To the Members of Museum-L: The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum is in search of ideas, resources and inspiration regarding public programming. I'm working on a long-range public programming plan (in conjunction with exhibits, collections and facilities plans) which will include strengthening existing programming (adult and children's) and developing new. We're especially interested in finding out what works in similar communities and in networking and cost-sharing with other regional museums and educational institutions. I would enjoy hearing from other museum professionals about what has worked, what hasn't and what _you_ would like to do in your wildest dreams. Please send comments, examples, organizational tips and other suggestions. A more detailed description of the museum, community and existing programs follows. We have a modest program schedule which relies on local resources. It includes quarterly (or more often) local history programs, monthly family and children's programming and art and photography shows, featuring local and regional Western artists and photographers (and workshops and seminars based on these shows) Specific programming needs are: adult programming which goes beyond the slide-show/video/lecture format to something more participatory; programs for retired adults such as brown-bag seminar series; interesting programming for secondary schools; and of course children's programming which goes beyond story-telling, arts and crafts and the like. _The Museum_ The Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum (OWM) is located in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Founded in 1978 by the Cheyenne Frontier Days (CFD) General Committee. The original focus was to provide a home for/display the CFD carriage collection, one of the country's largest. Our annual operating budget is around $400,000, with 4 Full-time and 6 Part-time employees. Our collection now includes: contemporary Western Art (small but important), women's costumes of 1865-1930, photos and other 2-dimensional CFD memorabilia, and artifacts, etc. relating to Cheyenne and Wyoming history. Current exhibits include "Dust and Glory: 100 years of Cheyenne Frontier Days", our showcase. New to the scene is the "Hole in the Wall Kids Room", a hands-on discovery area for children and their parents, which has been wildly popular but the focus of which needs to be tightened and re-directed. The museum is privately funded with donations, memberships, admissions revenue and other earned income. We're associated with, but not directed by the CFD family (more to follow). The museum has two small endowments for programming, the Marie Jordan Bell fund, which supports programs about and for the West and Westerners and the Helen Pickett Memorial Children's Programming Fund. The Pickett fund is new and we'd like to use this program series as a model. _Cheyenne Frontier Days_ is the world's largest outdoor rodeo and premier western celebration (to quote their press). The annual 10-day celebration features 9 rodeos, 9 night shows (1996 performers include Garth Brooks and George Strait) 4 parades, 3 pancake breakfasts and an "Indian Village". We celebrated the 100th Annual CFD this July 19-28. CFD is a volunteer-driven event (more than 2,000 volunteers work on the show) which contributes millions to the city's economy. More than 1/2 of the OWM's annual attendance comes during CFD.The common feeling and purpose which results from putting on this event each year has led to a community involvement and unity which is unusual in a town the size of Cheyenne. As part of the CFD family, we have a lot of support from this group, but are not governed by it. (Representatives of the two CFD governing boards sit on our board and CFD is our landlord) _Cheyenne_ itself is on the large side of a small town with around 60,000 people in the city and environs. Cheyenne is the capital city of Wyoming and is at the intersection of I-25 and I-80. We're less than 2 hours away from Denver and at the opposite corner of a very large state from Yellowstone Nat'l Park. Because we're the capital city and we're so close to Denver, with good transportation, Cheyenne is and always has been more cosmopolitan than many cities the same size. We're home to a small but surprisingly good symphony orchestra, a thriving community theater group and a community college. Not to forget the Wyoming State Museum which is a valuable resource. F.E. Warren Air Force Base is located in Cheyenne and contributes a great deal to our civic life. Thanks in advance for your help and time and for sharing your expertise. Peggy Nelson Coordinator of Public Programs Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum P.O. Box 2720 Cheyenne, WY 82003 e-mail: [log in to unmask] phone: 307-778-7290 fax: 307-778-7288