Armstrong County Museum recently received a Humanities Texas Relief Grant.
The county’s local museum was organized in 1990 to document, collect, house, and preserve the history of Armstrong County. Due to the abrupt impact that COVID-19 had on museums, ACM was among the many which closed in March, opening again in mid-June. Numerous ACM events were cancelled. ACM was one of the many small and medium sized Texas museums that applied for and received funding from Humanities Texas.
The grant provides funds for ACM to host new activities and events on site and on-line. Funds will be used for website rebranding with a focus on Armstrong County Museum and its events.
During the COVID-19 closure time period at ACM, the museum negotiated an Operating Agreement with the Texas Historical Commission to transfer The Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch to the State. Prior to the July 1 transfer of Goodnight Historical Center to THC, a shared website, media presence and events were shared between ACM and GHC. At this time, The Charles and Mary Ann Ranch on-line site has become part of the State’s website.
ACM has redesigned and posted its own website separate from that of The Goodnight Ranch. Highlights of ACM’s collections and events are now found on the newly developed website. Future events and virtual on-line activities and news will be posted. The website, www.armstrongcountymuseum.net, welcomes visitors. Please leave comments when you visit the site.
This year, Humanities Texas awarded over $1.1 million to 198 Texas nonprofits that suffered losses as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Recipients include museums, libraries, preservation organizations and heritage and cultural centers, among many others.
These organizations offer historical and cultural programs that have significant impact within their communities. Humanities Texas aims to help these organizations remain vital in this difficult time.
"We are fortunate to have the opportunity to provide critical support to so many organizations across the state," said Humanities Texas Executive Director Eric Lupfer. "Looking ahead, we will continue to seek ways to assist Texas cultural and educational institutions in surviving this crisis."
Chairman of ACM’s Education Committee, Martha Mathews, reported to the Board of Directors that two major traveling photo exhibits have been booked for the Art Gallery. The first is scheduled for April – June, 2020-21, “Rural Texas Women at Work, 1930-60.” Accompanying the exhibit will be a series of local events announced prior to the April grand opening.
The second exhibit is scheduled as a companion and to promote Caprock Roundup Days in July 2021. Chosen specifically to boost the ranching heritage of the county, this exhibit will feature photographs by the well-known film producer-director, Bill Wittliff. The long running TV series, LONESOME DOVE based on the life of Charles Goodnight, was produced by Wittliff. “Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy” highlights the western images of the first cowboys in Texas.
Both Traveling Exhibits are provided through a Humanities Texas program.
Funding for the Relief Grants has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act economic stabilization plan.
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Humanities Texas, based in Austin, Texas, is the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Its mission is to advance education through programs that improve the quality of classroom teaching, support libraries and museums and create opportunities for lifelong learning for all Texans.