How Chad Smith and Red Hot Chili Peppers Helped Birmingham Win Award

Birmingham Museum Director Leslie Pielack accepts the award at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island. (Photo submitted)

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The Birmingham Historical Museum and Park recently received the Michigan Museums Association (MMA) ‘Best New Experience 2014’ Award at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island.

The award recognizes outstanding achievement by a Michigan museum for innovative ways to enrich visitor experience and the importance of museums in forming meaningful connections between people and culture.

The Birmingham Historical Museum was selected for its recent success at the exhibition-related event, “Afternoon Backstage with Chad Smith,” which brought the local rock star and special guests together at his exhibit at the museum. Smith, Grammy-award winning drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, grew up in the area and is featured as part of the Sounds of Birmingham music exhibition.

Attendees were able to meet Chad, share stories with him, and bring items to be autographed as special mementos of the occasion. The museum worked to keep the event personal and intimate for both guests and Smith, while raising needed funds. The reception brought the museum and its music exhibition to a whole new audience, and received rave reviews from guests, Chad and his family. In particular, the musician was deeply touched when given the key to the city by Mayor Scott Moore, and later he and his family expressed their sincere thanks to the museum for giving them this wonderful opportunity. Other visitors described it as the experience of a lifetime.

“The Birmingham Historical Museum and Park is working to re-invent itself and demonstrate its relevance to the community, to overcome the perception of being an old-fashioned museum with dusty old stuff in display cases,” said Birmingham Museum Director Leslie Pielack. “We believe the best museum experience helps the visitor develop a deeper understanding of him/herself in a cultural context and we want to help people see our museum as contributing actively to their lives in meaningful ways.”

A significant objective of the museum’s strategic plan is to engage with the community in new ways and reinforce the museum’s cultural relevance. By holding this event and keeping it meaningful and memorable for everyone involved, the Birmingham Historical Museum helped advance the notion that it is a dynamic place that has an active role to play in the community. The “Best New Experience” Quest for Excellence Award from MMA acknowledges this accomplishment, while also encouraging other museums to adopt similar creative strategies to enhance their visitors’ experience.

The Sounds of Birmingham music exhibition is open through February 28, 2015. For information, call the museum (open Wednesday through Saturday from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.) at (248) 530-1928 or visit www.bhamgov.org/museum