Nomination Title: Renovation of GCV&M’s John L. Wehle Gallery Nomination Category: Innovation in Collection Access Project Manager/Contact Person: Peter S. Arnold Title/Affiliation: President and CEO Organization: Genesee Country Museum (GCV&M) Address: 1410 Flint Hill Road PO Box 310 Mumford, NY 14511 Phone: 585-538-6822 Email: parnold@gcv.org Project or Achievement: GCV&M completed a gallery renovation which is nothing short of transformational for the museum. The objective: state-of-the-art, museum-quality storage for the museum’s most significant and vulnerable collections and renovation of the John L Wehle Gallery into a modern, secure, and super energy-efficient facility. Without a central storage area, the museum had been forced to store village collections in the unheated back rooms and upper floors of its historic structures. Besides hindering good collections care. The lack of an acceptable storage area also prevented the museum from interpreting these areas—part of its long-range strategic plan. If the museum was going to fulfill its mission, care for its collections, refine them through acquisition and move forward with its strategic plan, then something had to be done. That something involved taking a second look at the gallery, its spaces and potential to serve the museum in a new capacity. Two of the west wing galleries had long been problematic from a curatorial point of view. On the other hand, if equipped with a mobile, high-density storage system from Montel, these two spaces could function as storage rooms that could safely house the museum’s most significant collections. The prospect of a properly conditioned storage space also enabled the museum to responsibly acquire the outstanding Greene costume collection— something it could not have done otherwise. While this plan reduced the gallery exhibition space by approximately 3,000 square feet, 5,000 square feet of excellent exhibition space remained in the east wing, with five interconnected galleries offering clear sight lines and good traffic flow. Two of the five galleries house an open-storage system which offers the public an exciting interactive experience with the Greene collection. Also in those galleries is a computer station which allows public access to GCV&M’s collection database for information and research. Key to the renovations was the replacement of the 30 year old boiler with a cuttingedge HVAC system based on geo-thermal technology—which constantly maintains proper control levels though a computerized monitoring/tracking system—and improving building insulation including super-insulation of the storage rooms. Additionally, in collaboration with the Getty Institute, seven watt LED lighting was introduced to all gallery spaces. Both measures significantly lower the museum’s operational costs. The resulting renovation, funded through major grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, and the New York State Council for the Arts, as well as support from area private foundations and individuals, has been nothing less than the revitalization of the museum whose strategic interpretive plan and collection activities have long been thwarted by the complete lack of acceptable storage conditions. Spaces once used for storage are free for interpretive programming. Exhibitions, loans, and acquisitions—once blocked—are now possible. We know have the most efficient collections storage facility possible in the most sustainable environment. The GCV&M project was built on previous NEH projects, expanding them in a different direction and using natural forces to minimize utility costs. While experimental in nature, we are confident from other studies that this approach will not only be successful for GCV&M, but will serve as a model for other cultural institutions. At the request of the National Endowment for the Humanities, we will report our findings in a white paper detailing the methods and results of this project for the benefit of the larger museum community. Short Project or Achievement: GCV&M completed a gallery renovation which is nothing short of transformational for the museum. The objective: state-of-the-art, museum-quality storage for the museum’s most significant and vulnerable collections and renovation of the John L Wehle Gallery into a modern, secure, and super energy-efficient facility. Nominator Information Define Relationship between themselves and Nominee: employee Name: Susan Duffin Title/Affiliation: Director od Development Address: 1410 Flint Hill Road PO Box 310 Mumford, NY 14511 Phone: 585-538-6822 Email: sduffin@gcv.org Organization Information Nominated institution’s Mission Statement: To inspire excitement and curiosity about the past and an appreciation for its relevance today. Visitors experience how life in small towns has changed over time through engaging and enjoyable encounters with the stories, objects, buildings, and environments of western New York. Brief description of Organization: Genesee Country Village and Museum is a living history museum, chartered by the New York State Board of Regents to educate the public. The Museum is dedicated to preserving the historical, cultural and architectural heritage of the Genesee Valley Region in New York State. Genesee Country Village and Museum was founded by Mr. John L. Wehle, owner of the Genesee Brewing Company, and was opened to the public on July 4, 1976. The 700-acre campus is comprised of three parts: the Historic Village, the John L. Wehle Gallery and the Nature Center. The Historic Village is made up of 68 historic structures (homes, businesses, shops) representing the various architectural styles of 19th century America common in upstate New York. The structures were moved from their original sites in 13 surrounding counties. The Village interprets life in 19th century using a collection of 15,000 artifacts, costumed interpreters and artisans. The buildings are fully furnished, each representing a specific time period, and include outbuildings, period gardens, livestock, crops, wagons and carriages. The John L. Wehle Gallery exhibits a nationally renowned collection of hunting and sporting art of the 18th and 19th Centuries. The art collection is recognized as one of the most outstanding and comprehensive collections of its kind in the United States. The Gallery also houses the Susan W. Greene Collection of historic clothing. The Nature Center includes 175 acres of wildlife preserve, a nature center building with instructional space, and 5½ miles of interpreted hiking trails. Annual Budget: 2,900,000 Number of Paid Staff (full time/part time): 22/152 Website: www.gcv.org Number of Volunteers/Unpaid Staff: 570