James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2018 WTP_Spring_2018_FINAL_web | Page 7

SPRING 2018 THE MERE DISTINCTION OF COLOUR WINS MULTIPLE AWARDS The National Council on Public History (NCPH) has announced that Montpelier’s permanent slavery exhibition, The Mere Distinction of Colour, has won its 2018 Outstanding Public History Project Award. This award is presented for work completed within the previous two calendar years that contributes to a broader public reflection and appreciation of the past or that serves as a model of professional public history practice. “We are honored that NCPH sees ‘The Mere Distinction of Colour’ as setting a national standard for public history projects,” said Montpelier President and CEO Kat Imhoff. “Our job is to engage people with history in a way that helps them connect the past to the present. Understanding slavery is crucial to understanding our world today, and the award reflects that.” “We share this honor with the descendant community,” said Montpelier Vice President for Museum Programs Elizabeth Chew. “We hope the exhibition does justice to their ancestors’ courage, hope, and determination and helps Americans understand the legacies of slavery in our society today in addition to illuminating the struggles and achievements of their ancestors.” The NCPH Outstanding Public History Project prize for The Mere Distinction of Colour specifically recognized the collaboration of Elizabeth Chew and Director of Education and Visitor Engagement Christian Cotz, in addition to the exhibition designers Chris Danemayer of Proun Design LLC and Molly O’Brien of Northern Light Productions. Subsequent to garnering the NCPH award, Montpelier learned that The Mere Distinction of Colour won two American Alliance of Museums (AAM) MUSE awards, recognizing outstanding achievement in Galleries, Libraries, Archives, or Museums (GLAM) media. The international Alliance Media & Technology Professional Network’s annual awards are presented to institutions or independent producers who use digital media to enhance the GLAM experience and engage audiences. The MUSE awards celebrate scholarship, community, innovation, creativity, education, and inclusiveness. The Mere Distinction of Colour won for both “Legacies of Slavery” in the Video category and “Fate in the Balance” in the Multimedia Installations category. AAM offers Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, but Montpelier will not know the levels it achieved until the awards ceremony takes place in Phoenix, Arizona, on May 6. Visitor watches the multimedia piece “Fate in the Balance” in The Mere Distinction of Colour exhibition. VISIT US: ENSLAVED COMMUNITY WALKING TOURS CONTACT VISITOR SERVICES AT 540.672.2728 x141 ENSLAVED COMMUNITY WALKING TOUR | Twice daily through October Visit the sites where multiple generations of individuals enslaved at Montpelier lived, loved, and labored, and learn about the human experiences of those to whom liberty was denied. JOURNEY FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM | June 10, July 8, August 12, September 9, October 14 Visit sites and original structures that bring to life the generations of enslaved individuals who lived at Montpelier. 7