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STONY BROOK, NY — The Long Island Museum (LIM) is pleased to announce the arrival of “A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy” a humanities discussion series that includes the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street traveling exhibition, Voices and Votes: Democracy in America and LIM’s response exhibition Building the Ballot Box: Long Island’s Democratic History opening on February 20, 2025, in advance of Women’s History Month. These engaging and thought-provoking exhibitions and programs will examine nearly 250 years of history, exploring the ongoing pursuit to form “a more perfect union.”
The only Smithsonian Affiliate Institution in the Nassau-Suffolk region, LIM collects, preserves, interprets, and celebrates Long Island’s richly diverse past and its storied role in our nation’s history.
“The Long Island Museum is honored to be involved in this statewide conversation about democracy,” said Co-Executive Director Joshua Ruff. “In our response exhibition and planned programs, we will especially explore how political participation throughout our region has expanded and been a shifting, challenging, and inspirational terrain over time.”
Building the Ballot Box will examine the role this region played in history from the Women’s suffrage movement, Civil Rights, and other movements in political history. This exhibition will include key artifacts like the Suffrage Wagon that was across New York State in public events to advocate for women’s suffrage in 1917. Other objects highlight regional trailblazers such as Shirley Chisholm, the first Black US Congresswoman, and Geraldine Ferraro, the first female candidate nominated for Vice President by a major political party.
Voices and Votes is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith, this traveling exhibition includes many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.
The Museum Association of New York (MANY) is the statewide organizer for the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service’s Museum on Main Street program bringing Voices and Votes: Democracy in America to twelve museums across New York State. The Long Island Museum is the seventh institution in the state to participate in “A New Agora for New York” and host the Voices and Votes exhibition.
“Long Island is full of inspiring stories of civic engagement and significant ‘firsts’ in America’s 250 years of democratic history,” said MANY Agora Project Fellow Ren Lee. “We are thrilled to work with the Long Island Museum as they use Voices and Votes as a launching point to engage with their community through these exhibitions and a truly fantastic lineup of programs.”
The Voices and Votes exhibition will be on view in the Cowles Gallery of LIM’s History Museum. Building the Ballot Box will be on view directly adjacent to Voices and Votes, in the History Museum’s Main Gallery. These exhibitions will be accompanied by a series of programs including a drop-in day for Girl Scouts on Friday February 21st. For a full description of the exhibitions and all programs, visit the Long Island Museum’s website longislandmuseum.org
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Voices and Votes is a Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibition developed by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. It’s based on an exhibition by the National Museum of American History. It has been made possible in New York State by the Museum Association of New York. Support for MoMS in New York State has been provided by the United States Congress and the William G. Pomeroy Foundation.
“A New Agora for New York: Museums as Spaces for Democracy” humanities discussion programs are made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service
SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 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 description and tour schedules, visit sites.si.edu.
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The Long Island Museum
Founded in 1939 and accredited by AAM since 1973, The Long Island Museum is home to more than 60,000 artifacts, The Long Island Museum inspires and engages visitors of diverse ages, backgrounds, and abilities by connecting them with the region’s art and history, a world-class carriage collection, and energizing programs that foster a creative and inclusive community. For more about LIM’s exhibitions and programming, visit longislandmuseum.org
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Museum Association of New York
The Museum Association of New York is New York’s representative of the MoMS program, an outreach program of the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service, and is the only statewide museum service organization with more than 750 member museums, historical societies, zoos, botanical gardens, and aquariums. MANY helps shape a better future for museums and museum professionals by uplifting best practices and building organizational capacity through advocacy, training, and networking opportunities. Visit www.nysmuseums.org and follow MANY on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn @nysmuseums
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National Endowment for the Humanities
Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports research and learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities by funding selected, peer-reviewed proposals from around the nation. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available at: www.neh.gov.
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William G. Pomeroy Foundation
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation® is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and working to improve the probability of finding appropriate donor matches or other life-saving treatments for blood cancer patients. Established by Trustee Bill Pomeroy in 2005 to bring together his two greatest passions, the Pomeroy Foundation is a private, philanthropic organization located in Syracuse, N.Y. As the nation’s leading funder of historic roadside markers, the Pomeroy Foundation has awarded more than 2,100 grants for markers and bronze plaques in 48 states and Washington, D.C. To learn more about the Pomeroy Foundation, visit wgpfoundation.org.
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Humanities New York
Using dialogue, reflection, and critical thinking, Humanities New York applies the humanities to strengthen democratic society. Established in 1975 as the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Humanities New York is a private 501(c)(3) organization that may receive federal, state, and private funding. To learn more about Humanities New York, visit humanitiesny.org.
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