neighborhood-based museums as civic centers

[lauratan]

I am a Master's student at the University of Chicago taking a closer look at neighborhood-based museums (not galleries). I know of the Wing Luke Museum, the Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum in Chicago, and the Museum of Chinese Americans in NY.

Are there any others? If there is a greater interest for museums to serve its residents, and become more civically-oriented, what other models might be developing (in terms of programs, city/local govt and cultural institutions relationships, etc).

Any insight will be very much appreciated.

Laura

[Steven Durland]

Hi Laura,

You might check out the Arab American National Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. <http://www.theaanm.org>

[Sarah Davis]

Hi Laura,

In Chicago, there are also:

Polish American Museum http://pma.prcua.org/homeen.html
Ukranian Institute of Modern Art http://www.uima-art.org/