A City Museum
Great cities are often known for great museums that are devoted to many subjects. Paris, France, has the MusOe du Louvre; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has the Museu Hist:5ft° Nacional; and Chicago, Illinois, has the Museum of Science and Industry. For your Final Project, imagine that you have been chosen as the director of a new museum dedicated to your city. (Note: If you do not live in a city, focus on the place you live or on a city that you know about.)
Then, consider the following scenario:
- The local government has decided to build a museum devoted to your city. However, the government's members would like to focus the museum on a theme or perspective. The members have narrowed the choice of themes to the following four:
o Industry and Commerce
o History and Natural History
o Science and Technology
o Arts and Culture
- Likewise, the city council has narrowed down the possible site of the museum to three areas. They are:
o An existing block with numerous low-income housing units, including a midrise building with subsidized housing. The block cuts off two areas that have seen an increase in investment, including boutique shops, restaurants, and housing redevelopment. Many people in the two neighborhoods would like to see the two areas "connected" by the museum development.
o A block near the waterfront and near other cultural venues. The block contains an historic building that would be demolished for the proposed museum, which is designed by a famous architect. The historic building is architecturally significant in its own right but is run-down and would need major renovations to fit a museum.
o A plot of land near a newly constructed highway. A farmer recently sold the land, and much of it is zoned for new housing developments and large retail stores. Although the area of land has been cleared for development, some groups think that there should be more time spent on an environmental impact study. The land is in a large watershed area that drains to a distant but vital body of water.
- As the director, you must choose the museum's perspective and its site.
Part 1: Write a proposal to the local government explaining which perspective should be the museum's focus. Part 1 of the Final Project is made up of Milestone 1 and Milestone 2, which will be further described and submitted in subsequent weeks:
o Describe concrete ways in which this focus is evident and important to your city.
o Describe how this focus is appealing to visitors from outside your city.
- Week 2-Milestone 1
o Describe concrete ways in which this focus is evident and important to your city.
o Describe how this focus is appealing to visitors from outside your city.
- Week 3-Milestone 2
o Describe the most important permanent exhibit in the museum.
o Explain how this permanent exhibit uses objects, themes, and ideas to represent the citizens who make up the city.
Part 2: Write a proposal to the local government selecting a museum site. Final Project Milestone 3 will include the Annotated Bibliography of your resources.
Week 4-Milestone 3
o Specify which site you will select for the museum.
o Justify your selection of the site.
- Explain the links between the type of museum and the chosen site.
o Identify at least one opposing viewpoint related to the site you select.
o Address the opposing viewpoint and explain why it is not relevant, or explain how you can accommodate that viewpoint in the site selection.
o Your Final Project paper should incorporate at least two outside sources to support your positions.
n You may draw upon the student contributed resources listed in the Doc Sharing area in the online classroom's course navigation menu for up to two sources.
Part 3: Project Milestones 1-3 together into one document, make any necessary revisions, and incorporate any needed Instructor feedback.