Heritage Alliance & Chester Inn Museum Receive Honors for Programming Excellence
We are so proud of the award-winning work that Heritage Alliance staff members have produced this past year. On March 17, 2021, the Tennessee Association of Museums (TAM) recognized Joe Spiker, Head Docent at the Chester Inn Museum and State Historic Site, and Megan Cullen Tewell, Programming Coordinator at The Heritage Alliance, who were honored with awards of excellence for recent programs and exhibitions. The Heritage Alliance was also an active participant in the conference. Tewell and Spiker gave a presentation on flexible programming, while Executive Director Anne G’Fellers-Mason moderated several of the sessions, led a roundtable discussion for site directors and other executives, and gave a presentation with the Bristol Public Library and Birthplace of Country Music Museum on collaborations.
Spiker received an award of recognition in the AV Film/Documentary Series category for the web series, “With the Victorians.” The Chester Inn was also recognized in the Temporary Exhibit category for the virtual exhibit, “If You Don’t Watch Out: The Influenza Pandemic in and Around Washington County, September 1918 to February 1919.” Tewell was commended for her work on the “Homecooked History” web series in the Video/Blog category. A Taste of Tennessee: A Community Curated Cookbook received an award in the Publication category as well.
The Heritage Alliance is no stranger to commendation, having received numerous awards from TAM in the past. However, these recent recognitions take on additional meaning and significance in light of the 2020-2021 COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges that it has created. Regardless, Heritage Alliance staff continues to produce quality programming, materials, and experiences that share local history with the community—and now they have the certificates to prove it.
You can catch both “Homecooked History” and “With the Victorians” on the Chester Inn Museum’s YouTube channel, and the virtual flu exhibit on the Heritage Alliance’s website. You can also contact the Heritage Alliance for a copy of A Taste of Tennessee cookbook. Congratulations to our winners!
