hour!
Bring your drinks, lament about the heat, and share your stories from the week....or just show up!
Meet new people. Have a drink and many laughs. Everyone is welcome!
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Meeting ID: 884 5684 9221
Passcode: 216675
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There’s an App for That: Creating a Digital Tour or Mobile App
August 29 or 30, 2023
Date/Time TBC
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Many cultural institutions have created or are looking to create a mobile app to increase their digital footprint and enable easy access to their collections and content. Technology can be an easy way to solve a number of issues from accessibility, wayfinding, education programming, and inclusivity.
Join representatives from STQRY and four different museums to learn how they have enhanced their digital presence.
Panelists include:
Kyle Pierce- STQRY
Rex Bennett, Director of Education, from the Lane Motor Museum
Tamara Vaughan, Communications Coordinator, from the High Point Museum
Mark Vargas, Development Director from America’s Packard Museum
Lillian Prescott, Tour and Programming Specialist from the Ximenez-Fatio House Museum
Registration will be FREE for SEMC members and $10 for not-yet-members!
Registration information coming soon!
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Discussing DEAI and Inclusion |
SEMC members can now access a recording of the virtual session in which Katy Menne, Education Director at the Columbia River Maritime Museum, discussed DEAI efforts and how to reframe assumptions that these efforts are inherently political, and make them approachable to anyone who comes through your institution’s doors.
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Tennessee State Museum Now Offering Capital Maintenance and Improvement Grants |
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SEMC is pleased to share the good news that for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2023, the Tennessee General Assembly included a direct appropriation in the amount of $5 million to the Tennessee State Museum “for the sole purpose of providing grants to museums with a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization or affiliated with a governmental entity for capital maintenance and improvements” (Section 60, Item 30 of the 2023-2024 Appropriations Act). This grant will be facilitated by the State Museum and is open to museums located in Tennessee.
This appropriation must be used for the capital maintenance and improvements as described in the grant application. Grants will be reviewed until funding is exhausted.
“This opportunity for Tennessee museums highlights our state’s commitment to preserving its history, in all three Grand Divisions and its 95 counties,” said Ashley Howell, executive director of the Tennessee State Museum. “We look forward to acting as a facilitator for the grant and working with our museum colleagues to further improve their facilities, thereby enhancing their service to their communities.”
Applications are being accepted through October 2, 2023
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Congratulations to the Tennessee State Museum and all Tennessee museums that will benefit from this program! |
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Do you have Good News to share with SEMC? We would love to highlight it in the E-NEWS. Send to Zinnia Wilits at zwillits@semcdirect.net
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SEMC Ones to Watch spotlights museum talent making an impact across our region.
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Travis's nomination letter highlights his passion and commitment to his work at the museum, dedication to continuing to learn and grow in his position, and collaborative work with museum colleagues.
"Travis is the Preparator at the LSU MOA. In the two years he has worked for us, Travis has excelled at his position. When hired, he was completely new to the museum field and has been dedicated to learning and growing in his career. Travis works incredibly hard to seek out innovative ways to install the exhibitions, going above and beyond simply hanging artwork. He actively takes part in exhibition design, is amazingly quick at accomplishing tasks, and takes it upon himself to seek out opportunities to learn new skills and techniques."
Congratulations to Travis Pickett: One to Watch!
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Consider nominating an emerging or mid-career museum professional as a "one to watch" and help SEMC identify and recognize those who are enhancing the profession in a special way and working to make a difference in their community through work in a museum. Nominees do not have to be current SEMC members. In fact, we'll give non-members an individual membership in recognition of their great work!
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SEMC Institutional Spotlight |
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Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center
Opelousas, Louisiana
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Louisiana’s third oldest city, Opelousas, also known as the “Zydeco Music Capital of the World”, has a fascinating history. The town slogan, “Perfectly Seasoned”, seems to accurately describe the area’s cuisine. Local restaurants are still influenced today by two Opelousas natives, the late culinary great, Chef Paul Prudhomme, and seasoning entrepreneur, Tony Chachere, (you’ve probably got his seasonings in your pantry!) With many eateries that have been open since the 1930s, you can enjoy recipes that are tried and true!
