Exploring Human Origins

EXPLORING HUMAN ORIGINS A traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian Institute comes to Burlington

ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES The Fletcher Free Library in Burlington, Vermont has been selected nationwide as one of 19 public libraries to host a Smithsonian exhibition. “Exploring Human Origins: What Does It Mean to Be Human?” is a traveling exhibition developed by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and the American Library Association (ALA). The exhibition will be hosted at the Fletcher Free Library from February 18, 2017 – March 17, 2017.

Through panels, interactive kiosks, hands-on displays and videos, the exhibition invites audiences to explore milestones in the evolutionary journey of becoming human — from walking upright, creating technology and eating new foods, to brain enlargement and the development of symbolic language and complex societies — advancements that define the unique position of humans in the history of life.

The exhibition and complementary Smithsonian and local programming will enable discussion of different cultural perspectives of what it means to be human, encouraging positive dialogue and a respectful exploration of the sciences, humanities and arts of human evolution. The exhibition will be accompanied by a series of free programs delivered by Smithsonian scientists and other invited experts to stimulate community conversation around the life sciences and to create opportunities for audiences to connect their personal lives and viewpoints with the scientific exploration of human origins Fletcher Free is working with a wealth of local experience and expertise to develop programming.

Core partners include the University of Vermont (UVM) and the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVM MC), Champlain College, St. Michael’s College, the Burlington and Winooksi School Districts, ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. Paul’s, the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Burlington, RETN, VPR, Vermont Commons School, the State Division of Historic Preservation.

Project partners are planning a six-month ‘warm-up’

period prior to the exhibition opening in Burlington – beginning in the fall of 2016. The greater Burlington community and towns statewide will be invited to participate in programming designed to build a shared context and understanding of varying scientific, cultural and artistic perspectives of our evolution as human beings. Schools and colleges locally and statewide will be encouraged to use educational resources developed specifically to complement sciences, humanities and arts curricula.

“We understand evolution can be a controversial topic, and we are happy to host respectful community conversations about it here at our library. Programming is a key library service and an essential component of how libraries connect people with ideas in a changing world. Being selected to host the Smithsonian exhibition at Fletcher Free reinforces our strategic emphasis on providing programming and building partnerships that benefit the Burlington community.”

Library Director, Rubi O. Simon

Photo Credit: Smithsonian Institution

OUR GOAL To inspire thoughtful consideration of our common humanity and to ensure meaningful social and educational benefits to Vermonters of all ages from the Exploring Human Origins Smithsonian exhibition and public programming.

“The Smithsonian’s selection of the Fletcher Free Library in the competitive application process for this exhibit says much about the library and its community. This exhibit will facilitate open, constructive, and civil conversations that encourage the exploration of the science of human evolution.”

Senators Leahy & Sanders, and Representative Welch (in a joint statement) OUR OBJECTIVES Two interdependent objectives will help us achieve our goal. We aim to: 1. Ensure community participation and engagement. Raise awareness of the exhibition and associated programming in the school communities and general public in Chittenden County and beyond.

2. Enable dialogic learning and community building.

• Deliver programming and facilitate community conversations around ‘what it means to be human’; • Develop and roll out educational resources for use by students and teachers at schools and colleges in Vermont prior to, during and after the exhibition at the Library.

PROJECT OVERVIEW & SCOPE Programming & Resources

Public awareness & educational social media campaign development

Curriculum development & teacher training workshop

Social Media EHO exhibit Evaluation campaign & & public curriculum programming roll out

Timeline

Summer 2016

Summer & Fall 2016

Fall & Winter 2016-17

February­— March 2017

February— June 2016

Partnerships

Champlain College Emergent Media Center RETN

UVM, UVM MC, Champlain College, St. Michael’s College, Chittenden County School Districts

Chittenden County School Districts, higher education project partners

Schools & colleges, faith-based organizations, museums & cultural or social service associations

The Smithsonian Institute (NMNH), project partners

Community Benefits

Curriculum & social media campaign used by middle & high school teachers & students.

Community building results from programming (school communities, general public).

Lessons learned studied for future dialogic learning projects.

It is estimated that: • 10,000-12,000 Vermonters and winter tourists to Vermont will visit the exhibition during its 28-day stay in Burlington. 30-40% of these visitors will be elementary, middle and high school students. Fletcher Free is able to accommodate four 1.5 hour tours accommodating 75 students each weekday while the exhibition is in Burlington.

• 5,000 school and college students will engage through programming and use of educational resources offered to Chittenden County communities during the six-month ‘warm-up’ period prior to exhibition arriving in Burlington and after the exhibition has traveled to its next host city.

