Carolyn Brady asked: Does anyone out there have programs/exhibits in their museums which= explain how their institutions function?=20 I wondered about anyone's experience with this. It is obviously an important but perhaps often overlooked responsibility to "show ourselves" and explain ourselves to visitors. Our museum is just beginning to= make an effort to explain who we are, what we do and more importantly, why.= We are in the process of installing an exhibition titled "Ethiopia: Traditions= of Creativity" and one of the things we're experimenting with is a kiosk titled "Why Ethiopia" where we explain why we selected this topic= and a history of the development of the exhibit including field research.= We have also included quotations from the artists represented and from= the curator in an effort to let people know whose opinions and perspective= is presented.=20 I'm curious about the experience of others in "unveiling the workings"= of their museums. [This reminds me of the scene in the Wizard of Oz= where they pull back the curtains to see not a Wizard but a "kind educated man"-= less exciting but perhaps more real and person! *=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0= *=A0*=A0* Kris Morrissey, Ph.D. Curator of Interpretation Michigan State University Museum E. Lansing, MI 48824 517 353-1943 [log in to unmask] *=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0*=A0= *=A0*=A0*