(December 5, 2023) CHARLOTTE, N.C. – North Carolina Humanities is bringing the Smithsonian Institution exhibition Voices and Votes: Democracy in America to North Carolina! The exhibition exploring democracy, citizenship, and voting tours around North Carolina in 2024-2025.
The tour begins at Iredell County Public Library in Statesville in April 2024. From there, the exhibition travels to Southwest Brunswick Branch Library in Carolina Shores, Cumberland County Public Library in Fayetteville, Alamance Community College in Graham, and Appalachian State University in Boone. The tour concludes at Henderson County Public Library in Hendersonville in January 2025. See below for the full tour schedule.
Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is a Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES) exhibition that offers small towns and rural communities a chance to reflect on and discuss questions including: “who has the right to vote?”, “what are the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens?”, “whose voices will be heard?”, “how do you participate as a citizen?”. From the revolution and suffrage to civil rights and casting ballots, this exhibition explores how everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story – the story of democracy in America.
“With the presidential election upcoming in November 2024, and North Carolinians participation in state and local politics every day, we are excited to tour this exhibition across the state,” said Executive Director of North Carolina Humanities, Sherry Paula Watkins. “We look forward to seeing how each venue uses this exhibition to explore local history and contemporary issues.”
With program support and grant funding available from North Carolina Humanities, the six selected venues will develop complementary exhibits and offer public programs and events that prompt discussions about local issues, history, people, and stories.
North Carolina Humanities has proudly partnered with SITES for over a decade to bring seven unique Smithsonian exhibitions to over 30 different North Carolina small-town and rural museums, community colleges, libraries, and historic sites. In 2024 Voices and Votes is nationally touring in Florida, New York, North Carolina, and Oklahoma.
To stay up to date with the North Carolina 2024-2025 tour of Voices and Votes: Democracy in America please visit nchumanities.org.
| NC Humanities Selected Venue | City | Tour Dates* |
| Iredell County Public Library | Statesville | April 17, 2024 – May 28, 2024 |
| Southwest Brunswick Branch Library | Carolina Shores | June 2, 2024 – July 13, 2024 |
| Cumberland County Public Library | Fayetteville | July 18, 2024 – Sept 2, 2024 |
| Alamance Community College | Graham | Sept 6, 2024 – Oct 17, 2024 |
| Appalachian State University | Boone | Oct 22, 2024 – Dec 2, 2024 |
| Henderson County Public Library | Hendersonville | Dec 7, 2024 – Jan 25, 2025 |
| *dates are subject to change | ||
About North Carolina Humanities: Through public humanities programs and grantmaking, North Carolina Humanities connects North Carolinians with cultural experiences that spur dialogue, deepen human connections, and inspire community. North Carolina Humanities is a nonpartisan, statewide nonprofit, and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. To learn more, visit www.nchumanities.org.
About the exhibition: Voices and Votes: Democracy in America is part of Museum on Main Street (MoMS), a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, including North Carolina Humanities, and local host institutions. Voices and Votes is based on a major exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C. called American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith. North Carolina Humanities has worked with SITES for over a decade to bring MoMS exhibitions to North Carolina’s small towns and rural communities. Support for MoMS has been provided by the U.S. Congress.
NC Humanities Press Contact: Melanie Moore Richeson; (704) 687-1520; mmoore@nchumanities.org
