Matt Meacham to Advise "New Harmonies" Towns

Folklorist Matt Meacham (Folklorist at the West Plains Council on the Arts) has signed on as program advisor to the towns that will host "New Harmonies." We've got a profile of him on the New Harmonies page now.

Smithsonian Exhibit Towns Selected

Oh brother, were we ever deluged with community applications for the 2009 tour of "New Harmonies!" It's a community-participation exhibit about American "roots music." No, not stuff about carrots, beets, and parsnips. It's all about music born and bred here. We had more interest in Missouri than the Smithsonian has ever seen for this touring program in any year, anywhere. The upshot is (trumpet fanfare), we'll have "New Harmonies" in 2010 as well! We'll put out a call for applications next year. The winning towns for 2009 are listed on our New Harmonies page.

Hot Competition for "New Harmonies"

Thirty-three Missouri towns want to host the touring Smithsonian exhibit on American "roots music" when it comes around in 2009. That's how many applications we received by the end of December, and it indicates a huge degree of interest in programs about music in our lives. We will only have the exhibit long enough to serve six of the thirty-three towns, though, so the level of competition will be pretty high, and we'll have to assure good distribution. Thanks to everyone who applied! We will announce the six host communities next month.