Wistariahurst
Museum The
National Endowment for the Humanities
Planning Grant Awarded
The City of Holyoke and Wistariahurst Museum in partnership with Holyoke Heritage State Park, the Children's Museum at Holyoke, the Holyoke History Room of the Holyoke Public Library and Enchanted Circle Theater have received a prestigious National Endowment for Humanities Planning Grant $45,000 to develop a city-wide Exhibit Plan on immigration to Holyoke. "The final project entitled Creating Holyoke: Migrants and Immigrants' Search for Community, will utilize the themes of opportunity, families and children, and leisure and cultural life to tell the story of the people who came to Holyoke and created a new life and community, will draw audiences to Holyoke from across the region" states Mayor Sullivan.
With the $45,000 from the National Endowment for Humanities, $25,000 in in-kind services already committed, and a cash match of $15,000, partners in the project will have the resources to conduct market research, to finalize exhibit planning documents and programming concepts, to develop fundraising plans, and to formalize partner relationships for final project implementation. With all of this in place, the City of Holyoke will be in a position to return to the National Endowment for Humanities for up to $300,000 for project implementation. Our goal is to explore the historical complexity of the American Dream particularly as conditions changed over time and to emphasize that while immigrants and migrants were being shaped by their new lives in Holyoke, they were active agents in changing the opportunities and cultural life of the city.
The lead component of the final project includes historical exhibits at three sites:
1) Holyoke Heritage State Park will provide the introductory exhibit on opportunity and industry;
2) The Children's Museum at Holyoke will provide a hands-on exhibit and activities on families and children and;
3) Exhibits at Wistariahurst Museum will explore the recreational, cultural, and religious activities of Holyoke's immigrants and migrants.Accompanying programs will include a theatrical productions, lecture and concert series, walking and driving tours of the city, teacher's professional development workshops, school and after-school curriculum, youth programs, and outdoor ethnic festivals with food and music. In addition, exhibit panels will be placed at significant historical sites throughout the city. Click here for a project summary.
We have recently announced a Creating Holyoke logo design contest. We are now voting for the logo! Please click here to see the logo contest submissions!
The final project will utilize research on the history of Holyoke developed through an earlier National Endowment for Humanities Research Grant; it has very real potential to draw visibility and tourism to the City. For further information please contact: Kate Thibodeau at 413-322-5660
Holyoke Public Library History Room
To contribute to the NEH Matching Fund, please send a check payable to "Wistariahurst Museum" and write "NEH match" on the memo line. Send it to: 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. We sincerely appreciate your support!
Any views, findings, conclusions, or reecommendations expressed on this website do not necessarily reflect those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Heritage State Park
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