What do the Adler Planetarium, the Seattle Museum of Flight, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, and the Putnam Museum all have in common? As of January 8, all of these institutions are part of the prestigious Smithsonian Affiliates program. The Putnam joins 159 other museums and cultural institutions across the United States in this partnership that was begun in 1996 by the Smithsonian to share America's artistic, scientific and historic heritage. Aaron Glavas, national outreach manager for the Smithsonian, was on hand Thursday to announce the partnership with the Putnam Museum.
Smithsonian Affiliations is a unique outreach initiative that allows emerging and established museums to obtain Smithsonian collections for a prolonged period. The program's mission is to make the extensive Smithsonian collection more accessible to American people by sharing artifacts and other resources with museums and cultural institutions across the country. The Putnam Museum underwent a proposal process in 2009 and was officially approved as a Smithsonian Affiliate this month. The two nearest Affiliates are in Dubuque, Iowa, and Dixon, Illinois.
As an affiliate, the Putnam will have the privilege of securing long-term artifact loans from various Smithsonian Institution Museums to enhance our future exhibits and programs. In addition to the long-term loans, the Affiliate program also gives the Putnam the opportunity to incorporate outreach services they offer - from curriculum development in local schools to lectures, workshops, study tours and other programs.
The Putnam anticipates its first long-term loan will arrive in Spring 2011, and will be space-related to enhance a new discovery exhibition space. In the interim, six of the Putnam's most unique and relevant artifacts will be on display, including Miss Hokkaido (Japanese Friendship doll); a Winter Count from the 1700s (Native American hide tracking winters); slave shackles; an Abraham Lincoln political banner; Bix's coronet; and the original Blackhawk War Treaty.
For more information: Putnam Museum & IMAX Theatre
1717 W 12th St
Davenport, Iowa 52804
563-324-1933
www.putnam.org
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