Museum of Russian Icons Annual Report 2016 V2 Annual Report 2017 | Page 6

Museum staff on Free Fun Friday.
Visitor Services
On February 14, the Museum
began its Sunday hours. The
response has been strong for
general visitors and rental events.
Programming has also expanded
to Sundays. Sunday hours are 11
a.m. to 5 p.m.
Another shift in the Museum’s
schedule was Thursday evenings:
to consolidate resources,
extended evening hours on every
Thursday were discontinued; the
Museum is now open until 8 p.m.
on the first Thursday of every
month. In addition to programming
like films and lectures, First
Thursdays often feature free drop-
in programs like Adult Craft Night
and Russian Game Night.
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The Museum once again
participated in the Blue Star
Museums program, a collaboration
between the National Endowment
for the Arts, Blue Star Families,
the Department of Defense,
and more than 2,000 museums
across America to offer free
admission to the nation’s active-
duty military personnel and their
families, including National Guard
and Reserve, from Memorial Day
through Labor Day.
The Museum Shop helped ring in
the 10th Anniversary by launching
a custom-made brass ornament
featuring the Museum’s logo.
The ornament is just one of
several custom products to be
developed in conjunction with
the Museum’s anniversary. This
year, the shop partnered with one
of its oldest vendors, Paraclete
Press, to launch the book “Icons:
The Essential Collection.” The
book features original icons
written by Sr. Faith Ricco, who
spoke about her faith and process
during the launch program. The
shop also participated in several
community events, including the
American Express-sponsored
Shop Local, and a holiday market
located in Clinton Town Hall. The
shop concluded the year with a
successful 50% profit margin.
The Museum received a 2016
TripAdvisor Certificate of
Excellence, the highest award
any public or private venue can
receive from the popular review
site.