Spark! Places of Innovation

Spark! Places of Innovation is a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program. It features stories from over 30 rural communities across the nation that explore the relationship between place and creativity. For every community, there is a unique combination of history, resources, leadership, collaboration, and opportunity that resulted in invention and innovation—socially, artistically, technologically, or culturally. 

 

New Hampshire Humanities (NHH) is partnering with Vermont Humanities and the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program to bring Spark! Places of Innovation to six small towns in New Hampshire and Vermont from June 2026 – March 2027. Three towns in each state will host the exhibit for just under six weeks each, with support from their state humanities council. 

Call for Proposals 

NHH seeks proposals from organizations based in rural towns in NH to host Spark! and develop programming that will build on, expand, or create local partnerships and encourage community members’ involvement in the exhibition. The Spark! exhibit is most powerful when the local community plans, shapes, and implements the exhibit, defining what the project means to them.  

NHH will award $3,000 in grant funds to each host site to support exhibition and programming costs, in addition to contributing to or covering exhibit transportation (depending on amount).  NHH will also provide appropriate capacity-building resources (workshops, consultations with experts, monthly meetings with other host sites) for host organizations. 

Please read on to learn more about the exhibit and the application process.  

Spark! Places of Innovation Overview

Spark! Places of Innovation builds upon the invaluable assets of rural towns and offers residents and visitors the opportunity to reflect upon innovations from the past and present in their communities. The exhibit explores the combinations of places, people, and circumstances that spark innovation and invention in rural communities. Inspired by an exhibition by the National Museum of American History, the exhibit features stories gathered from diverse communities across the nation. Photographs, objects, videos, and augmented reality reveal the leaders, challenges, successes, and future of innovation in each town. 

Successful hosts will make Spark! Places of Innovation a springboard for local programming in the humanities, sciences, and arts. Residents and visitors will be inspired to learn about how innovation has shaped their own communities and how they may be innovators themselves. Community members will come together in conversation about their history, present, and future. 

 

Organizing Themes 

The exhibit is organized into topics that explore innovation in rural America: 

  • Social innovation 
  • Artistic innovation 
  • Technological innovation 
  • Cultural heritage innovation 

 

Applicants will choose 1-3 themes to highlight in their own programming.  

 

Exhibit Guiding Questions 

  •  Despite the uniqueness of every situation, there are some common characteristics across communities that foster innovation. These characteristics can translate anywhere. Four of the most important characteristics are: at least one creative leader, a spirit of collaboration and flexibility, willingness to take risks, and a source of funding. Think about your town’s story. Do any of these characteristics resonate with you? 
  • Rural towns may face social issues such as access to healthcare, an aging population or immigration, advances in or lack of access to technology, or a shifting job market. Has your town faced any of these challenges and changed them into opportunities? 
  • Through the arts and humanities, community members can celebrate local heritage and stories, bring people together through common interests, change the physical landscape of a community, and foster new relationships among all community members, even across divides. How do the arts or humanities play into the social fabric of your community? Do you think your community values the arts—public art, performance art, music, or beautification efforts? Do you think the community values the humanities - history, literature, or ethical living?  In what ways do you think art or the humanities can help remake a town? 
  • Behind every inventor, there is a community fueling their work with resources, knowledge-sharing, and even inspiration. The relationship between a place and technological innovators is consequential. Is your community home to an innovative company? What assets does your town bring to the table? 
  • A sense of place is often at the heart of innovation through cultural heritage in rural America. Innovation through heritage recognizes shared history or practices and reinforces the bonds of a community. Some communities in the exhibit saw the strength in their customs, places, diversity, and values to chart a path forward. How might culture, identity, traditions, and history in your town be used for innovation? 

Resources and Planning Materials 

 

Program Inspiration 

Learn about the Citizen Innovation game that accompanies the exhibit: Citizen Innovation Game 

Instructions for Design Around Town board games that accompanies the exhibit: Design Around Town 

Inspiration for how to engage youth in community innovation: Youth Innovation in Rural America Toolkit 

Explore the exhibit from a docent’s perspective: Docent Guide 

 

Explore Previous Museum on Main Street Exhibitions in NH 

Jefferson Historical Society 

Museum of the White Mountains 

River Valley Community College 

 

Upcoming Innovation-themed NHH Programming  

Humanities to Go programs: more information coming soon! 

Perspectives Book Groups: more information coming soon! 

Host Sites & Partner Organizations

Host Town 

Museum on Main Street (MoMS) exhibitions from the Smithsonian have been designed specifically for use in small towns and in rural communities. The Smithsonian ideal is a town of 3500 residents or less.  However, NHH will accept applications from larger towns who identify the ways in which, while they are larger in population, they are still rural or more isolated, or who agree to work with surrounding smaller communities to co-program with them.   

 

Host Organizations 

Host organizations can vary with each town, and are often (but not always) one of the following: 

  • Museums 
  • Libraries 
  • Historical societies 
  • Colleges or universities 

NHH will accept applications from other non-profit or municipal entities.  Businesses interested in bringing the exhibit to their town are encouraged to work with a local non-profit or to contact us directly with your interest. 

 

Exhibit Location 

The applicant organization does not have to serve as the exhibit location. Your organization may choose to host the exhibit at a more suitable location, such as the options listed below. Please thoroughly review the “Logistics” section to make sure your exhibit space is appropriate. 

  • Town hall 
  • Meeting space 
  • Storefront 
  • Gymnasium 
  • Church 

 

Partner Organizations 

Hosts are required to identify at least three community partner organizations with whom to collaborate on programming. At least two organizations, along with letters of support from each, must be submitted with the application. The third organization may be identified later, with assistance from NHH if desired.  You are encouraged to be creative in identifying partners that either fit with the theme or will provide opportunities to draw broader audiences that reflect the full diversity of your community’s residents. 

