Key West Art & Historical Society presents the first of three monthly Lunchtime Lecture Series on Wednesday, February 17 from 12:00pm-1:00pm at the Custom House Museum on 281 Front Street. The Series will offer attendees a behind the scene’s perspective of The Society’s curatorial department, Curator Cori Convertito’s unique approach to collections management, and how exhibits are created.

The first in the Series features a discussion about the creative process behind the exhibit Bars, Brews & Blues: Carousing in Key West.

“For our series last year, we took a very ‘how to’ approach toward curating,” says Convertito. “This year, I thought we could use a current exhibition as a case study, that way participants can see information and objects in situ. Part of the lecture will be in the Helmerich Research & Learning Center, then attendees will join me in the gallery to see how the components of the Bars, Brews & Blues exhibition came together.”

Created last year in order for KWAHS to highlight their permanent collections and give attendees a behind-the-scenes perspective of the curatorial department, Convertito hopes the program will “demonstrate just how much blood, sweat and tears go into each exhibition and maintaining such a large permanent collection.”

The Society is steward to the historic Fort East Martello Museum, the Lighthouse & Keeper’s Quarters and the Custom House Museum, each with their own permanent collections totaling more than 25,000 objects spanning from artifacts, textiles, paintings, postcards, photographs, ordnance and archives. The Series aims to help highlight the abundant history and cultural assets found in Key West while also supporting the organization in fulfilling their goal of making the collections as accessible as possible.

The following two Lunchtime Lectures will feature “the lasting impact of Tennessee Williams on Key West” and “the role and responsibilities of museums in the community.” Sessions take place the first Wednesday of every month through April, with free entry for members and a ten dollar donation for nonmembers. The Westin’s Bistro 245 offers a 20% discount for all participants after each session. For more information call Cori Convertito, PhD., at 295.6616 x 112 or visit WWW.KWAHS.ORG. Your Museums. Your Community. It Takes an Island.