Director's Letter

Frank Lott EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

I recently returned from attending my very first Southeastern Museums Conference (SEMC) annual meeting, held this year in Northwest Arkansas. As the Museum’s Executive Director since 2020, it was indeed an eye-opening experience for me. In-person conferences and conventions are returning after being virtual events during the COVID-19 pandemic. Many of the events at this year’s conference were held at the magnificent Crystal Bridges Museum, one of the best new museums in the world.

The Southeastern Museums Conference has a membership of more than 180 institutions in 12 states. SEMC is an association of museums, museum staff, independent professionals and corporate partners, serving as the major regional networking organization for museums in the southeastern states. Their annual awards competition recognizes excellence in the use of exhibits, programs, technology and creative publications through innovation, effective design, accessibility, creativity and recognition of institutional identity. The Customs House Museum & Cultural Center was honored with five awards at the 2022 conference – more individual awards than any other member institution.

The Museum is pleased to showcase the Clarksville-Montgomery County community to regional audiences. We serve a broader regional area and we are committed to sharing the history and culture of the people that live here. We strive to improve the Museum experience for all our audiences through new programs, innovative events and enhanced visitor experience. One way we measure our success is by entering these competitions that judge our work, often against larger museums with bigger budgets. We want to know how we measure up to other great museums in the country… and believe me – we do!

2022 SEMC Awards presented to the Customs House Museum & Cultural Center:

Annual Reports – 2021 A Year in Review – Silver

Magazines & Newsletters – Second & Commerce – Bronze

Mailers & Calendar of Events – Reception Invites – Bronze

Virtual Media – Sustainability Webpage – Bronze

Explorers Landing Exhibit – Honorable Mention

Of course, none of these awards would be achieved without the dedication and talent of our incredible professional staff. Every department in the Museum is represented in these honors. My greatest thrill as Executive Director is the collaboration and shared vision with this team to produce the offerings that keep our members and visitors coming back for more!

Enjoy this issue of Second & Commerce!