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1331 Algoma Boulevard, Oshkosh WI 54901 • 920.236.5799 • oshkoshmuseum.org
MEMO TO THE MUSEUM BOARD
June 24, 2021
To the Board,
Attached is the draft agenda for July 8, along with the draft minutes from the June 3 meeting. As it
looks now, the July meeting will be straightforward.
As you may already know, earlier this month the Common Council ended social distancing requirements
for meetings and we are now free to return to regular in-person meetings. However, our July 8 meeting
will still be virtual because we have no physical space available for the Board until after the Titanic
exhibition opens, and we do not want to meet off-site. The August 5 meeting will be the first meeting
that, at long last, returns to normal.
In my last memo I mentioned that the Auxiliary was considering a Gala for this year, but after discussions
staff had to reject the idea. As staff and I talked about this, it was evident that the event will not work,
given the mid-November opening of the White Christmas exhibition. At least one of the main floor
galleries will be used as part of White Christmas and the contract is very strict about not allowing food or
drink in any gallery containing their objects. As mentioned earlier, the level of public awareness is
already very high and that translates into strong attendance; our intention is to maximize revenue. We
hope the Auxiliary plans a fantastic return of the Gala in 2022.
Stars Wars: The Nostalgia Awakens was removed on Monday and its next venue will be at the Chippewa
Valley Museum in Eau Claire over the Holidays. Star Wars was an incredibly successful exhibition. We
not only exceeded our revenue goal, but the exhibition also attracted a significant number of first-time
visitors. The final attendance figures and breakdown will be sent as soon as they are available.
We are now almost totally focused on the upcoming Titanic exhibition, which opens in less than a month.
Tickets go on sale July 1 and there continues to be substantial interest, so between Titanic and White
Christmas, 2021 will certainly be a banner year. We look at this week as the “calm before the storm,” as
the special Titanic store infrastructure and merchandise arrive early next week. This will be located in
the Sawyer Parlor and have its own point of sale system. As a reminder, artifacts arrive July 9 and the
Museum will remain closed until the exhibition opens, as we cannot effectively control visitor access and
the contract requires high security. Staff know their respective roles and are doing a superb job.
In the miscellaneous paragraph, on Monday Assistant Director Anna Cannizzo presented a ‘Museum
Monday’ virtual program about Jesse Jack Hooper. As we get into warmer weather and with the Covid
restrictions lifted, the number of participants has declined. There is no ‘Museum Monday’ for July
because of Titanic installation. The monthly virtual programs expanded our audience and helped reach
new people. Marketing Coordinator Tammy Malewski anticipates a return to in-person programs as
soon as space is available next year.
That ends the week and I hope you have a pleasant weekend.
Brad Larson
Director