Lindsay Huban, executive director of the Henry B. Plant Museum, has crea-ted a variety of programs and exhibits at the Plant Museum, focusing on diverse storytelling and reaching new audiences to ensure economic stability and prosperity for the organization.
Please tell us about the Plant Museum’s upcoming programs for summer 2024.
We recently opened a fascinating new exhibit, “Imperfect Harmony: Man, Machine and Music at the Tampa Bay Hotel.”
This exhibit explores how technological innovation impacted musicians and community gatherings at the Tampa Bay Hotel. We are offering an unprecedented opportunity to examine rare mechanical instruments such as an automatic violin player, a cylinder music box from the 1893 Columbian Exposition, and an authentic M. Welte and Söhne concert orchestrion.
As we consider today how artificial intelligence impacts artistic production, this exhibit allows us to consider the historical roots of this conflict. I encourage everyone to come see the exhibit and enjoy accompanying programs throughout the year.
How do the Henry B. Plant Museum and cultural institutions contribute to cultural tourism and the overall cultural landscape of our region?
The Tampa Bay region has an incredibly vibrant cultural tourism scene. There are so many museums, festivals, performances and public art installations that there really is something for everyone who visits. Cultural tourism is a huge economic driver, and a recent economic impact study showed that in Hillsborough County, the economic impact of arts and culture organizations was over $387 million!
The density of arts organizations and the prevalence of arts events play a role in attracting residents and businesses to (re)locate into a community by improving its image and making it more appealing. Where do you see the Plant Museum in this equation?
Countless surveys demonstrate that museums and the arts are educational assets that contribute economic benefits to their communities. We are fortunate to have world-class arts organizations in our local area – and that collaborations between these organizations are frequent. As our population continues to grow, we work together to ensure that new and longtime residents have a plethora of arts activities, exhibits and events to enjoy.
How do you believe the Plant Museum influences individuals and communities?
The Henry B. Plant Museum has a positive influence on the lives of individuals in our community. We offer excellent exhibits that tell local stories, a wide variety of educational and entertaining programming and opportunities for all to be involved at the museum.
Visiting our events, like the Victorian Christmas Stroll and Picnic in the Park, are a tradition for many friends and families, and we love seeing groups make memories together in the museum. We are proud to be a Blue Star Museum, offer free admission passes through our local libraries and welcome scores of school field trips each year. Helping our community connect with and understand our shared history is at the heart of all we do.
Can you share a lesser-known, however important, fact about the Plant Museum?
The Henry B. Plant Museum is one of the oldest museums in our area! We are celebrating our 90th anniversary all year long, with a variety of specialty tours, events, exhibits and more.
