LEWISTON — Museum L-A is continuing to expand its long-standing educational program, Kids as Curators, with this month’s newest gallery installation. Students from McMahon Elementary School worked hard to curate, design and install an exhibit in the museum focused on immigration and the history of their families titled “Mapping Our Personal Histories.”
The public is invited to attend the free opening reception for the exhibit from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13.
The Kids as Curators program began as an effort to teach students what it means to work in a museum. It allows them to create their own high-quality museum exhibits, from historical research to holding an exhibit opening, and gives them the opportunity to work closely with museum staff to learn about the behind-the-scenes work that goes on in a museum that they may never have realized. Previously, the student groups came from middle and high schools in Lewiston and Auburn, but this time the museum has offered this thrilling opportunity to its youngest group yet!
“It was a much different experience getting to work with the fourth-grade students at McMahon Elementary School. We were excited to see that while they were finding out about their own personal histories they were beginning to understand where they belong in our community’s history. We are hoping the project will inspire these children to continue to explore local history and enjoy museums in a whole new light,” says Emma Sieh, Museum L-A’s collections and exhibits coordinator.
“Mapping Our Personal Histories” Kids as Curators exhibition was supported by the Lewiston-Auburn Children’s Foundation.
Museum L-A is in the Bates Mill Complex at 35 Canal St. Its hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays.
For information, please contact info@museumla.org or call 207-333-3881.
