Donate
12 May

The Portland Museum to host Smithsonian’s Voices and Votes

The Portland Museum and Kentucky Humanities will examine the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by, and for the people,” and how each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect union.” The Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit Voices and Votes: Democracy in America, which opens SaturdayMay 8, focuses on the action, reaction, vision, and revision that democracy demands as Americans continue to question how to shape the country. 

 

The exhibit will be on display at the Portland Museum, 2308 Portland Avenue in Louisville, until June 12. The Portland Museum will be open Wednesday-Friday from noon to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. 

 

In addition to the national exhibit, the Portland Museum has put together a local exhibit that will showcase the works of photographer Jon Cherry, artist & letterpress professional Shannon Delahanty, and poetry by Young Authors Greenhouse. 

 

Updates and additional information can be found on the Portland Museum website, https://portlandky.org/.

 

From the revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story—the story of democracy in America. Sections of the Voices and Votes exhibit explore the origins of American democracy, the struggles to obtain and keep the vote, the machinery of democracy, the right to petition and protest beyond the ballot and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. Voices and Votes features historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.

 

Voices and Votes is a timely and important exhibit that we are excited to bring to Kentucky,” said Bill Goodman, Executive Director of Kentucky Humanities. “We hope this exhibit will bring communities together to have important conversations about what it means to be an active participant in the governance of their community, their state, and their nation.”

 

Kentucky Humanities chose the Portland Museum to host Voices and Votes as part of the Museum on Main Street project — a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. Museum on Main Street is a partnership of the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, the Federation of State Humanities Councils and state humanities councils nationwide. The United States Congress and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet provide support to the Museum on Main Street project. The exhibition is touring six communities in Kentucky from March 27, 2021 through December 11, 2021You can find the exhibit’s tour schedule at https://www.kyhumanities.org/programs/smithsonian-exhibit-crossroads/voices-and-votes.