Strawbery Banke Invites The Public To Experience The Museum Behind-The-Scenes Through A Free Virtual Event On March 25

Member news from the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth:

March 11, 2021

DISCLAIMER: The following content wasn't created by, but is being shared by, the Chamber Collaborative on behalf of a member.

PORTSMOUTH—Strawbery Banke Museum announces the virtual celebration and fundraising event, “Behind the Curtain: Strawbery Banke Revealed!” The live online event, Thursday, March 25 at 7 p.m., invites attendees to experience Strawbery Banke from behind-the-scenes. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required, at StrawberyBanke.org/events/behind-the-curtain.cfm and an event link will be emailed 48 hours prior to the event.

Guests will experience inspiring stories firsthand from trustees, staff, donors, volunteers, business partners, and other members of the community as Strawbery Banke reveals the work that took place in 2020 to position the museum for 2021 and beyond. All attendees will be entered into a drawing to win a lifetime Strawbery Banke Membership, an estimated value of $12,000.

“The pandemic created enormous obstacles for Strawbery Banke,” said Lawrence J. Yerdon, Strawbery Banke Museum President and CEO. Drawing inspiration from the stories of resilience found in the Puddle Dock neighborhood the museum was able to press forward last year with reimagined programs and events. Out of that effort grew the idea for “Behind the Curtain” which museum staff and the Board of Trustees envisioned as a fun, innovative, and interactive experience. I hope the community will join us on March 25 to partake in that fun while also supporting Strawbery Banke.”

Museum Trustees Susan Labrie and Robyn Aldo are co-hosts of the event.

“I am always so inspired to see how Strawbery Banke takes on the challenge of making events fresh, engaging, informative, and fun,” said Labrie, Museum trustee. “In these difficult pandemic times, accomplishing that goal while keeping the audience safe in a virtual gathering was especially exciting to watch. I know 'Behind the Curtain: Strawbery Banke Revealed' will delight and entertain both those who already support the museum and those who are new and want to learn more about Strawbery Banke.”

“Pandemic circumstances did not allow our main fundraising event, the Vintage and Vine Wine and Food Festival, to happen this past year,” said Aldo, Vintage and Vine event chair and trustee. “So it was more important than ever for the trustees to bring the excitement of that live event into a ‘virtual’ in-person fundraiser for Strawbery Banke and to focus on this year's Vintage and Vine.”

Behind the Curtain: Strawbery Banke Revealed caps off the museum’s March Match Challenge and the goal of raising critical operating funds for the Strawbery Banke Fund. During the month of March, all donations to Strawbery Banke are being matched, dollar for dollar up to $25,000 by the Strawbery Banke Museum Board of Trustees. So every donation to the Fund is doubled—and goes twice as far in serving the needs of the museum, which saw a significant drop in visitation last year. For information on Behind the Curtain: Strawbery Banke Revealed and the March Match fundraising challenge, visit StrawberyBanke.org

About Strawbery Banke Museum

Strawbery Banke Museum, in the heart of historic downtown Portsmouth, is a 10-acre history museum interpreting 300+ years of American history through historical houses on their original foundations, heirloom gardens, traditional crafts, and costumed role-players who share the stories of the families who lived in the authentic waterfront neighborhood of Puddle Dock. The Museum welcomes visitors, members, schoolchildren, and volunteers for daily programs, exhibits, skating, and signature special events throughout the year. For a complete calendar of events, visitstrawberybanke.org

This press release was produced by the Chamber Collaborative of Greater Portsmouth. The views expressed are the author's own.