HomeMy WebLinkAboutattachment
1331 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901 • 920.236.5799 • oshkoshmuseum.org
MEMO TO THE MUSEUM BOARD
February 19, 2021
To the Board,
Attached is the draft agenda for March 4. The meeting will be via ZOOM only. If you have any questions
or concerns about ZOOM access, please contact Tammy Malewski at 236-5763, or
tmalewski@ci.oshkosh.wi.us. The primary topic for discussion and vote on March 4 is the anonymous
$100,000 gift; I also have several key items under my monthly report.
In regard to that incredible gift, in looking at upcoming projects in 2022, it is my recommendation that
this gift be kept in reserve for the rental fee of a potential traveling exhibition, and for the 2022 budget.
Staff have transitioned to work on the two long-term exhibitions. On February 26, we have a pre-kick-
off meeting for design development for Deep Roots, Growing City. We have a new project manager from
Split Rock Studios, Niki Murray, and it is important that she meet the staff face-to-face, and that I go over
the budget with her. Staff are reviewing the 2018 conceptual plan, narrative, and our subsequent meeting
notes. We have also started artifact consideration, as no doubt some objects will have to be sent off for
conservation treatment. Because the red gallery is small (1,354 sq. ft.) and the Deep Roots storyline is
huge, you may recall from the presentation of the conceptual plan that we included a number of media
and interactive features to help tell those stories.
Big exhibitions always necessitate that work be tackled in a series of smaller, more manageable tasks, so
we must start on some of those small bites this year. Media and interactive components require a longer
work time than other exhibition components. This year our focus will be on four media elements, laying
the foundation for 2022 work. Assistant Curator Katrina Achilli is our primary person for this work.
Katrina has learned, and continues to educate herself, on the technical and programmatic aspects of
engaging visitors through media and has become knowledgeable and skilled. Our official kick-off
meeting for design development of Deep Roots, Growing City is April 15-16.
The Sports & Recreation exhibition, although smaller, follows the same steps. The delay of Titanic
impacted work in that gallery because we need the space in July for the preparation of Titanic artifacts,
and then the temporary storage of the shipping crates during the exhibition. The Sports & Recreation
exhibition is scheduled to open in summer 2022.
I am pleased to convey that everything is moving along nicely at the Museum and we have had no issues
or problems regarding mask compliance. Our attendance is good, especially on weekends, and our online
Ticketleap program is working perfectly. The confidence level of our frontline staff is high as we begin to
focus on tasks associated with Titanic. Of note, we are starting to plan the special opening and reception
for Amcor, and Tammy Malewski is putting things in motion for the June 5 Pow Wow, as the Common
Council approved the special event request.
I look forward to “seeing” everyone on March 4. That ends the week and I hope you have a pleasant
weekend.
Brad Larson
Director