"Also, about a year and a half ago we had a feasibility study looking toward
a new, larger museum. The firm that did the study said 'museum' is becoming
an unpopular label.  People no longer want to visit a museum, they want a
'Center' or something else more catchy with lots of interactives, an IMAX,
and a few artifacts.  I disagreed.  Are they right?"

Jerrie,
I see where you are coming from. I think people want to visit a place they find interesting and if they can't tell what that place is by your name, they may just pass you by. I also think the word "Center" is being overused in this day and time and confusing people as to what exactly goes on at the place simply called a "Center". Case in point, we have a theatre which has been donned the Edna Boykin Cultural Center. NO ONE knows what the heck happens there, even if they are originally from this area. Once explained they say..."Oh, the theatre?" Now why not just call it the Edna Boykin Theatre? Because it's not pc. Even performing arts center would be better but that's still an attempt to be pc. I am not a big fan of pc and think we should make every attempt to make things easy to understand and not technically correct. Moreover to make people know exactly what type of center it is, you have to add in a lot of extras and you end up with a fifteen word title for your institution. But that's just my two cents...
Regina


Regina Bacote
Director of Visual Arts
Arts Council of Wilson
124 E Nash Street
Wilson. NC 27893
252-291-4329 ext. 18
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www.wilsonarts.com