VETERANS HISTORY MUSEUM OF THE CAROLINAS

For grant recipient's exempt purposes

Support

Support

TO ENABLE THE VHMC TO KEEP ITS DOORS OPEN THROUGH 2021 EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE FEWER VISITORS AND FEWER VOLUNTEERS AND VOLUNTEER DOCENTS DUE TO COVID. WHILE OUR BUDGET SHOWS NEARLY $48,000 IN EXPECTED EXPENSES FOR 2021, THE VHMC WOULD APPLY THESE NCH ARP FUNDS TO BASIC OPERATIONS COSTS INCLUDING RENT, UTILITIES AND INSURANCE. IT WOULD BE DEVASTING TO CLOSE OUR DOORS AND STORE OUR ARCHIVES IF WE CANNOT COVER OUR BASIC COSTS. THE OTHER ITEM WE WOULD APPLY THESE NCH ARP FUNDS TO IS OUR PRINTING AND PUBLICITY BUDGET WHICH HAS MULTIPLE ADVERTISING AND PUBLICITY VENUES TO DRAW VISITORS BACK TO THE MUSEUM IN QUAINT DOWNTOWN BREVARD, NC. WE WILL PLAY TELEVISION COMMERCIALS TO PLAY FOR SIX MONTHS ON REGIONAL TELEVISION STATION WLOS; ADVERTISE ON THE KIOSKS IN THE REGIONAL ASHEVILLE AIRPORT; ADVERTISE IN REGIONAL TOURISM MAGAZINES; AND PRINT MATERIALS FOR REGIONAL VISITOR CENTERS. THESE EFFORTS ARE OUR WELL-PLANNED ATTEMPT TO MITIGATE THE LOSS IN VISITATIONS AND REVERSE IT.

OUR PROJECT IS TO CREATE 8 DIGITAL VIDEO TOURS USING PROFESSIONAL, COSTUMED ACTORS TO EXPLAIN THE HISTORY OF THE CONFLICT AND SIGNIFICANCE OF ARTIFACTS IN THE 7 WAR EXHIBIT GALLERIES AND TO CREATE ONE EDUCATIONAL OVERVIEW VIDEO OF THE MUSEUM, A HEROS JOURNEY, AS A WALK-THROUGH EXPERIENCE OF THE WHOLE MUSEUM. ACTORS WILL BE DRESSED IN THE AMERICAN UNIFORM REPRESENTING THE WAR GALLERY AND WILL HIGHLIGHT SOME OF THE GALLERYS ARTIFACTS, DISCUSS THEIR SIGNIFICANCE AND HOW THEY FIT INTO HISTORY, AND WHAT THEY MEANT TO THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO USED THEM. EACH VIDEO WILL INCORPORATE A NC VETERANS ARTIFACT OR STORY AND ITS CONTEXT AND SIGNIFICANCE. A NC VETERANS INTERVIEW WILL PLAY AFTER THE GALLERY VIDEO TOUR. DR. MARGARET BROWN, PROFESSOR OF HISTORY AT BREVARD COLLEGE, WITH INPUT FROM HER STUDENTS, WILL REVIEW AND EDIT OUR HISTORICAL NARRATIVES. WE WILL ALIGN OUR PROJECT WITH NC CURRICULUM STANDARDS SO THE VIDEOS CAN BE MOST EFFECTIVE IN THE CLASSROOM.