| About The Museum: Old Dillard Museum (ODM) provides an array of related local and nationally recognized historic programming and exhibitions that are intergenerational in appeal and resources and knowledge that can be passed down from generation to generation. Additionally, being the first school constructed for African-American students in Fort Lauderdale in 1924 it is the focal point of the Black historic area. Old Dillard Museum primarily serves the underprivileged, underserved, under-facilitated and underrepresented Black community in which it resides, as well as provides a valuable resource to all historians and other multi-ethnic visitors interested in Black history. Programming is culturally specific to the needs of the community by providing enrichment to their awareness and understanding of their rich legacy while it invites peoples of all ethnic origins to share in these experiences. Old Dillard Museum's philosophy is that self-esteem can be established and/or developed by a direct relationship between what students and the community observe regarding their heritage and their personal life experiences.
We are committed to supporting the development of historical awareness in our youth, families, community and patrons through meaningful and inspiring activities. We believe that there is unity in diversity and have partnerships with neighboring entities such as the African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Fort Lauderdale Historical Society and the Museum of Discovery and Science.
The great success of the Museum can be seen and has been documented by the overwhelming responses and attendance to its most recent programs and exhibitions. Thus, the idea of expansion has become a reality.
Much effort has been made by Community Advocates, Executive Board and Advisory Board Members to seek out funding to repair and upgrade the structural facility. Their advocacy resulted in the School Board recently placing $1,500,000.00 in the budget for this purpose. Current plans include expansion of the Museum from a one room museum to that of the entire building. The plans include the addition of a Multi-Purpose Room/Mini Theatre, a Museum Gift Shop/Caf�, expansion of the Library Resource Room and extra exhibition space. To add to this, local Contractor James Cummings has also volunteered to assist in the building of a much needed storage facility on the ground floor adjacent to the Museum. Additionally, the Old Dillard Foundation is presently planning/organizing on a major fundraiser for March 2005 in collaboration with noted Heath Basketball Player Keyon Dooling, a prize product of our own community.
We respectfully request program support to enable the Old Dillard Museum to better exemplify the high standards of excellence in which children, families, patrons and other community members can continue to be educationally enriched. Through expansion we will be better able to design activities to build community pride, confidence and exposure in our youth and communities. Old Dillard Museum will be able to continue its journey, developing into an even more flourishing, handsome and aesthetically engaging institution with a stronger and more dignified structure and state-of-the-art programming. Renown artists will also be more receptive to showcasing their works as well.
Comprehensive opportunities for active collaboration with well known exhibiting institutions who present challenging historic and artistic community programs are also being explored. This would enhance ODM 's ability to develop unique, eclectic and artistically heightened exhibitions and programs, aiding in continuing its active participation in the local historical/cultural arena. Old Dillard Museum's commitments also include finding resources to facilitate growth opportunities for staff and replenishment of program related materials needed for workshops; thus enabling us to better serve our growing patronage, and demands for additional quality services. The Museum is committed to providing accurate information in addition to good customer service. Further, programs and services disclaim negative historic and cultural stereotypes regarding African Americans and assist our community in having the knowledge and strength to grow, think and prosper as citizens of the world.
National Landmark With Many Resources
The Museum was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in February of 1991. Thus, this National Landmark serves as a tourist attraction and receives many local, national and international tourists throughout the year. The Museum profiles noteworthy African Americans and includes guided and self-guided tours. With over 5,944 holdings of which 2,227 are historical artifacts, photographs, pictures, and traditional cultural items and 3,717 ethnic reference materials such as books, documents, art catalogs film and audio and video tapes, it is essential to preserve the building and its contents and to provide enriching opportunities to keep Black history alive.
Collaborations
The Museum is also used by a wide variety of civic and community development groups for meetings and events. Some of these groups include Sonshine Communications, Broward Education Foundation, Mount Olive Baptist Church, Opportunities Industrialization Centers, Fort Lauderdale Education Advisory Board, Black Vegetarian Society, Leadership Broward, Leadership Fort Lauderdale, African American Research Library and Cultural Center, Black Public Officials, Urban League, Broward Community Foundation, Education Task Force and the North Broward Hospital District including many more. The Museum also plays a major role in teacher training for the African/African-American and Caribbean Infusion Curriculum for the School Board of Broward County. It also embraces exchange programs, traveling and temporary exhibits, literature, science, and the arts. The institution seeks to expand its ongoing programming with the development of a newsletter and calendar of events, a computer lab for youth (most likely to be funded by the Children's Council), website (to be funded by the Broward Cultural Division's Cultural Diversity Program Grant), youth contests (in collaboration with the Urban League of Broward County), a fundraising and membership drive (via the Old Dillard Foundation) and additional workshops as requested (by various community partners).
Museum's Previous Growth
Over the past years Old Dillard Museum has grown beyond its original intent from that of a one-room paper-exhibiting Museum to a current vibrant engaging five gallery facility. It now houses a permanent "Old Dillard Heritage Library Resource Room" and a rotating "Exhibition Hall". The installation of a Distance Learning component has allowed ODM to broaden its audience base and the privilege of communicating with numerous communities within our local areas in addition to local, national and international entities from Texas to Japan, Africa, South America, etc. With continued success, the expectations of ODM is rising constantly. Thus more demands will be made on staff and the Museum, itself. Steps toward national accreditation through the Association of American Museums are being considered. Prerequisites to this process include addressing recommendations that necessitate the preservation-sensitive treatment, cataloguing and storage of museum artifacts as dictated by the National Museum Conservation Association Program. |
