Food On The Move

Food on the Move Project Proposal • November 21, 2009 As we travel more, farther, and faster, our need for food travels with us; how we eat, what we eat and with whom we eat change along the way. Project Description From stagecoaches to jetliners, the different ways we travel is reflected through unique and varied culinary traditions. “Food on the Move” explores the history and relationship between travel and cuisine. Through the dynamic combination of an exhibition and public programming, this project will examine social and cultural trends in the United States through different modes of getting from one place to another and their individual foodways. The Exhibit The “Food on the Move” exhibit will focus on how food is consumed by travelers on stagecoaches, ships, trains, automobiles, and planes. As human beings have developed different modes of travel, the food industry has adapted to make travelers feel at home. The ability to enjoy a traditional family meal at the dining room table is nearly impossible when you're coasting on the highway or soaring thousands of feet above the ground. From dining cars on trains to catered meals on planes to the drivethru restaurant, the food industry has adapted to accommodate travelers at mealtime. This exhibit will explore these changing dining practices while considering the following four questions: 1) Who is moving and by what mode of transportation? 2) Who prepares and serves the food? 3) What kind of foods are eaten and how are they consumed, based on different modes of transportation? 4) What are external influences driving changes in travel cuisine and taste? In addition to these questions, the exhibit will examine culinary variations across communities, the introduction of ethnic food into American travel cuisine, and the class dynamic underlying the ways food is prepared and made available for consumption. The exhibit will be installed at the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University, covering the exhibition space adjacent to and including the Art Deco-style bar and the 1833 Stoddard Tavern Tap Room. The research and objects for these displays will draw heavily on the strengths of the museum’s archive and collections. Public Programming

The public programming for “Food on the Move” will break with traditional museum models by extending the exhibit beyond the museum to the actual modes of transportation being examined. Interpretative panels and navigational materials including cell phone tours and interactive online scavenger hunts will lead participants to locations where travel and food intersect within the Providence community. Panel discussions and a film screening will expand upon the content of “food on the move” to explore topics such as the sustainability and ethics of food production and transportation. Food-based programs hosted at the institution will use the skills and expertise of the Johnson & Wales culinary student community. Target Audiences • • •

the general public of southern New England Brown University students Johnson & Wales University students

Project Goals and Outcomes • • • •

To demonstrate a model of programming whereby an exhibition and related programs are mutually constitutive and provide an enhanced learning experience both within the museum and in the community. To develop a collaborative relationship with the Culinary Arts Museum and Archives at Johnson & Wales University in researching and interpreting “Food on the Move.” To gain professional experience in exhibit development, public engagement, and public programming. To encourage visitors to consider the implications of travel and food, including the culinary choices they make in their own lives and how the range of choices has evolved over time.

Work Schedule In order to ensure efficiency and a manageable workload for all project participants, the project has been divided into two teams – an exhibit team and a programming team. Each team will work individually to develop content and to delegate tasks to its team members, but the teams will be in continual conversation regarding their research, planning, and progress through projectwide meetings and frequent blog updates. While the two teams are working separately, we recognize that the success of the project relies upon the content of both teams being in dialogue with one another. TIMELINE/SCHEDULE December 1, 2009 Concept Design Meeting

EXHIBITION Initial concept design meeting with project leaders and Johnson & Wales staff regarding work

PROGRAMMING

TIMELINE/SCHEDULE

EXHIBITION

PROGRAMMING

with Creative Services on exhibit design December 7-14, 2009 Team Meetings

Exhibit team meets to plan exhibit content, research plan, and to delegate different research topics to team members.

Programming team meets to brainstorm programming ideas and to assign roles and identify tasks for winter break. The team will identify external sites, partners, and individuals for satellite panels and public programming. Team will develop program descriptions and prepare pitches for contacting these sites. Preliminary contact with the sites should be made by December 14.

December 15, 2009 through January 27, 2010 Research and Collections; Program Planning and Outreach

Exhibit team will conduct secondary source research to inform the content of the exhibit. The team will work with Erin Williams, Collections Manager of the Culinary Museum, to develop a “wish list” of objects to be considered for the exhibit. The exhibit team will also be responsible for selecting images and acquiring necessary permissions.

Programming team will contact programming participants (panelists, speakers, etc.), liaise with the Johnson & Wales student community, and develop the interactive materials, including the scavenger activity. The team will also be responsible for developing and maintaining a public website.

January 28, 2010 Exhibit and programming teams meet to update on Project Update Meeting research and programming progress made over winter

break. A final list of objects and schedule of events will be prepared to submit to Richard Gutman and Erin Williams by February 1. Week of February 1, 2010 Preliminary Design Meeting

Exhibit and programming representatives meet with Creative Services and Steve Spencer at Johnson & Wales for initial design to plan exhibit and programming material design and to set deadlines.

February 1 – March 1, 2010 Exhibit Research/Writing; Program Planning

Exhibit team begins drafting exhibit text based on secondary research and the Johnson & Wales archive and collection.

Programming team continues program planning – confirming venues and participants, coordinating university and community outreach,

TIMELINE/SCHEDULE

EXHIBITION

PROGRAMMING and designing the public website.

February 13, 2010 Exhibit Object List Due

Exhibit team and Johnson & Wales museum staff agree on final list of objects to be included in the exhibit.

Week of February 22, Exhibit and programming representatives meet with 2010 Creative Services and Steve Spencer at Johnson & Second Design Meeting Wales to review panel design and programming

materials. Week of March 1, 2010 Draft Exhibit Text Meeting

Exhibit team finishes draft exhibit text and posts content to the blog for review by March 1. All project participants are responsible for reviewing and editing content on the project blog. A project-wide meeting to review draft text (exhibit and programming, if available) will be held sometime this week.

Week of March 8, 2010 Exhibit Text Due; Programming Meeting

Final exhibit text due to Johnson & Wales designer on March 12.

Week of March 15, 2010 Finalize all text and design

Final editing, typesetting, and approval of exhibit and programming materials design with Creative Services.

March 15 through April 4, 2010 Exhibit Fabrication; Programming Finalization

Fabrication of panels, labels, and features for exhibition at Johnson & Wales.

April 5-14, 2010 Exhibit Installation; Programming Finalization April 15, 2010 Exhibit Opening

Team meets with Richard Gutman to discuss potential for continued programming over the summer.

Finalize all programming components. The programming team will be responsible for planning the opening reception, Installation of exhibition at including community the Johnson & Wales outreach and sending of Museum invitations. Exhibit Opening and Programming Launch at Johnson & Wales

May 15, 2010 Programming Conclusion

Programming team concludes any events related to public programming.

Evidence of Support from Major Contributors Confirmed participation of the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University Contacts: Richard Gutman, Executive Director of the Culinary Arts Museum [email protected]

Erin Williams, Collections Manager of the Culinary Arts Museum [email protected] Evaluation and Documentation Erin Boyle will be documenting the exhibit and programming process through photography and collecting of materials. Meeting minutes and conversations concerning both the exhibit and programming process will be posted on the project blog: http://brownph09.wordpress.com/. In May 2010, all project participants will write short reflections on their participation in “Food on the Move,” including their specific role within the project and feedback on the planning and execution of the exhibit and public programming components. All of these materials will be collected into a portfolio to be presented to JNBC staff. Organizational Plan Project Leaders Sara Emmenecker, Elena Gonzales and Janet Zwolinski Exhibit Team Elena Gonzales, Amy Johnson, Heather Lee, Meghan Townes, Anna Moir and Shana Weinberg Programming Team Krystal Appiah, Erin Boyle, Kathryn Higgins, Lucia Lopez, Adrian Moore, and Kaitlynne Ward Documentarian Erin Boyle Outside Scholars (to be contacted) Matt Garcia – Professor of American Civilization, Brown University Mark Swislocki – Professor of History, Brown University Project Budget Exhibit Expenses Conservation Exhibit Acquisition Fabrication Image Permissions Supplies/Installation TOTAL

In In $6000 $ In $6500

Programming Expenses Advertising Space Cell Phone Tour Film Screening

$1500 In kind (Apple) $ 500

kind (Johnson & Wales University) kind (Johnson & Wales University) 500 kind (Johnson & Wales University)

Graphic Design (website) Project Opening Programming Honoraria Programming Supplies TOTAL

$ 500 $2000 $ 300 $ 200 $5000

Overall Project Expenses Design Printing Publicity Materials

In kind (Johnson & Wales University) $1500 In kind (Johnson & Wales University)

PROJECT TOTAL

$13, 000