Community and the museum

1.     Sticking with the theme of community outreach, I came across a good example of an institution doing this. The Smithsonian Art Institute is an example of one museum that is cooperating with the community in a positive way. As stated above, I questioned the public image of the Dayton Art Institute for sponsoring an activity that supplies beer. The Smithsonian Art Institute recently hosted a face painting day for dia de los muertes. This day celebrates religious beliefs that are linked to the Hispanic cultures. I think this is a good example of staff members of a museum being involved with the community in a positive way. There are no negative connotations for a face painting event, and it also celebrates diverse culture. This venue provides a family friendly environment that may generate interest to a younger audience. If an institution is able to appeal to this wide range of people, then it is best serving the community as a whole.