The Fashion Archives & Museum of Shippensburg University (FA&M) was awarded a $40,000 grant from the Coby Foundation, Ltd. in New York City. With the grant, procured with the assistance of the Shippensburg University Foundation, the FA&M can hire a professional exhibit designer for its next exhibit, slated to open on April 14, 2018.
“The Coby Foundation is pleased to award the Fashion Archives and Museum of Shippensburg University a grant for its upcoming exhibition `The Fashions of Fiction from Pamela to Gatsby.’ It’s a novel approach to exhibit historical fashions, and is likely to attract a new audience to its gallery. The Foundation was happy to direct funds to this installation so that future exhibitions can benefit from the improvements,” said Ward L. E. Mintz, Coby Foundation executive director.
Dr. Karin Bohleke, FA&M director, co-wrote the grant with FA&M advisory council member Colleen Callahan of the Costume and Textile Specialists. According to Bohleke, this is the first grant of its kind for the FA&M and the first opportunity to hire a professional exhibit designer. “The choice of Charles Mack of Baltimore, Maryland, was a natural one,” explained Bohleke. “He brings great talent, enthusiasm, and broad experience and has a sensitivity toward the needs of historic textiles. In addition, he is excited to work with Ship students in order to expose them to the museum design process, which is a fantastic addition to the Applied History curriculum. We are so lucky to have him on board for this project.”
