The New Grey County Gallery: Rising to the Occasion

Presenters: Sim Salata (Curator) and Nikita Johnston (Assistant Curator) – Grey Roots Museum & Archives

In 2017, Grey Roots staff began compiling research in preparation for the first phase of a complete overhaul of its long-term Grey County Gallery exhibit. Unveiled in 2004, the year that Grey Roots Museum & Archives opened, it had never been substantially updated.

Voices of Grey was slated to open in March of 2020. Two years later, staff picked up where they left off, and, since then, have completed the remaining four sections: Abundance, Connection, Permanence and Hope.

This lecture will explore the seven years it took to replace the heart of Grey Roots – its central exhibition space – as its staff worked through challenges including: a funding gap, a global pandemic, switching exhibit design firms, consultation with community groups and experts, and a concurrent major capital project. Through the power of many, the result is a more representative and relevant gallery space for Grey County residents and visitors; one that meets current accessibility standards, allows for greater engagement and interactivity, and provides a more adaptable space for future change.