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What a year! 2019 providedcommunity members and staff of the Museum of Boulder at the Tebo Center the opportunity to express our gratitude for the leadership and vision
of Nancy Geyer, who
left early in the year after nearly two decades as Executive Director
and CEO. Goals were met and the mission extended through Nancy’s hard work and building the team responsible for transitioning the seventy-four year old institution from Harbeck House into its new location. Angelique Espinoza served ably as the Museum’s Interim Executive Director, and we are grateful. The year’s busy beginning included the final stage
of the capital campaign, onboarding six new members of the Board of Directors, a healthy growth in gross income and membership, as well as a collaborative staff and Board effort to search for and hire a new Executive Director and an Exhibits Coordinator, Amelia Brackett Hogstad. I arrived at the beginning of August and set about working with our talented staff and dedicated Board to build and structure the Museum’s day to day and long range operations. Ken Wilson stepped down as President, and we thank him for his service. Kathy Spear assumed the role as Chair and has dived in to help us move forward.
Compelling and well-attended exhibits, such
as Living With Wolves, Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice, A-MAZE-D, Wild Buffalo in Boulder
and Pack-it-Up offered direct engagement, supporting programs, conversations and journeys through time in Boulder. Not only
did we have a physical launching pad to stir the imagination of our youngest visitors, we made a simultaneous “launch” into our internal team’s exhibit development and coordination.
The varied and strong talents of Muse staff membersevolvedduringthecurationofArchive 75, an exhibit showcasing unique artifacts
from Boulder’s past and igniting current event conversations. School group participation and family memberships increased significantly in 2019.
“As our new building took shape,
I developed the deepest, most reverential notion of our museum’s singular role for our city — a civic cathedral of sorts”.
Laura Skaggs, former Board leader
Our Museum became a premier space to host special events. Kayla Simmering, Events Sales Manager joined the team. We stepped up the use of the museum’s vibrant space as a unique community resource. Talks by civic and business leaders, authors, athletes and artists provided
a continuous stream of provocative, thoughtful discussions. Entertaining salsa and hip hop evenings on the rooftop, helped us create events that were pure Boulder fun. Our new community hub was buzzing. Stakeholders took part in our 75th Anniversary gala celebration, “All That Glitters”, an evening of entertainment, great food, drinks, auction items and unique guest appearances. Over 300 friends enjoyed the sponsorships of Terrapin, Capital One, Hazel’s et al., fabulous food catered by Cured, music, reenactments, a funky silent disco and special activities on each level of the Muse. Longtime members, donors, Boulderites and guests met to see the fruits of their labor and embrace the future.
The most well attended days of 2019 included free admission days. These events brought
in first time guests and showcased business sponsors, staff and volunteers through music, dialogue, art, and engagement around a certain theme. A first-ever highlight was our Three Kings Day/Dia de Los Reyes, highlighting
Boulder’s vibrant LatinX culture, history and contributions.Positiveenergyismostevident on days such as these when the Museum unfolds its many facets and we host up to 800 guests.
It took living and breathing in the new
space to commit to a new strategic plan. In November 2019, Brent Glass, award winning public historian and Director Emeritus of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History and his team agreed to lead us in the process. Months of gathering stakeholders through small and large group conversations, surveys and data gathering is opening our eyes to the new prioritized focus: achieving financial health and sustainability, assessing and strengthening our collections, and acting on our potential as a community resource.
From Bob Baskerville, former Board leader, “We collect and preserve history as it happens”.
We shifted the focus from settling into our new beautiful building, to building and maximizing our presence and potential. We count on the commitment of our members, generous donors and the community to help us achieve the three strategic goals. As we do so, we will reflect, diversify, seek out and honor the stories and individuals that have made Boulder Boulder.
I am honored to be surrounded by the small and mighty Muse team, the striking Flatirons rooftop view, and fresh flowing ideas from you.
Thank you for the incredible opportunity to lead our strong, historical arts and cultural organization.
It is a pleasure, Lori Preston
LETTER FROM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR