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Oshkosh Public Museum presents centennial programming, NAGPRA work and gallery upgrades in 2025 budget
Summary
Museum staff summarized centennial exhibitions, a new rotating gallery, preservation work on Tiffany interiors, and a Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) collections assistant in the operating and collections funds for 2025.
The Oshkosh Public Museum detailed its 2025 operating and collections budgets at the Nov. 5 workshop, highlighting centennial programming, a new flexible gallery and stepped‑up curatorial and collections stewardship work — including NAGPRA compliance.
Why it matters: The museum cares for rare historic interiors and public collections, and staff asked for funding to support conservation, a collections assistant to address NAGPRA documentation and culturally informed care, and a push to increase front‑of‑house revenue through a refreshed membership and retail program.
Highlights presented
- Exhibitions and facilities: The museum completed a renovation of its second‑floor Waldwick Gallery; the inaugural exhibit will reopen Nov. 9 with an encore of an award‑winning Helen Farnsworth Mears show. Staff noted freight‑door installation, masonry repairs, a security camera upgrade and design work for new exterior signage. - Collections and stewardship: The museum launched a funded Collections Assistant LTE role to update records and support compliance with NAGPRA following recent federal updates; staff emphasized culturally informed care for Native American collections. - Tiffany interiors and donor support: The museum continued outreach to build Wisteria Circle donor support for the rare Tiffany interiors in the historic Sawyer home. Staff said OPM’s Sawyer/Tiffany interior represents one of only two original Tiffany studio interior commissions and emphasized the need for ongoing conservation and interpretation. - Education and outreach: The museum reported about 700 admission‑free field trips for Oshkosh Area School District students during the 2023–24 year, strengthened Dia de los Muertos programming with bilingual outreach, and will bring back the popular Historic House Hop in 2025.
Budget notes and requests
- Staff asked for continued funding from the MAC board for a visitor‑services position (no levy impact) and minor equipment for conservation work; the museum seeks consultant help to redevelop its membership program and to increase marketing to boost admissions and store revenue. - Staff said admissions and shop sales lagged while the second floor was closed; museum leaders plan stepped marketing to recover revenue once the Waldwick Gallery reopens.
What leaders said
Teresa Books (museum administrative assistant) and museum staff described the centennial year activities and emphasized the museum’s stewardship responsibilities and the need for funding for conservation and culturally sensitive collections care.
Next steps
Staff will continue design work for long‑term exhibitions and to test donor and membership strategies; the MAC board has approved some personnel support and staff said they will present updates to council as needed.
