By Joanne himmelman, curator
Featured photo: Sitting with the newest museum staffer, Junie, who likes train day at the Museum.
How has it been 10 years since we got our new look? What does one do to celebrate 10 years? Like any nosey curator, I looked it up. Did you know that 10 Years is traditionally – Tin or Aluminum? Symbolizing strength and resiliency. I can get behind that, the museum certainly has incredible tenacity and has achieved some pretty awesome things in the last 10 years.
In the 22 years that I worked at the Museum, I have been witness to so many programs, exhibits, school class visits, events, meetings, strategy sessions, workshops, webinars, seminars, zoom calls, conference calls, and oh yeah one huge pandemic, so much stuff, that I can hardly think of what to say about the last 10 years.
10 Years Ago...
Museum staff boxed and moved the collection and draped it in protective plastics in readiness for contractors to stake claim to the building. Museum staff moved next door to the Courthouse where we worked for 18 months, continuing to serve the public with research requests, outreach programs, in-class school visits, and continued collection management.
Lennox and Addington County celebrated 150 years in August 2014, and the museum’s re-opening was part of these celebrations. Staff had quite the task to get the museum ready after the contractors gave the building back. It was May 2014, and we had a hard deadline of August 13th to have the collection back in place, offices moved and exhibits ready. READY-SET-GO! The museum staff was on the move….we moved miles and miles of archival paper into the new vault, we uncovered hundreds of artifacts for exhibition, moved 1000s more into their new storage.
The Museum Has a New Look and Vibe...
With our re-opening, came our new public image and how we wanted to engage with our community. Plans for new programs and new methods of exhibition were part of this new look. Which meant some deep thinking with the staff and community – what does the museum mean to people? We didn’t want to be perceived as boring, dusty cases anymore!
We have evolved in the last 10 years to truly be a place- to participate, to rest, to enjoy, to laugh, to cry, to connect, to research, to commune, and to embrace. Staff recognize that we are merely the shepherds of our history, here to protect, here to educate, we are aware the collection belongs to everyone who lives in this county. It is their legacy and we as museum staff honour that.
What Does All Of This Mean?
The museum continues to push boundaries and make space for everyone. We are changing the narrative, updating the stories, including all people and welcoming histories and traditions for all who live here. The museum is not a dusty and stuffy place of history behind glass. I mean have you been here? If not — you gotta come visit! We have art, theatre, music, history lectures, tea-leaf readings, drum circles, yoga, zumba, and carnivals now!
You are encouraged to participate with all of your senses. The museum will continue to re-define itself, it is not finite, we will change as the community needs us to change. BUT – what stands clear and firm- the museum will always be a place of wonder and curiosity that explores our past, present, and future in vivid colour, sound, smell, touch, and yes sometimes taste….
Thank you to everyone for their past decade of visits and support. We cannot wait to see how the museum evolves over the next decade…. I am sure this curator will look at it in wonder and will happily pass the baton (or hook) to our new shepherds of County history.
Some fun stats for you!
Fall 2014- Summer 2024
Attendance | 72,600 |
Programs (Virtual, Take Home, In Person) | 700 |
Research Requests | 2,845 |
Exhibitions | 90 |
School Students | 6,000 |
Volunteers | 15 |
Collection In Take | 1,200 objects |
Summer Student Projects | 14 |
Balmy Macpherson House Summers | 8 |
Facebook Followers | 3,100 |
Social Media Posts, Reels, and Ads | Hundreds |
Instagram Followers | 700 |
Rebranding, New Mandate | 1 |
Past Perfect Online Entries (Collection at Home) | 11,835 |
Grants that help us work | 30+ |
Museum Pup | 1 Willow |
Laughs and Smiles | Millions |
Tears | A few |
Pandemic | 1 |
