From Main Street Apopka
Florida Humanities, in partnership with the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), has launched a new exhibition partnership program, “Exhibition Starter Kit: FOOD” and selected Main Street Apopka as an inaugural recipient. In total, eight nonprofit organizations received funding from Florida Humanities in June 2024 to create exhibitions that capture and share local narratives on food, utilizing templated resources as well as virtual and in-person support from the Smithsonian Institution.
Exhibition Starter Kits provide a Smithsonian-developed framework to guide selected venues through the development of local humanities-based exhibitions using their own collections and cultural content. While working on their exhibition project, funded venues will receive guidance from the Smithsonian on how to design and develop compelling exhibitions that highlight their local history and culture through the lens of food. By incorporating local elements directly into the exhibition, each installation will be unique while broadly addressing the same national themes curated by the Smithsonian.
“This project, entitled "Homegrown: Exploring the Foods that Define Us," is a highlight of the program because food brings people together! Apopka is a rich blend of cultures, ages, and lifestyles, and this project will provide a unique, hands-on platform for our community to be celebrated… As part of this celebration, this exhibit will be displayed in English and Spanish!
We have partnered with the Apopka Historical Society to create this exhibit, connecting old-Apopka to new-Apopka, and we are thrilled to be working with such a dynamic team of historians, writers, designers, and educators.” - Caitlin Kasheta, Executive Director, Main Street Apopka
All sites have received initial funding of $5,000 from Florida Humanities to work with the Smithsonian over the next year to create their exhibition script, collect physical objects such as artifacts and images to accompany their exhibition, and design an exhibition floor plan. Exhibitions will then be fabricated and installed at each venue in mid to late 2025 with additional support provided by Florida Humanities.
The funded sites include:
- African American Cultural Society (Palm Coast, Flagler County)
- Citrus County Historical Society (Inverness, Citrus County)
- Florida Remembered Society (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County)
- Hastings Main Street (Hastings, St. Johns County)
- Historical Society of Bay County (Panama City, Bay County)
- Key West Art & Historical Society (Key West, Monroe County)
- Main Street Apopka (Apopka, Orange County)
- West Nassau Historical Society (Callahan, Nassau County)
“Exhibition Starter Kits (example of Exhibtion Starter Kit: "Work" pictured above) give small museums a great opportunity to use a Smithsonian framework that gives national context to local exhibitions,” said Carol Harsh, Director, Smithsonian Institution Museum on Main Street program. “Florida Humanities contributes state-specific resources and scholarship, which adds an even richer training opportunity for host organizations to bring out the unique local flavors of each community.”
“Exhibition Starter Kit: FOOD” is a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution’s Traveling Exhibition Service and State Humanities Councils nationwide. It is based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History called “Key Ingredients: America by Food”. Support for the Smithsonian Institution has been provided by the United States Congress. Funding for this project in Florida has been provided by Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this project do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Main Street Apopka is a non-profit organization dedicated to building a strong economic foundation for downtown Apopka through historic preservation, engaging partnerships, and empowering our people. This uses the nationally recognized Main Street Approach, focusing on Design, Promotion, Economic Vitality, and Organization. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.
Florida Humanities, the statewide, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, is dedicated to preserving, promoting, and sharing the history, literature, cultures, and personal stories that offer Floridians a better understanding of themselves, their communities, and their state. Since 1973, Florida Humanities has awarded over $20 million to support statewide cultural resources and public programs strongly rooted in the humanities. These programs preserve Florida’s diverse history and heritage, promote civic engagement and community dialogue, and provide opportunities to reflect on the future of Florida. Learn more at www.floridahumanities.org.
Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions outside Washington, D.C., for over 65 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history, which are shown wherever people live, work, and play. For exhibition descriptions and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.
Correction: The press release was updated from 2026 to 2025 on September 5, 2024 at 12:09pm.