ACTIVITIES PUBLICITY CAMPAIGN The Fletcher Free Library and core media partners will design and roll out a publicity campaign, ensuing engagement of school communities and the general public in the exhibition and its associated programming. This will include the production of banners, TV & radio PSAs, advertisements, as well as printed & online publicity and collateral material on the exhibition & programming. Roll out of publicity materials with media partners and media outlets in Chittenden County and statewide.

PROGRAMMING Burlington EHO partners will deliver quality programming to complement the exhibit, highlighting varying scientific, cultural and artistic perspectives of our evolution as human beings. The programming will be scheduled prior to and while hosting exhibit is in Burlington.

Programming will be coordinated by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History (NMNH) and local project partners: • NMNH programming. Scientists from the Human Origins Program of the NMNH will facilitate a community conversations engaging clergy, community leaders and the general public; and hold a workshop for educators on human evolution and an evening science lecture for the general public.

• Local programming. Public programming developed by the Fletcher Free Library and core project partners, will be delivered prior to and while hosting the exhibit in Burlington. Programming will be hosted by the library and at partner venues in and around Burlington. Programs will focus on the sciences, humanities and arts of the study of human evolution. Programming will include: lectures by invited expert speakers; facilitated community conversations; book discussions and film screenings; youth and teen science fairs, essay & art competitions / exhibitions; story times and hands on maker programs for children and teens.

EDUCATIONAL & AWARENESS RESOURCES Project partners are working together to develop complementary educational resources with the aim of engaging youth and teens in the sciences, humanities and arts of human evolution. The following resources are under development: • Social Media Campaign. The Emergent Media Center of Champlain College is working with FFL to develop an innovative social media campaign that will raise awareness of the exhibit and creatively engage middle and high schoolers in learning and the generation of content related to the exhibit.

• Curriculum. Core higher education partners – UVM, UVM MC, Champlain and St. Michael’s Colleges – are working with FFL to develop a curriculum for middle and high school teachers in Chittenden County and statewide to incorporate into their science, social studies and language arts curricula.

• Teacher Training Workshop. Higher education partners will work with NMNH scientists to develop and deliver two training workshops for teachers in Chittenden County and statewide, focusing on incorporating the curriculum and social media campaign their daily classes.

Photo Credit: Smithsonian Institution

Photo Credit: Smithsonian Institution

FINANCIAL NEED The Fletcher Free Library seeks to raise $52,000 in tax-deductible sponsorship, grants and donations, and in-kind .contributions to achieve the objectives and implement activities described in this concept paper.

ITEMS

AMOUNT

COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH:

Publicity

$15,000 The production of banners, TV & radio PSAs, advertisements, printed & online publicity and collateral material on the exhibition & programming.

Expert Presenter Costs

$15,000 Travel costs and stipends for presenters, authors and other VIPs involved in delivering programming complementary to the exhibition.

Social Media Campaign

$12,000 The development and deployment of educational resources (social media project and curriculum).

Supplies & Services

$5,000 The purchase of supplies related to the exhibition and programming – ie. teacher training workshops

Security

$5,000 Security detail for the exhibition during library opening hours

Total

$52,000

FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES SPONSOR A ROOM The library in its entirety will be dedicated to hosting the EHO exhibition and its complementary programming.

Fletcher Free Library has 5 meeting rooms in which programs, events, smaller exhibits and activities will take place during the 28 days the exhibition will be in Burlington (2/18/17-3/17/17). The following sponsorship opportunities exist for each meeting room: Room

Room Capacity (people)

Max # of sponsors

Sponsorship amount (each sponsor)

Main Reading Room (exhibition location)

300

2

$2,500

Fletcher Room

80

2

$1,500

Pickering Room

60

2

$1,500

Community Room

60

1

$1,000

Local History Room

20

1

$1,500

Sponsorship opportunities include: Banner space inside the meeting room, a table to display collateral material and gift bags outside the meeting room, company logo featured on all publicity material (digital and printed), company sponsorship mentioned in television and radio PSAs, VIP invitation to opening event and verbal recognition during opening speeches.

GRANTS & DONATIONS This concept paper serves to glean interest from potential foundation donors, businesses and individuals. The Fletcher Free Library is willing to develop individual grant applications for funding consideration by parties interested in supporting this community building and learning opportunity.

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS The Fletcher Free and project partners will secure in-kind contributions from their organizations and other community organizations to host the exhibition and its complementary programming CONTACTS For exhibition and programming inquiries: Barbara Shatara (EHO Project Manager) Programs and Partnerships Librarian Email: bshatara@burlingtonvt.gov Tel: 802.865.7211

For funding opportunity inquiries: Kath Laing Development Manager Email: klaing@burlingtonvt.gov Tel: 802.488.4751