The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with New Hampshire Humanities, presents “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” The exhibition examining the evolving landscape of rural America opens at River Valley Community College on October 14, 2024. “Crossroads” will be on view through December 13, 2024. River Valley Community College and the surrounding community has been expressly
chosen by New Hampshire Humanities to host “Crossroads” as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations.
Schedule of Events
Wednesday, October 23, 2024 Time: 1-2pm
Crossroads Opening Reception – Help us celebrate the opening of Crossroads: Change in Rural America and the complimenting exhibits in the library and gallery. Light refreshments will be served.
October 14 – December 13, 2024 Time: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm; Tue, Thurs 9am-9pm
Selections from the Claremont Historical Society – The Claremont Historical Society will present a curated selection of objects to coincide with the Crossroads exhibit. Visitors can view various artifacts and documents that relate to Claremont’s agricultural, industrial and educational history.
October 14, 2024 – January 10, 2025: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-5pm; Tue, Thurs 9am-9pm
A Sense of Place: Community Art Show – A visual essay that tells the story of a rural community in transition. Regional artists reflect on what “rural America” means to them. Historical images from Claremont Opera House and Claremont Makerspace will be on view.
Saturday, October 26, 2024: 10am-2pm
Harvest Fest – Help us celebrate fall at RVCC! Tour the Smithsonian Museums on Main Street Crossroads exhibit while enjoying live music and refreshments. View the additional exhibits on campus and join us for pumpkin painting at 12pm.
Wednesday, October 30, 2024: 1-2pm
Educating the Workforce: Molding Critical Thinkers in Rural America – What are some of the key issues facing educators and employers in rural communities? Join panelists for an in-depth conversation about preparing students for entering the workforce in our region.
Thursday, November 7, 2024: 12-1pm
Creative Industry Roundtable – Join local artists, Claremont Makerspace members, business leaders and RVCC students in this lively roundtable to discuss how to leverage local resources and build a network to create and grow your own creative enterprise.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024: 12-1pm
Challenges in Achieving Full Employment: Diversity, Recruitment, Retention – In this discussion, a panel of community stakeholders examines some of the challenges in developing and maintaining a robust workforce in a rural community.
The exhibition examining the evolving landscape of rural America opens at River Valley Community College on October 14,
2024. “Crossroads” will be on view through December 13, 2024. Americans have relied on rural crossroads for generations. These places where people gather to exchange goods, services and culture and to engage in political and community discussions are an important part of our cultural fabric. Despite the massive economic and demographic impacts brought on by these changes, America’s small towns continue to
creatively focus on new opportunities for growth and development.
For inquiries contact Eric Sutphin, Project Coordinator at [email protected] or (603) 543-4505