The West Virginia Division of Culture and History has developed a new logo which will be used to introduce the newly renovated West Virginia State Museum, and Division identity including its historic sites and network of museums across the state as well as the arts, historic preservation and archives and history sections. “This new brand will be easy to recognize. It’s symbolic of our commitment to our mission statement: to identify, preserve, protect, promote, and present the ideas, arts, and artifacts of West Virginia’s heritage, building pride in our past accomplishments and confidence in our future,” said Division Commissioner Randall Reid-Smith. “The agency continues to evolve to offer West Virginia citizens the widest array of programs and activities reflecting our culture and heritage,” he continued.
Cabinet Secretary Kay Goodwin of the Department of Education and the Arts is beginning the process of returning the name Culture Center to the Division’s home on the Capitol Complex. Culture Center is the original and correct name as delineated in West Virginia Code 29-1-1(e). “As we move into print materials and other media that will focus on announcing and marketing our newly renovated West Virginia State Museum, it seemed an appropriate time to return to the history of this beautiful center of West Virginia’s culture while we celebrate its future,” she said.
In the past three years, the Division has increased its programming activities, initiated the Collegiate Series, Black History Month and Women’s History Month events, re-instituted the Garden Festival and presented more exhibits including the West Virginia’s Gift to the World series. So far, the exhibit series has featured Blenko, Fenton, Homer Laughlin China Company, the Ski Industry and Marble King.
The historic sites and museums also have added to their programs and exhibits. Grave Creek Mound Archaeological Complex in Moundsville opened a new 9,600-square-foot research center last May which features a conservation laboratory for curators, study area for researchers, library and state-of-the-art collections storage area.
West Virginia Independence Hall (WVIH) Museum in Wheeling is in the process of a $1-million restoration project which will replace the roof, restore or replace windows, restore interior plaster and paint the interior, including restoring the trompe l’oeil effects in the historic third floor courtroom. The building also will be repointed. In addition, WVIH will open the largest exhibit of West Virginia Civil War battle flags during its West Virginia Day activities on June 20. The newly conserved battle flags will be displayed in specially designed pressure-mounted frames, complete with a state of the art, motion-activated lighting system to help protect the fabric.
Camp Washington-Carver at Clifftop, Fayette County, has added a fall musical entertainment series, Sweets and Sounds to its program schedule. The series presents West Virginia’s talented singers and musicians in concert followed by delicious homemade desserts. Museum in the Park at Chief Logan State Park continues to add events to its agenda including the annual West Virginia Day activities, Frontier Days Weekend, Aunt Jennie Fest and changing exhibits of special interest to Southern West Virginia.
The West Virginia State Museum, which will be dedicated on June 20, 2009, will reopen to the public on June 21, 2009. It is easily accessible in the Culture Center at the State Capitol Complex in Charleston from all major interstates and highways across the state. Museum admission is free as are most Division activities, including the annual Memorial Day weekend Vandalia Gathering. “The Culture Center is the ultimate Welcome Center in the state, as well as the front door to the Capitol Complex, centrally located, easy to get to, and free,” says Reid-Smith.
For more information, contact Jacqueline Proctor, deputy commissioner for the Division, at (304) 558-0220, ext. 120.
The West Virginia Division of Culture and History, an agency of the West Virginia Department of Education and the Arts, brings together the state’s past, present and future through programs and services in the areas of archives and history, the arts, historic preservation and museums. Its administrative offices are located at the Culture Center in the State Capitol Complex in Charleston, which also houses the state archives and state museum. The Culture Center is West Virginia’s official showcase for the arts. The agency also operates a network of museums and historic sites across the state. For more information about the Division’s programs, visit www.wvculture.org. The Division of Culture and History is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer.
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