 

Examples of community partner organizations may include: 

  • Arts organizations 
  • Historical societies 
  • Schools 
  • Youth groups like 4-H or Scouts 
  • A community center 
  • Chambers of commerce 
  • Libraries 
  • Companies embedded in the community 
  • Clubs or Makerspaces focused on innovation 
Logistics

Tour Dates 

The exhibit will be touring in New Hampshire from the start of November 2026 to the end of March 2027. Each town will host the exhibit for just under six weeks. 

 

Exhibit Specifications and Space Requirements 

  • There are seven free-standing sections to the exhibit. 
  • It includes object cases of various sizes, with mechanical, tactile, and low-tech interactives (ways to touch or interact with the exhibit), as well as elements that interact with provided devices (tablets) or personal phones. 

 

  • The Installation requires 700 square feet of space 
  • Minimum ceiling height: 8 feet 
  • Power requirements:  
  • Access to electricity and 5 extension cords required 
  • Table space and an additional outlet are needed at a staffed desk for provided interactive devices 

 

  • Exhibit space must be clean, cool (no more than 75 degrees), and dry. 
  • Exhibit space must be accessible for the general public and spacious enough to accommodate ADA spacing (36” between displays and walls). 
  • Exhibit must be displayed out of direct sunlight. 

 

  • Exhibit is packed in 11 wheeled crates that fit on a 26-foot U-Haul truck 
  • Crates weigh between 150-450 lbs each 
  • Trucks require ramp or lift gate 
  • Plan to use accessibility ramps or elevators  
  • Doors need to be at least 82” high - including elevator doors, if necessary 

 

Please examine and measure all parts of proposed sites.  NHH staff may conduct on-site visits as part of the application process to ensure proposed sites meet the Smithsonian’s requirements.  

 

Transportation: 

Host sites are responsible for coordinating transport to the next location. Professional movers are recommended. Transport of the crates – whether empty or full - must be in a covered vehicle and all crates must always be secured. Host sites may have contacts they have used previously, which is excellent. If needed, NHH can recommend movers who worked with a previous Smithsonian exhibit in the state.  

 

Installation: 

Installation and deinstallation require at least 4 people and 3-6 hours.  NH host sites will be required to attend an installation workshop at the first host site in Vermont.  We encourage NH hosts to help with NH installations and deinstallations; all previous hosts indicated this makes the process much easier.  

 

Storage: 

The crates must be stored in a cool, dry, safe, secure area while the exhibit is on display. Minimum space required is 200 sq ft. They are not required to be stored on-site. 

 

Staffing: 

The exhibit must be staffed at all times it is open to the public. Host sites can use paid staff or volunteers, who may also serve as exhibit docents but are not required to. 

Criteria and Responsibilities

Host Organization Responsibilities 

Community partners: Partner with at least 3 community organizations to host the exhibition and related programming. 

Public programming:  

  • Attend planning workshops hosted by NHH, tentatively planned for March 2026. 
  • Host at least two humanities based public events OR one public event and one public project that explores a Spark! theme at the local, community level.  
    • Public event examples: 
      • Lecture 
      • Book discussion 
      • Walking tour 
      • Film viewing and discussion 
    • Public project examples: 
      • Working with local students or residents to share their memories of the community 
      • Collaborating with area historical societies to produce an accompanying exhibit of local artifacts  
      • Collaborating with a makerspace or robotics club to enable visitors to innovate and then share those innovations with the larger community.

The possibilities here are extensive – bring your community’s creativity to bear. 

Installation:  

  • Attend an installation workshop in June 2026 (will be held at the first host site in Vermont). 
  • Be responsible for installing and deinstalling the exhibit at your host site. 

Transport: Be responsible for arranging transportation of the exhibit to the next host site.  

Staffing: Ensure the exhibition is staffed during its visit. 

Reporting:  

  • Provide NHH with a draft exhibition plan and draft budget 6 months before the exhibit opens at their location. 
  • Provide NHH with a detailed exhibition plan and comprehensive budget 3 months before the exhibit opens at their location. 
  • Provide NHH with a public event list 45 days before the exhibit opens at their location. 
  • Submit a final report and final financial records to NHH no later than 7 days after the exhibit closes, and meet with NHH staff virtually to follow up on the report. 

 

New Hampshire Humanities Responsibilities 

NHH will: 

  • Provide $3,000 in grant funds to the host organization to support exhibit-related and programming costs. 
  • Provide financial support for exhibit transport to the next site.  
  • Work with host sites to identify opportunities within the organization and provide resources to support organizational capacity building. 
  • Work with host sites (if desired) to help identify partners and programming options. 
  • Host program planning workshops for all local host sites, 9 to 6 months prior to the exhibition opening. 
  • Co-host an installation workshop for all participating organizations at the first host site in Vermont. 
  • Publicize all Spark! host sites and related programming though NHH networks and communication channels. 
  • Host a monthly meeting of site hosts to share questions and hard-won wisdom. 
  • Pay the Smithsonian exhibition fee to bring Spark! to New Hampshire. 
  • Collect final report, publicity, and evaluation information from all NH host sites. 
  • Collate and submit final reports and financials to the Smithsonian. 

  

Smithsonian Responsibilities 

The Smithsonian will: 

  • Provide marketing and publicity materials including a national press release, digital logos and images of exhibition, news release templates for local use, two multi-colored outdoor banners with state council name, docent guides, comment cards, and posters for each venue. 
  • Provide educational materials including a docent training guide and links to educational resources. 
  • Arrange for transport of exhibit to first host site and from last host site.