The National Women’s Hall of Fame announces the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America will be on view from July 12 to August 23.
The exhibition is part of the Museum Association of New York’s humanities discussion series “A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy.” The National Women’s Hall of Fame will use the Smithsonian exhibition as a launching point to explore, reflect on, and share the story of the role of women in the evolution of American democracy.
Where: National Women’s Hall of Fame, 1 Canal Street, Seneca Falls
When: July 12 – August 23, 2024
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Website: womenofthehall.org/programs-the-hall/
The exhibition and start of the “A New Agora for New York” program series will be unveiled with a ribbon cutting and ceremony on July 12 to open the Hall’s second-floor exhibition space to the public for the first time. The most recent phase of restoration and renovation work at the Seneca Knitting Mill includes the addition of an elevator and internal stairwell to provide access to the upper floors. As additional funding is secured, the Hall will prepare to have work completed on the third and fourth floors of the Mill.
As part of the “A New Agora for New York” project the Hall will host a response exhibition that includes:
- The national fiber arts exhibition Co-Crafting Democracy: Fiber Arts and Activism,curated by Juilee Decker and Hinda Mandell (Rochester Institute of Technology)
- La Cicatrice, an art exhibition by Rebecca Aloisio (Rochester Institute of Technology)
- An outdoor mural design and installation by artists Victor Pultinas and Bernadette Bos
- The Rollercoaster for Women’s Rights, Equality, and Freedom, curated by Betty M. Bayer, Greta Paasch ’27 and Mia Tetrault ’25 (Hobart and William Smith Colleges).
The exhibition also includes a humanities discussion series featuring:
- Senior Historian and Curator at the New York State Museum and Agora Project Scholar, Ashley Hopkins-Benton, Museums, Democracy, and the Importance of Diverse Collections
- A collection of oral histories from surrounding communities on the day-to-day of making democracy
- Additional workshops, programs, and talks will take place throughout the summer
The Hall was founded in 1969 to honor the achievements of great women and uses the stories of its Inductees to inspire people of all genders and ages. Achievements of honorees span the arts, athletics, business, education, government, humanities, philosophy, the sciences, and so much more. The Hall moved to its current home in the historic Seneca Knitting Mill in 2020 and continues work to restore this iconic building that rests of the banks of the Cayuga-Seneca canal with views of the Wesleyan Chapel and other historic landmarks within the women’s rights movement.
“The opening of this exhibition is the perfect way to celebrate the new space with displays that speak to the heart of the Hall’s work to tell stories often overlooked or left out of American history,” said Museum & Community Relations Manager, Nellie Ludemann.
“The Seneca Falls Convention was the first formal gathering held to discuss the social and civil rights of American women, and it’s considered the beginning of the women’s rights movement. We are thrilled to uphold this legacy by bringing the Agora project to Seneca Falls. Through our humanities discussion series, we hope to provide a space where community members can reflect on the remarkable achievements of American women and their profound contributions to American democracy.” said Agora Project Fellow, Ren Lee.
Learn more about the New York State tour of the Voices and Votes exhibition at agoranewyork.org and view the full schedule of programming and events happening at the National Women’s Hall of Fame at womenofthehall.org/programs.
Those interested in attending the July 12 exhibition opening and ribbon cutting from 4pm to 6pm are asked to RSVP by July 9 here.
The Hall thanks its exhibit sponsors and partners including Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Rochester Institute of Technology, Wegmans, WXXI, the Triad Foundation, Waterloo Container, LeChase Construction, Northeast College of Health Sciences, and Community Bank. To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, please email admin@womenofthehall.org.
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Voices and Votes is a Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It’s based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. It has been made possible in New York State by the Museum Association of New York. Support for MoMS in New York State has been provided by the United States Congress and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
“A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy” humanities discussion programs are made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
About Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.
About the National Women’s Hall of Fame
The National Women’s Hall of Fame was founded to bring the contributions and achievements of American women fully into our national narrative. We believe that an equitable and healthy nation is possible when all people are empowered to achieve their dreams. The Hall serves as a home for women’s stories, informed discussion, and collaborative partnerships. As a hybrid (virtual and physical) institution, the Hall aspires to be a national leader in conversations about women, their history, and the future.
About the Museum Association of New York
The Museum Association of New York is New York’s representative of the MoMS program, an outreach program of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service, and is the only statewide museum service organization with more than 750 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. MANY helps shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. Visit www.nysmuseums.org and follow MANY on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @nysmuseums
About the National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.
About the William G. Pomeroy Foundation
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation® is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and working to improve the probability of finding appropriate donor matches or other life-saving treatments for blood cancer patients. Established by Trustee Bill Pomeroy in 2005 to bring together his two greatest passions, the Pomeroy Foundation is a private, philanthropic organization located in Syracuse, N.Y. As the nation’s leading funder of historic roadside markers, the Pomeroy Foundation has awarded more than 2,100 grants for markers and bronze plaques in 48 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more about the Pomeroy Foundation, visit wgpfoundation.org.
About Humanities New York
Using dialogue, reflection, and critical thinking, Humanities New York applies the humanities to strengthen democratic society. Established in 1975 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities New York is a private 501(c)(3) organization that may receive federal, state, and private funding. To learn more about Humanities New York, visit humanitiesny.org.