The Smithsonian’s Between Fences
Comes to Arizona
AHC is coordinating the Arizona tour of the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibition Between Fences, which opens in October 2007 and runs through August 2008. AHC has selected six rural sites to host Between Fences for six weeks each, and to develop supplementary programming to tell their local stories that reflect themes in the exhibition.
AHC is facilitating local exhibit development and program planning by providing funding, scholarly consultations, packaged programs and preparatory workshops, along with materials developed by Museum on Main Street (MoMS). MoMS is a one-of-a-kind cultural partnership between the Smithsonian, state humanities councils, and rural museums across America, the latter of which benefit from increased visibility and attendance, first-rate teacher and docent materials, and technical assistance in the areas of fundraising, marketing, exhibitry, and programming.
Between Fences explores the history of fences in America, conveying information about the people who built them, how they view and use their property, and the nature of their relations with their neighbors. Arizona’s host sites will highlight physical and cultural fences related to western ranching, Native American reservations, and the country’s border with Mexico, among other topics.
Host sites are developing local companion exhibits, lecture series, book discussions, and public forums, as well as other programs. AHC is maintaining an ongoing, constantly updated calendar of all Between Fences related programs. Everyone in Arizona is encouraged to visit one of the host sites during the tour and experience their unique contributions to this ongoing national project.
Call 602/257-0335 x26 or e-mail amjohnson@azhumanities.org for more information.
