The South Carolina State Museum will observe 20 years of service to South Carolina and the world Oct. 29, 2008. However, the celebration of this milestone will take place throughout the year, and in a number of ways.
Many residents of the Midlands will notice that the 2008 AT&T telephone book and its smaller companion yellow pages feature the State Museum on the cover. This continues a partnership begun two decades ago, when the Museum was first on the cover of the phone book issued by BellSouth, AT&T’s predecessor.
Those who have received mail from the Museum have seen a colorful, celebratory 20th anniversary logo sticker affixed to the envelope. These will continue to appear through 2008.
Advertising and promotional materials also will carry this logo.
“These are a great start to our celebration, but there’s a lot more to come to make this a special year,” said Executive Director Willie Calloway.
* April 25 the Museum will open its first exclusive juried art show, the State Museum 20th Anniversary Juried Art Exhibition.
* June 27 the Museum will open a special anniversary exhibit, The South Carolina State Museum: 20 Years of Treasures.
* On Aug. 16, the Museum will open for a 20-hour marathon day of free programs and fun for the public, from 9 a.m. to 5 a.m. the following morning. Music, birthday cake, games, demonstrations, movies, stargazing and much, much more will highlight this pre-back-to-school extravaganza.
* A $120-per-ticket black tie gala will observe the date more formally on Oct. 30.
* Even Images, the Museum’s members’ magazine is getting into the act: for the remainder of 2008, Images will be 20 pages long, up from its usual 16 pages, in order to provide members and other readers even more information about the State Museum and its activities.
*Plus, special 20th-anniversary editions of the Museum’s signature events (including a second edition of the popular Museum Roadshow, coming in August) will punctuate the calendar from April to December.
“This is a joyous occasion for the Museum,” Calloway said. “To think that South Carolina went from being one of only seven states without a state museum in 1988 to opening – and maintaining - one of the finest in the land is really something to celebrate.
“We began as ‘South Carolina Under One Roof,’ and that tradition of excellence in service to education, culture, tourism and recreation has continued to this day. It’s a record all South Carolinians can be proud of, and we strive daily to keep that pride growing.
“We can hardly wait to see what the next 20 years will bring!”
The South Carolina State Museum will celebrate its 20th anniversary in October. Throughout the year, the Museum will celebrate with exhibits, public events and more.
Photo courtesy S.C. State Museum.