'Vermont Music Far & Wide' Exhibit Receives Award of Excellence

Big Heavy World’s museum exhibit, ‘Vermont Music Far & Wide,’ has been honored with the 2019 League of Local Historical Societies & Museums (LLHSM) Award of Excellence in Exhibitions/Public Programs. The award was presented at the 181st Vermont Historical Society Annual Meeting on September 29 at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier.

The recognition is a very high honor for us, but we owe thanks and deep respect to the Vermont Historical Society staff and volunteers who guided us — they were gracious, generous and wise and made the difference, since we are so new to this kind of effort. We also owe thanks to the many supporters and collaborators who helped us make the exhibit possible at all: The Vermont Humanities Council; the Lake Champlain Basin Program and Lake Champlain Valley National Heritage Partnership; the City of Burlington and the Burlington Community and Economic Development Office; the Vermont Community Foundation; Seven Days; the Vermont Folklife Center; and Vermont Community Access Media. The exhibit was presented with special thanks to Chico Lager; Eva Sollberger; Creston Lea; Andy Kolovos; Neale Lunderville; Will Clavelle; Pete Gershon; Robert Hooker; and Justin Crowther.

In 2017, the Vermont Historical Society was gifted a rare early 1900s banjo made by the Bacon Banjo company of Forest Dale (Brandon) Vermont, displayed at the annual meeting/award ceremony.

'Vermont Music Far & Wide' lived at the Vermont History Museum for the first half of 2019 and a smaller version is now open to the public on Wednesday evenings at Big Heavy World headquarters on the corner of Pine and Howard Streets in Burlington. See more of the exhibit on the web page or visit 4-7pm on Wednesdays, 4 Howard Street #A-8.

James Lockridge accepts the award from Eileen Corcoran of the Vermont Historical Society.

We're especially grateful for this recognition because it helps raise awareness of the role of music in Vermont's communities, economy, and identity — all subjects of the exhibit. To the award judges and members and supporters of the almost 200 local historical societies and museums in Vermont: Thank you!!!