Spartanburg Art Museum Rocks the Boat
Spartanburg Art Museum (SAM) is throwing a farewell party for its current exhibition Memory Ship on Monday, Jan. 26, 5-7 p.m. Rock the Boat isn’t just any party; it’s an evening filled with all things ship- and memory-related — from some of your favorite games to a hand-crafted trivia game created by SAM staff, free pizza, and a cash bar.
“Rock the Boat was an idea that came out of some marketing research completed by a Wofford intern last fall,” Executive Director of SAM Elizabeth Goddard said. “College students and young professionals are the future members of cultural institutions like museums. Our programming and events need to attract and retain their interests.” In a survey completed this fall by 75 college students, 70 percent said they would come to a community event, and 60 percent said they would attend a special event. In contrast on about 22 percent said they would come to the art museum for a gallery talk.
The events and programs cultural institutions offer this age group have changed dramatically over the past decade. Many midsize and larger museums reach out and provide relevant and fun programming that is both informal but also inspiring and educational. The Art Institute in Chicago (as well as The High Museum in Atlanta) has the Evening Associates group that meets monthly to socialize and take in new exhibitions. “We certainly hope that our museum can begin to fulfill the social needs of our growing young professional population, as well as area college students. We hope to become a destination for socializing and networking,” Goddard said.
Rock the Boat is on Monday, Jan. 26, 5-7 p.m. and includes a cash bar, free pizza, games, and a team-oriented trivia challenge with great local prizes. Admission is free. For more information, please visit spartanburgartmuseum.org or call (864) 582-7616.