In the midst of all this history and culture sits the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center. Be on the lookout for the yellow “OPEN” flag, an invitation to walk through the doors and be immersed in local history and culture.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the main exhibit room, The Geraldine Smith Welch Doll Collection, the Civil War Room, the Louisiana Video Collection Library, and the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival Archives. With free admission year-round, the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center also collaborates with local partners to offer programs and special events throughout the year.
For members planning to attend SEMC 2024 in Baton Rouge, consider a day trip to this sweet little city for an afternoon of history, music, and great food!
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SEMC Announces Handumy Jean Tahan Internship Fund Recipient |
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SEMC is also thrilled to announce that The Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center has been selected as the inaugural recipient of a $1,000 stipend to support a paid internship through the Handumy Jean Tahan Internship Fund. This fund established in 2022 with a generous gift from donor, Joy Tahan Ruddell, is named in honor of Ms. Ruddell's late mother, Handumy Jean Tahan, who wholeheartedly supported her museum career and inspired her to give back to others who equally deserve that support. The Fund provides a small museum or historic site (with an operating budget under $500,000) support for a paid internship to help foster the talents of future generations of museum professionals in the Southeastern Museums Conference.
The award will provide funding for a paid internship focused on creating an orientation booklet for Opelousas Museum volunteers and future employees. The content will include information about the history and culture of Opelousas and provide more detail in reference to the exhibits.
Congratulations to the Opelousas Museum and Interpretive Center on prioritizing paid internships and helping to lay a path toward equity in the museum industry!
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SEMC Industry Partner Spotlight |
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Atelier 4
Charlotte, North Carolina
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Today's Industry Partner spotlight is on Atelier 4, a SEMC corporate member since 2019. A national company with offices across the country, Atelier 4 recently re-opened its office/storage space in Charlotte, North Carolina, solidifying its national presence in the Southeast.
According to Steve Pardun, Vice President of Sales and Business Development for A4, it all started in 2016 with a trip to Charlotte on behalf of the trade group, ICEFAT. A4's CEO, Jonathan Schwartz, who is also the chair of the ICEFAT steering committee, noticed there were daily flights to seven European cities from Charlotte. Part of the role of the Steering Committee is to identify locations throughout the world for their annual convention. As half of the ICEFAT members are from Europe, it looked like an easy way to get them in and out of town with less expensive accommodations. After surveying the cranes and construction teams throughout the city, Jonathan wondered, why there was no local fine art handling company in Charlotte?
In 2017, Atelier 4 opened its fourth branch in nearly 30 years in Charlotte. It was a starter space with two 3,000-square-foot vaults just minutes from Uptown. A4 developed a local team of art handlers, drivers, and crate builders. The freight forwarding department certified Charlotte as TSA-compliant in 2018 and soon the company was able to export shipments out of Charlotte and Atlanta with a local team. As a midway point between New York and Miami, A4's national fleet increasingly frequented Charlotte for cross-docking with the west coast branch in Los Angeles. Then the pandemic hit....
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Out of the crisis, A4 administration saw an opportunity. The Charlotte warehouse was full with regional client's property and the company decided to make its first real estate purchase in 33 years. After a year of buildout and post-pandemic supply challenges, the Charlotte team ended their lease at the first location on old Bancroft Street and moved into 1960 Cross Beam, just minutes from the Charlotte Douglas International Airport.
"If you build it, they will come"...the hopeful motto for developers, art handling companies, and Kevin Costner. Now A4-Charlotte offers a resource for institutions, collectors, and artists in a region. Museums that don't have enough storage space to stage exhibition crates for traveling shows now have a depot that ticks off all of the security and environmental boxes. The move and the operational management were overseen by Tony Linenberger, a graduate of the Ringling School of Art & Design, who cut his teeth as a young art handler at Atelier 4's New York flagship location from 1996 until 2005. After doing a turn as fleet manager for SurroundArt and then UOVO in New York, Tony answered the ad looking for a new manager for the Charlotte branch. Tony oversees a team of six art handlers with more to come.
By the end of the year, Charlotte will have an additional vehicle for a total of three climate-controlled art trucks.
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Jonathan Schwartz
Chief Executive Officer
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Tony Linenberger
General Manager, Charlotte
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Travis Laughlin
Fine Art Storage and Warehouse Manager, Charlotte
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Congratulations to Atelier 4 on their Charlotte location. Welcome to the southeast and THANK YOU for your Silver Sponsorship of SEMC2023 in Louisville, Kentucky!
