Grant Awarded: April 2004

Type of Grant: Local Network Grant

Sponsor: Kids 'N' Stuff

Contact: Elizabeth Schultheiss 517-629-8023, elizabeth@kidsnstuff.org

Award: $14,498

Website: http://www.kidsnstuff.org/

On April 29 at Kids 'N' Stuff in Albion, Michigan Humanities Council presents a $14,498 check to Kids 'N' Stuff for the project, "Culture Quest." Photographed from left to right are: Susan Kruger, Children's Librarian, Albion Public Library; Dr. Suellyn Henke, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Albion College; Greg Moore, assistant to Congressman Nick Smith; Nancy Held, Board of Directors, Kids 'N' Stuff; Rebecca Mitchell, Founder and Board of Directors, Kids 'N' Stuff; Elizabeth Schultheiss, Executive Director, Kids 'N' Stuff; Janice Fedewa, Executive Director, Michigan Humanities Council ; Herb Jones, Board of Directors, Michigan Humanities Council; Bill Baird, Board of Directors, Kids 'N' Stuff.

(ALBION)-----Michigan Humanities Council announced Kids ‘N’ Stuff Museum in Albion has been awarded a $14,498 Local Network Grant for “Culture Quest: Myths, Legends and Reality.” Michigan Humanities Council awarded the grants as part of its program, “Strengthening Michigan’s Communities Through the Humanities,” which emphasizes collaboration among cultural, educational and community-based organizations and institutions to serve Michiganians today with public humanities projects and programs.

“This project impressed the Council with diverse interactive elements to involve children and adults in learning about the history and culture of Albion and the world cultures that influence the region,” said Janice Fedewa, Executive Director of Michigan Humanities Council. “The Culture Quest Exposition will involve Albion College, the Albion Public Library, and local schools by working together to learn about the past and the community’s future.”

“Culture Quest: Myths, Legends and Reality” will provide interactive experiences and presentations to learn about Albion and world cultures. These include five primary activities: 1) The Culture Quest Exposition in downtown Albion (September 18, 2004); 2) Archeological Dig at the Albion College Whitehouse Nature Center (November 2004); 3) Digging Through History Permanent Exhibit at Kids ‘N’ Stuff (to open November 2004); 4) an Interactive Culture Camp, a cooperative effort of all three sites (spring/summer 2004); 5) a series of reading and discussion programs about upcoming Culture Quest activities at the Albion Public Library (April – November 2004). All activities will be free of charge (normal museum fees applied to Digging Through History after its initial unveiling).
The local community is very excited about Culture Quest," said Elizabeth Schultheiss, Executive Director of Kids 'N' Stuff. "We will be working with local organizations to mesh our Culture Quest Exposition with the annual Festival of the Forks in September to enhance our exposure. The Michigan Humanities Council has been amazing, helping us to refine our idea and ensure high integrity - I can't wait until September."

The Culture Quest Exposition will be a day-long event where various folk artists, cultural interpreters, and performance artists will have booths with hands-on activities to learn about the history of the region. The Whitehouse Nature Center will host an archeological dig where the public will be invited to uncover the hidden treasures of the local heritage. A permanent exhibit, “Digging Through History,” will be created where locals can dig through layers of earth to find local historical artifacts. A selection of readings will complement the uncovered treasures to be incorporated into a four week interactive reading camp. This camp will help students to identify many of the artifacts they may expect to see in the “Digging Through History” exhibit. The Albion Public Library will identify books related to Albion and Michigan history, as well as the interpreters and folk artists to be featured at the Culture Quest Exposition.