Youth and Children’s Programs: In collaboration with the City of Walsenburg, the Smithsonian’s Museums on Main Street, Colorado Humanities Scholar Program and Huerfano County Youth the creation of a digital archive to explore Huerfano County’s wishes for the future. One of the five questions asks: “If you were Mayor what would you do?” Once the digital archive of over 1000 youth responses are assembled a community conversation will be planned with local government, social boards and all 1080 children (k thru 12) who participated in the Change in Rural America Exhibition will be invited to this public program in the Spring 2024. Amount needed: $2,000
School-tour program for pre-k through grade 12, a MoF staple for over 16 years. Arts in education is proven to enhance fine motor skills, vocabulary building, a deep understanding of history, art, self-expression, social and emotional learning while preparing Huerfano County youth for positive social engagement throughout their lives. Amount Needed: $5,000
Three New Permanent Exhibits: Independent Voices Community Gallery with Harold Vargas’ Gardner Museum artifacts and Photographs and Stories of Early Hispano and Indigenous Huerfano. The Foundation & The Reach two companion exhibits for the recent Crossroads: Change in Rural America that tell the region's unique story by showcasing the works of these counterculture artists and the generations of artists they inspired.
Amount needed for enhanced exhibit display and signage $3,500
Changing Exhibitions and Events:
The Changing Exhibition Program, Ask $10,000
The Made in Walsenburg Gift Shop and Market Place of Ideas Annual Holiday Event with local maker workshops Ask $2,500
Research and Development of the Permanent Collections that comprise the First Museum of Counterculture Art in the United States Ask $10,000
The historic Roof & Dick Building Rehabilitation, in the 4th phase of capital improvements with History Colorado’s support focusing on the 100-year old facade of the historical Building. The main floor AC unit stopped working right before the MoMS installation workshop with 20 regional and Smithsonian museum staff members in attendance. We had to replace the unit. Donations would be helpful in any amount.
3rd Biennial GALA to raise the match for History Colorado’s rehabilitation of the Historic Roof and Dick Building to hire a fund-raising consultant to plan, promote and provide the event ($18,000. Toward the match)
Sponsorships are available for each of the above programs or initiatives or exhibitions.
Sponsorship Levels:
$1,000. Your company’s logo on all exhibition and program cards with snail mail list of 500 and an electronic list of 5500.
$1500. Your company’s logo on all exhibition and program cards and MoF’s website: www.museumoffriends.org
$2,500. Your company’s logo on all the above and also the Donor Wall
$5,000. All of the above, plus use of the Grand Hall for your company’s annual party or event.
Museum of Friends (MoF)
“The Museum of Friends (MoF) seeks to honor the artists who have freely given art to the museum's founders, thereby establishing its collection. The museum's mission is to foster an open inquiry toward cultural education and its ideals through exhibitions, public and educational programs, and an extensive public reference library, in addition to its permanent collection. It pledges to serve the state of Colorado as a cultural resource, and to create opportunities for the underserved and underrepresented and under-resourced community of Walsenburg and Huerfano County.” In calendar year 2022, MoF welcomed 3105 visitors and 450 children.In 2023 due to the Smithsonian’s Change in Rural America, in a 6-week period we greeted 1080 school aged children for the School Tour Program and 400 adults.
Walsenburg’s revitalization of the downtown and economic development ostensibly has been made possible by MoF’s 18-year presence on 6th and Main. MoF’s perseverance by developing socially conscious exhibitions and programming has created jobs, attracted tourism, and promoted relocation to our beloved town. Impossible became possible with your generous support, and we will continue to attract creative capital, investments and social impact dollars to this growing region in Southern Colorado.
Learn more at our website, www.museumoffriends.org