COMMUNITY INPUT RESULTS FOR 2013-15 EXHIBITS

In 2011 the Galt Museum & Archives asked the public ideas that would help determine its 2013-15 exhibit schedule and local and area residents responded with great ideas about stories of significance to southwestern Alberta – including special anniversaries, events and issues of concern – which will be reflected in special exhibits to be shown in the Discovery Hall and hallway gallery spaces starting in 2013.

 “We asked what exhibits would bring them to the museum and if they had any artifacts, photographs, and archival materials they would be willing to loan,” says Curator Wendy Aitkens. “People responded on our blog, on Facebook and twitter, on paper and in person, and we were delighted with the direction about the exhibits that people in our community want to see.”

 “We poured over their suggestions, brainstormed on how these could be turned into exhibits, and organized them into possible exhibit themes. Sifting through the distilled themes produced a draft 3-year schedule of major and smaller exhibits,” explains Aitkens, which was the reviewed by the Board of Directors for input.

 Discovery Hall Special exhibits in 2013 will include: Canadian Science & Engineers Hall of Fame* [spring]; Wind Work, Wind Play* [summer], and Religion in the Bible Belt [fall]. In 2014 the schedule includes: The Art of China* [spring], 65th Anniversary of the Lethbridge Handicraft Guild [summer], and Treasures & Curiosities, The Sequel [fall, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Galt Museum & Archives]. Then in 2015 the schedule will feature: Story of Lethbridge EMS/Fire [spring], Voices of the Town: Vaudeville in Canada* [summer] and Diversity & Immigration [fall].

 The stories of other topics such as World War I, Swimming in Southern Alberta, Entrepreneurs & Innovators, Local Literature, The Women of Legacy Ridge, Household Appliances, Guns, Beauty Products, the Alberta/Montana Frontier*, 125th Anniversary of Irrigation, History of Food, Local Gardens, and Awesome Pets will be told in smaller exhibits.

 “We are now booking traveling exhibits and will develop in-house exhibits based on this schedule. We were even able to get an early start on our 2016-18 schedule with the many ideas sent in by the community!”

 Information on 2012 exhibits, other programs and events is available on the Galt Museum & Archives website: www.galtmuseum.com.

 * indicates a travelling exhibit. All others produced in-house.