Sean,
We've been engaged with these issues at the Greensboro History Museum as part of our
Project Democracy 20/20 initiative, which grew out of hosting the SITES exhibition
American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith.
As part of the initiative, museum staff worked with software developers to produce
Gerrymander Madness: The Anti-Democracy VR Game. The game uses virtual reality to highlight gerrymandering in North Carolina and was available in our interactive Connection Point area. Some coverage of that you might find interesting:
We are also working on a Democracy Tables project with the UNC Greensboro Dept. of Communication Studies to host community dialogues in the city around issues of voter access -- something that was supposed to start this spring but we're retooling for fall.
Let me know if you want to learn more about these projects.
Best,
Glenn
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Glenn Perkins
Curator of Community History
Greensboro History Museum
Greensboro NC
glenn.perkins@greensboro-nc.gov(336) 373-2610
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Original Message:
Sent: 04-16-2020 09:30 AM
From: Sean Kelley
Subject: MUSEUMS AND THE 2020 ELECTION
MUSEUMS AND THE 2020 ELECTION
Do you know of a museum that has worked to fight voter misinformation, register voters, or host community dialogue on topics critical to the election? I'm writing a short article for MUSEUM about the potential role of museums in the 2020 election.
Obviously this work must be non-partisan, but doesn't mean it can't have some TEETH. ....
I'll also be chairing a session on this topic at AAM (now virtual) in May, with colleagues from AAM, CAJM, AAAM and Sites of Conscience.
Of course with COVID-19 the role of museums in our civic life more important than ever.... But it's also hard to write on this topic when museums don't currently have physical audiences..... By the time the article runs the world might--or might not--be getting back to normal.
Anyway, examples of ambitious and innovative work welcome. Thanks in advance--
Sean
_____________________________
Sean Kelley
Senior Vice President,
Director of Interpretation
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site
2027 Fairmount Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19130
Phone: (215) 236-5111 x213