New Harmonies - Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition

Museums On Main Street – The Smithsonian Exhibit

Museum on Main Street is a one-of-a-kind cultural project that serves small town museums and residents of rural America. It is a partnership of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), the Federation of State Humanities Councils, and state humanities councils nationwide. Museum on Main Street combines the prestige of Smithsonian exhibitions, the program expertise of state humanities councils, and the remarkable volunteerism and unique histories of small rural towns.

The Newton and Jasper County site is one of six locations throughout the State of Illinois where the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition will be on display. The Smithsonian Exhibit is composed of seven separate interactive kiosks, each supporting a different form of American roots music...Sacred – Country – Blues – Ethnic – Folk.

The MOMS program provides rural communities with an opportunity to host local events featuring a traveling exhibition prepared by the Smithsonian Institute focusing on a single theme. It is a basis or foundation for:

1. developing other cultural activities within the community
2. assisting museums with collection, display and programs
3. building awareness about the heritage within the region.

For six weeks the traveling Smithsonian exhibit will be housed at the Masonic Hall in Newton.

The exhibit will be open to the public on a regular schedule with docents on hand to conduct group or individual tours when requested. Along with the exhibition there will be several educational and entertainment programs and workshops, again focusing on the roots music tradition of this area. Those will feature German, French, Native American, the Blues, Folk and Spiritual music as well as more recent Country music. The workshops will also feature song writing, the history of the music and its relationship to early settlement.