Toledo Museum of Art’s Post

The amount of sheer passion put into the preservation of the fashion, design & culture here is astounding.

Have you visited Edon Today lately? Check out our latest blog post about preparing our buildings for summer: https://lnkd.in/efUvdcmg #edonmgmt #edontoday

More of this! Thought-provoking, engaging, community centered, and a key dialogue that needs to happen across the U.S. " Addressing contemporary housing challenges faced by Santa Monica and the region, the exhibition further explores affordable housing, support systems for those experiencing homelessness, equity and inclusion, and the importance of historic preservation in maintaining the city’s cultural identity." https://lnkd.in/eQ4b-mPq

The National Archives at Kansas City has reopened its permanent exhibit gallery, “We the People,” to the public. The exhibit, which primarily features records from the National Archives at Kansas City, focuses on how records impact the lives of every American. The exhibit is divided into five sections, each containing interactive displays. The first gallery, “We the People,” introduces visitors to the process of becoming an American and reveals details about immigrants seeking citizenship in the United States. The second gallery, “Form a More Perfect Union,” provides a glimpse into records that show the evolution of our democracy. The third gallery, “Provide for the Common Defense” showcases records of our nation’s activities during wartime, both on the home front and abroad. The final two galleries highlight the human spirit and ingenuity needed to realize America's promise, illustrated through records gleaned from the ever-growing collection of records held by the National Archives. Admission is free. The National Archives is tasked with storing records on behalf of the American people and making those records accessible to the public. https://lnkd.in/gPTQ__xv

📢🚨DHR has launched a special grant program to prepare historic landmarks and history museums in Virginia for visitors in 2026, which will mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence! DHR will administer the $20,000,000 state funds for historic preservation projects across the Commonwealth. "The Virginia 250 Preservation Fund is critical to ensuring that Virginia is prepared to host millions of Americans for the semiquincentennial celebration of our glorious history. As home to Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Patrick Henry and the Battle of Hampton to the Siege of Yorktown, Virginia was at the forefront of our history. Bolstering our historic sites and museums will not only encourage and aid tourism, it is our responsibility as stewards of American history,” Governor Glenn Youngkin said in a press release today. Read the rest of the announcement: https://lnkd.in/eNUi5e8j The preapplication for the Virginia 250 Preservation Fund program closes August 30. Projects need not be limited to properties related to the American Revolution to apply. DHR invites all historic sites or museums that meet the requirements to apply. History museums in non-historic buildings are also eligible for funding, but priority will be given to projects featuring properties listed in the Virginia Landmarks Register (VLR) and/or the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), properties designated as a National Historic Landmark (NHL), or properties determined eligible for any such listing by the Department. For more information and updates regarding the program, or to fill out a preapplication, visit here: https://lnkd.in/eCJ5CyVK Image credit: Library of Congress. #stategovernment #historicpreservation #historicpreservationmatters #history #Virginia #Virginiahistory #VADHR #VA250 #America250 #america250va #americanrevolution #revolutionarywar

🖼💡 Here's a great idea: To save museums, treat them like highways. Did you know? “Culture in the United States employs about five million people and pumps about $1 trillion into the economy annually.” In their guest essay for The New York Times, co-authors Laura Raicovich (former director of the Queens Museum), and Laura Hanna (board chair for Powerhouse Arts), argue, “We need to treat culture as equal to other forms of national infrastructure, as important to our national well-being as safe roads, clean drinking water and accessible utilities…. New funding would boost local economies, cultivate a more equitable arts sector, and promote and protect arts organizations,” they say. Read more about their proposed federal funding strategy: https://bit.ly/3SB6sxU

"What a great tour! It makes me wonder: how did that house become a historic site that we can visit?" "I dunno…magic?"   We're spoiled for historic sites here in Alexandria. Gadsby's Tavern, Carlyle House, the Alexandria History Museum, Freedom House, Lee-Fendall House, and Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum are just a few of the local historic resources that are not only preserved for posterity but also open to the public. While many of these places are now iconic parts of Alexandria, it took the work of many different people to preserve them, and the work of talented staff, volunteers, and supporters is required to keep them open today. So how does a historically significant place, whether in Alexandria or elsewhere in the United States, go from private property to public asset? An Alexandria Historical Society board member examined that question in a recent article. Ultimately, there's no magic switch that transforms a place with historical significance into a historic site that's open to the public. Many historic buildings have fallen to the wrecking ball, and many others would have met a similar fate had it not been for the dedicated efforts of preservationists. Still, saving a site from destruction is only half the battle. Keeping it open to the public and meaningfully telling its story comes with its own set of challenges. Check out the article for the full story: https://lnkd.in/ey3ZTBCF Credit: Library of Congress and Office of Historic Alexandria

The authors of this article hit the nail on the head: essential reading for everyone. “… Here’s an example: At a typical midsize arts institution — a place like the Toledo Museum of Art, the Oakland Museum of California or the Queens Museum, an institution at which one of us has firsthand experience — much of the energy of any director is spent cobbling together funding. Most of the annual budget comes from a combination of strapped local government agencies; private philanthropy, such as foundations, individuals and corporations; and ticket sales and other earned income sources, such as venue rentals or gala events. But there’s a large chunk of the budget — usually about 40 percent — that involves infrastructure costs like keeping the lights on and paying the staff salaries. Those are the costs that few donors are stepping up to take care of (since there’s little public prestige) and that government arts grants, because of current rules, don’t cover. Yet it’s this gap in funding, this 40 percent, that’s too often threatening small and midsize cultural institutions across the country right now. There is a better way to fund the arts in America. It requires a leap of faith and creative cultural and political organizing to achieve a change in mind-set. …”

As most people know a huge chunk of my career has been driven by the importance of community, home and belonging. I wrote in the latest issue of HQM about the importance of community spaces how they can help us feel at home and connect to where we live. The importance of being able to make those connections is so often underestimated, with the general election now set and so many issues at play, I can't help wonder if community spaces and services will get left behind, again, and a what cost? https://lnkd.in/eQNGJQ_b