Many people pass the Everson Museum of Art in downtown Syracuse on a pretty regular basis. But how many have been inside recently – or at all? The Everson’s efforts to invite the community in - and perhaps get reacquainted – included Community Day this past week.
Ever since 1965, the Everson Museum of Art has been a staple in Syracuse. Known for its world-renowned ceramics collections and prominent touring exhibitions, the large gray building stands strong in Downtown Syracuse. Even though the museum is not hard to miss, it can be overlooked by many community members.
Director of Marketing Dominic Tricase admits he had largely ignored the museum throughout the years -- until he started working there.
“I'm in my mid to late 30s. (I) Grew up here in Syracuse, New York, and, you know, had probably visited the Everson, you know, a few times growing up. But when I talked to my friends, and I asked them the last time they've been here, a lot of them say, ‘Oh, I haven't been there in years.’”
Catherine Walsh has seen events in Syracuse receive attention from folks all around the city. She’s the Learning and Engagement Coordinator .. and wants the museum to share some of the same benefits.
“I have been impressed by a lot of the community events that go on in Syracuse. I feel like there's a festival every weekend, it feels like. So, I think that the Everson and the community, the more we can tie it all together, the better it all will be. I'd like us to have more of an outreach presence.”
The Everson Museum held its Community Day September 29
The idea that a museum with a resume as impressive as the Everson’s wasn’t bringing in the amount of local patrons they hoped for created a need to try something different. That’s when Community Day was born. Tricase says the event was made to bring Syracuse locals to the Everson to experience and learn about different forms of art.
“So for us, community day is a chance for us to welcome the community, to bring them in so they understand that this is a place where things are happening and that they're welcome. And we want to make sure that people are coming back here and checking our calendar for events and workshops and things like that.”
Making this event free was a must for the Everson staff. The Everson was able to open its doors, thanks to a group of donors, members, and corporate sponsors. Tricase hopes it gives everyone the opportunity to stop by the Everson without the stress of having to pay entry fees for the whole family.
“We believe that making art accessible to everyone is crucial in our mission. And so these community days allow us to open up to the museum to potentially people that maybe didn't feel welcome.”
Community Day brought in a multitude of people to the museum. Community members had a chance to watch a screening of The New Deal for Artists, explore the galleries, engage with some printmaking, and visit one of the museum's new additions, the Louise Cafe. Walsh, who helped plan part of Community Day, hopes the event can maybe reacquaint people with the museum - and change perceptions.
“I hope that people who come to the museum today can appreciate that the museum is a place where they can come to have a good time. It's not the kind of quiet, stuffy setting that you might associate with a museum. It's very lively, full of energy and fun.”
Cultural institutions add to the quality of life in a community … but only if people know about them and patronize them. The museum staff hopes that the Everson can spread the knowledge of what the community can offer if people invest in the city’s arts and culture.
And Tricase points out, nose is a time the community is growing.
“With micron coming here, it is incredibly important for people to invest in our community, and invest in our arts and culture. If we don't, people are going to move here and not want to be here because there's nothing to do. So we're at the point now where … for us, educating people about the things we're doing and getting more people in here is just going to help us spread the word of the great place that the Everson is”
Plans for the Everson’s next Community Day are still in the works, but the museum will continue to put on events throughout the year. The Everson is opened Wednesdays through Sundays … with Wednesdays having a “pay-what-you-wish” entry fee to continue to break down any barriers.