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Staff Report –
Officials from the Smithsonian Institution, known for its top notch, world class museums in Washington, D.C. and elsewhere, have announced that they are interested in helping museums in Mariposa and Coulterville. They will be visiting the area May 18-20 talking about collaborations, including funding, for community-centered storytelling and cultural preservation.
The effort is designed to support a locally rooted, community-driven cultural initiatives that reflect the diverse experiences, histories and identities that shape life in Mariposa County.
The first event will take place on Monday afternoon in Yosemite National Park.
Grounded in the Smithsonian’s work in community curation and environmental humanities, the collaboration will focus on strengthening local capacity for storytelling, including oral history interviews and audio books, as well as fostering connections among local organizations and expanding access to national cultural resources, including grant funding.
The project includes participation from across the county, including arts and cultural organizations, schools, environmental groups, tribal partners, local government, historical societies and community members. The Arts Council has convened an advisory committee, which includes a broad range of local and regional partners like the National Park Service, the Mariposa Museum and History Center and the Northern Mariposa County History Center, the Mariposa County Library system, the Mariposa County Planning Department and Public Information Office, the Yosemite Mariposa County Tourism Bureau and Mariposa County high schools.
Also included are the Sierra Foothill Conservancy; United Way; the Hornitos Historical Society; the California State Mining and Mineral Museum; the Yosemite Climbing Museum; the Upper Merced River Watershed Council; the county Creative Placemaking Strategy Advisory Committee; the Catheys Valley Historical Society; the Historic Sites and Records Preservation Commission; Wreaths Across America and the Mariposa Storytelling Committee.
Representatives from multiple Smithsonian divisions will be in Mariposa County from May 18–20, to begin working with the advisory committee and the broader community. The visit will include a series of workshops, presentations, site visits and conversations focused on:
- Community storytelling and cultural preservation
- Place-based humanities and interpretation
- Opportunities for museum collaboration and affiliation
- Cross-sector partnership development
- Exploring local priorities and opportunities
“With deep ties to the land, layered histories and a strong sense of place, Mariposa County offers a unique setting for this work,” the Arts Council said in a press statement. “Together, participants will help shape a dynamic, community-defined narrative of place while building stronger connections and long-term cultural infrastructure.”
Over time, this work may culminate in a “public-facing showcase” featuring exhibitions, storytelling projects, youth engagement, and collaborative initiatives developed through the partnership.