The Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street, in cooperation with New Hampshire Humanities, presents “Crossroads: Change in Rural America.” The exhibition examining the evolving landscape of rural America opens at River Valley Community College on October 14, 2024. “Crossroads” will be on view through December 13, 2024. River Valley Community College and the surrounding community has been expressly
chosen by New Hampshire Humanities to host “Crossroads” as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations.

Holiday Hours:

Closed: November 27-29, 2024

Closed: December 24, 2024 – January 1, 2025 

Round Table Discussion: Challenges in Achieving Full Employment

Creative Industry Round Table Discussion

Schedule of Events

Wednesday, October 23, 2024  Time: 1-2pm
Crossroads Opening Reception – Help us celebrate the opening of Crossroads: Change in Rural America and the complimenting exhibits in the library and gallery. Light refreshments will be served.

October 14 – December 13, 2024 Time: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-4pm; Tue, Thurs 9am-9pm
Selections from the Claremont Historical Society – The Claremont Historical Society will present a curated selection of objects to coincide with the Crossroads exhibit. Visitors can view various artifacts and documents that relate to Claremont’s agricultural, industrial and educational history.

October 14, 2024 – January 10, 2025: Mon, Wed, Fri 9am-4pm; Tue, Thurs 9am-9pm
A Sense of Place: Community Art Show – A  visual essay that tells the story of a rural community in transition.  Regional artists reflect on what “rural America” means to them. Historical images from Claremont Opera House and Claremont Makerspace will be on view.

Wednesday, October 30, 2024: 1-2pm 
Educating the Workforce: Molding Critical Thinkers in Rural America – What are some of the key issues facing educators and employers in rural communities? Join panelists for an in-depth conversation about preparing students for entering the workforce in our region.

Thursday, November 7, 2024: 12-1pm
Creative Industry Roundtable –
Join local artists, Claremont Makerspace members, business leaders and RVCC students in this lively roundtable to discuss how to leverage local resources and build a network to create and grow your own creative enterprise.

Wednesday, November 20, 2024: 12-1pm
Challenges in Achieving Full Employment: Diversity, Recruitment, Retention –
In this discussion, a panel of community stakeholders examines some of the challenges in developing and maintaining a robust workforce in a rural community.

Exhibit open October 14 - December 13th
The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service.
Selections from Claremont Historical Society
Claremont Historical Society will present a curated selection of objects to coincide with the Crossroads exhibit. View various artifacts and documents that relate to Claremont’s agricultural, industrial and educational history.
A Sense of Place
Community Art Show. In addition, The Claremont Makerspace and Claremont Opera House will present a series of historic photographs that show the evolution of these two creative pillars of the community.
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The exhibition examining the evolving landscape of rural America opens at River Valley Community College on October 14,
2024. “Crossroads” will be on view through December 13, 2024. Americans have relied on rural crossroads for generations. These places where people gather to exchange goods, services and culture and to engage in political and community discussions are an important part of our cultural fabric. Despite the massive economic  and demographic impacts brought on by these changes, America’s small towns continue to
creatively focus on new opportunities for growth and development.

For inquiries contact Eric Sutphin, Project Coordinator at [email protected] or (603) 543-4505