I'd like to add that not all museums are limited to a Christian STAFF let
alone audience.
I'd also point out that there are several major and minor holidays (in the
true sense of Holy-Day) as well as other celebrations this time of year.
Saying it's the Christmas season or Advent is to ignore all the other
religious and non-religious happenings during the next month.
To answer the original question, as a natural history museum we tend to use
"winter", but we also use "holidays" for some things where that is more
appropriate (e.g. we have a holiday sale in our gift shop rather than a
winter sale).
House museums and similar may reach radically different conclusions than
more 'inclusive' type institutions - and probably should. I (personally)
would never suggest the Holocaust Museum must celebrate Christmas, as a
perhaps obvious for-instance. However a house museum focusing on a
particular family would be justified focusing only on the particular
heritage of that family.
There's even a good interpretive chance there! You can inform your visitors
how they would have been viewed at that time, in that place, by those
people and encourage learning about their own heritage. You can throw in
some non-threatening stuff like "and bare ankles would be SCANDELOUS!".
Cheers,
Bob
Robert B Hole Jr
Museum Educator
recent budget victim
seeking work, but trying not to be too obvious about it
http://www.biologybase.com/resume/default.htm
At 07:59 AM 11/30/2005, you wrote:
>With all due respect Christian, certainly our museums are not limited to a
>Christian audience. Yet concentrating on Christmas programming and
>marketing them as Christmas programs completely ignores those who do not
>celebrate Christmas. We imply – rightly or wrongly – how much value we
>place on other celebrations and other cultures. It's one thing for us to
>say we're open to all, but do we show our guests how open we are? Do we
>put as much value on different cultures and traditions? Or is the fact
>that we don't turn guests away enough?
>
>If we don't show how much we value other traditions we cause division and
>make a large segment of our audience feel unrepresented and possibly
>unwelcome. By choosing a Holiday celebration instead of simply a Christmas
>celebration we can prove that we're responsive and welcoming to all. The
>phrase "Happy Holidays" does not devalue Christmas as the wonderful
>celebration that it is, yet it embraces and enforces the validity and
>beauty of other celebrations at the same time.
>
>Sincerely,
>George Garner
>
>
>George Garner
>Director of Exhibitions
>Center for History
>808 West Washington, South Bend, IN 46601
><http://www.centerforhistory.org>www.centerforhistory.org // (574) 235-9664
>
>
>
>--------
>
>Celebrate Ethnic Heritage Month in November at the Center for History with
>a tour of our historic houses, including the Worker's Home, and a visit to
>our exhibition International Trees.
>
>
>Dr. Christian Müller-Straten wrote:
>>
>>Dear Kim,
>>
>>what an anxious director... The 24th of December is, since more than
>>1000 years, the official birthday of Jesus Christ (eastern is in their
>>understanding the "higher" event, of course). Christians of all kinds
>>are happy about that and give presents to each other. Other religions
>>have other high events. We do respect their events and expect them to do
>>the same! Do not retreat to "Holidays". There are many holidays without
>>any religious content, like bank holidays or independance days. This
>>would soften the original meaning. Let us defend christmas time,
>>christmas carols and christmas feelings - against all ods like
>>commercialism or political correctness.
>>
>>By the way, now does not start christmas time at all, but "Advent" to
>>prepare ourselves for the symbolical coming of the Lord. So get back to
>>the roots.
>>
>>Christian
>>
>>
>>
>>"Kimberly Kenney, Curator"
>><mailto:[log in to unmask]><[log in to unmask]> schrieb:
>>Hello all,
>>
>>My Director has asked me to ask the List what your
>>official position is at your museum regarding this
>>festive time of year.
>>
>>We have traditionally called our programs "Holiday"
>>events this time of year -- Holiday Open House,
>>Holiday Tea, Holiday Hearth Cooked Dinner, etc. We
>>are fully decorated with about 30 Christmas trees in
>>our historic room settings and throughout our "Street
>>of Shops" (a life sized indoor town). We do have an
>>outreach program exploring the origins of Holiday
>>Traditions, including Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, but most
>>of our events in house focus around the Christmas
>>decorations, visiting with Santa, and that kind of
>>thing.
>>
>>We are wondering if other museums use the word
>>"Christmas" in their events, or if you choose to say
>>"Holidays."
>>
>>Thank you for your input!
>>
>>Kim
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Kimberly A. Kenney, Curator
>>Wm. McKinley Presidential Library & Museum
>>800 McKinley Monument Dr. NW
>>Canton OH 44708 * 330-455-7043
>> * NEW EXHIBIT: "Hearth & Home" now open and on view through April
>>2006.
>> * SPECIAL EVENT: Join us for our annual Holiday Open House on
>>December 2. Members are free, $5 for guests.
>>
>>"Let us ever remember that our interests are in concord, not conflict;
>>and that our real eminence rests in the victories of peace, not those of
>>war." -- 25th United States President William McKinley
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>__________________________________
>>Yahoo! Mail - PC Magazine Editors' Choice 2005
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