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SEMC Emerging Museum Professionals |
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Hey SEMC EMPs, this section is for you! Keep an eye out for programs and resources of specific interest to emerging museum professionals! Please send content for this area to Zinnia Willits at zwillits@semcdirect.net
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National Emerging Museum Professionals Member Feedback Survey |
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Please share your experience & thoughts on your NEMPN engagement in this short (10-12 minute) survey.
Your responses will help shape the future of NEMPN and craft the next 5-year Strategy!
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SEMC Equity and Inclusion Action Team |
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SEMC is committed to providing resources on DEAI and social justice and sharing links, articles, and examples of action steps being taken across our nation.
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Today we offer the following articles:
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Posts that made us stop scrolling and LOOK this week.... |
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SEMC: Around the Region...... |
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SEMC staff has the opportunity to interact with members across the region each week...and we see and hear so much. Watch this E-News feature for information we pick up in weekly calls, emails, and Zooms with members! |
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The International African American Museum Opens in Charleston, South Carolina |
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The grand opening ceremony for the International African American Museum (IAAM) was held on Saturday, June 24, 2023. The museum is built on a portion of the former Gadsden’s Wharf in Charleston, South Carolina — an important spot in American history.
“As I look out into Gadsden’s Wharf, into the harbor where 100,000 Africans first touched the soil of the United States of America — right here where you are seated — it’s a lot,” actress and Howard University Fine Arts Dean Phylicia Rashad said to kick off the grand opening. “Yes, this location represents one of the most prolific slaving warehouses and operations in history. But now, today, we reclaim this land and honor the countless lives lost and enslaved with a monument to our history, our families, our heritage, our contributions, and, yes, our future.”
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As a component of the museum's grand opening, IAAM is hosting the special exhibition “Men of Change: Power. Triumph Truth.”
The exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service presents the history of a nation through the lens of significant and iconic African American men in a historical and cultural landscape. The Ford Motor Company Fund and local sponsor Bank of America made it possible to bring the exhibit to Charleston, according to a news release.
Congratulations to the International African American Museum and welcome to the SEMC community of museums!
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Rob Blount with his wife, Andi Blount, at a recent event sponsored by Putnam Land Conservancy. |
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SEMC is saddened to share news of the recent passing of one of our members, Rob Blount, of Keystone Heights, Florida, who passed away on 26 May at the age of 76. After 15 years working on exhibits at the Florida State Museum, Rob moved on to the Florida Agricultural Museum in Tallahassee (1987-1993); Georgia Music Museum of Fame in Macon (1993-2000); Elliott Museum and House of Refuge in Stuart, FL (2000-2002); Tampa Bay History Center (2002-2006); and Virginia Key Beach Park Trust in Miami (2006-2009). His final museum venue was as Museum Director of Mission San Luis in Tallahassee from 2011-2016 where he oversaw this vibrant living history site.
Our deepest condolences to Rob's family and all those who had the great fortune to have him in their lives.
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SEMC IS THANKFUL FOR ALL NEW AND RENEWING MEMBERS |
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We greatly appreciate your support through membership and will continue to work hard in 2023 to provide training, connection, and resources to our southeastern museums' community.
THANK YOU!
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New to SEMC?
Connect with other SEMC Emerging and Mid-Career Museum Professionals on the following pages:
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Any time of year is a great time to consider giving a colleague, emerging museum professional, student, or anyone who might benefit, a gift of a SEMC individual membership!
to set up your gift!
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Thank you SEMC members for all you do for the museums in our region! |
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Dear SEMC,
Looking for something to read on your summer travels? Point your browser to The Bitter Southerner, one of my all-time favorite sites for storytelling, with a single mission to "to uncover the American South in all its truth and complexity — and in the process to break stereotypes about the region and its people by pushing out important, difficult, uncomfortable, irreverent, witty, and addictive stories online."
You don't have to be bitter (or southern for that matter) to appreciate the rich histories, stories, and personalities of our region. For example, dive into the recent article, The Global Love of Boiled Peanuts, and see where the journey takes you!
They have great social media too...and t-shirts!
Have a great week SEMC!
Sincerely,
Zinnia Willits, Executive Director
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SOUTHEASTERN MUSEUMS CONFERENCE
P.O. Box 550746 | Atlanta, GA 30355
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Copyright © 2016. All Rights Reserved. |
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