The Missouri Humanities Council (MHC) has awarded a grant of $2,500 to the Sedalia Heritage Foundation in support of the project, "Sedalia Heritage Interpretive Plan". The grant represents a two phase process designed to assist the Sedalia Heritage Foundation in establishing a comprehensive approach in providing heritage interpretation programs to the public.

Phase one is the charette process that will evaluate a vision for a Heritage Interpretive Plan, identify demographics of users, and identify segments of their market and their different interests, needs and ways of consuming information or experiences.

Charette participants (representatives of local and state historians, tourism entities, and museum professionals) will engage in a study of how to conceptualize the heritage information and/or experiences that are central to Sedalia and how to engage a variety of market segments in those stories.

The grant also supports the SHF challenge of analyzing accomplishments made towards the 1999 MHC Charette recommendations. Particular reference will be given to the content of the Railroad Heritage Exhibit Design Plan as installed June, 2003 and the 2004 educational program schedule.

The goal of the charette is to review potential themes and develop ideas for heritage interpretation that will unite the various cultural organizations in town. The charette is scheduled for spring of 2005.

Recommendations of this Charette will then flow into phase two which is the development of an interpretive plan.

The Interpretive Plan process will be guided by scholars who will:

A. Define audiences or demographics, with a sense of different interests, needs and modes of learning.

B. Define the interpretative philosophy that the Sedalia Heritage Foundation will apply to all of its programs, activities, exhibits and development plans.

C. Provide the framework that ensures accurate research into history in order to present that history.

D. Serve as a guide for setting priorities for educational programs, exhibit development and other interpretive activities. It will also guide internal decisions regarding collections policies, acquisitions, or facilities planning.

E. Provide a framework for continuity as the Heritage Foundation grows, develops and matures.

E. Guide and sound justification for past decisions that can maintain continuity and adherence to the Heritage Foundation's goals and visions.

F. Develop templates for "learning experiences" that are the "products"of the interpretive plan. These experiences would drive the development of training programs and evaluation.

The Interpretive Plan will be presented for review by fall, 2005.

The MHC is the only state-wide agency in Missouri devoted exclusively to humanities education for citizens of all ages. It has served as a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities since 1971.

For more information about the grants program of the Missouri Humanities Council, call 314/781-9660 or 800/357-0909 or write to the MHC, 543 Hanley Industrial Court, Suite 205, St Louis, Missouri 63144-1905.

The Sedalia Heritage Foundation is a local agency devoted to preserving and interpreting area heritage. It has served the Sedalia area since 1991.

For more information about the Sedalia Heritage Interpretive Plan of the Sedalia Heritage Foundation, contact Deborah Biermann at 660/826-2932/15 or email dbiermann@visitsedaliamo.com.

cc: Michael Bouman, MHC, 543 Hanley Industrial Court, Suite 201, St Louis, Mo 63144-1905

U S Senator Kit Bond, 274 Russell Senate Office Building,Washington, DC 20510-2503

KC District Office: 911 Main St, Suite 2224, Kansas City, Mo 64105

U S Senator James Talent, 517 Hart Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510-2503

JC District Office: 122 East High St, Second Floor, Jefferson City, Mo 65101

U S Representative Ike Skelton, 2206 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515

Sedalia District Office: 908 Thompson Blvd, Sedalia, Mo 65301

State Senator James Mathewson, 301 South Ohio, Sedalia, Mo 65301

State Senator Delbert Scott, State Capitol Building, Room 431, Jefferson City, Mo 65101

State Representative Todd Smith, 2405 Woodland Drive, Sedalia, Mo 65301

Presiding Commissioner Rusty Kahrs, Pettis County Court House, Sedalia, Mo 65301

Mayor Bob Wasson, Municipal Building, P O Box 1707, Sedalia, Mo 65301

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