‘Manchester Museums’ to highlight diversity of city’s cultural attractions

MANCHESTER, NH — Four museums are better than one!

That’s the thinking behind an effort by four Manchester-area institutions to work together to promote the diversity of cultural institutions in the state’s largest city.

The Currier Museum of Art, SEE Science Center, Manchester Historic Association, and the Aviation Museum of N.H. will this month launch a “Manchester Museums” collaboration.

The effort includes a new “portal” website at manchestermuseumsnh.org with information and links to each of the four institutions, plus printed marketing materials, a new logo for the shared effort, and promotional items to help visitors and long-time residents explore the area’s cultural attractions.

Greater Manchester is a vibrant center for business and industry due in part to the area’s quality of life, said Shana Hawrylchak, executive director of the SEE Science Center, one of the four participating organizations.

“One reason for that is the area’s cultural institutions, which offer programs and exhibits year round that bring people together, provide families opportunities for shared experiences, and help residents get the most out of living in southern New Hampshire,” Hawrylchak said.

The ‘Manchester Museums’ partnership will be launched at a press conference and ribbon-cutting scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. at the Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce, 54 Hanover St., Manchester, N.H. The public is invited.

“Cultural institutions are the heartbeat of a city’s economy, weaving creativity and heritage into the fabric of daily life, driving tourism, innovation, and community growth,” said Heather McGrail, President and CEO, Greater Manchester Chamber, which helped facilitate the joint promotional effort.

“Collaborations such as Manchester Museums certainly magnify the impact, fostering a richer and more dynamic ecosystem that enhances the quality of life in the region. It is wonderful to see the phenomenal museums of Manchester uniting forces and supporting each other,” McGrail said.

The effort is funded by shared contributions from each of the four institutions. Also contributing to the effort was Cookson Communications of Manchester, N.H.

The four institutions are launching the campaign in advance of a special distinction for the city. In November, 2025, Manchester will host the annual convention of the New England Museum Association, the region’s largest organization of museum professionals and related businesses.

“Hosting NEMA’s annual convention is a real honor for the city, and we wanted to join together to put our best foot forward for this major upcoming event,” said Jeff Barraclough, executive director of the Manchester Historic Association.

City officials applauded the effort to highlight Manchester’s cultural attractions.

“Our cultural institutions represent Manchester’s heart and soul. We’re so fortunate to have several gems where art, vision and history are on display,” said Jay Ruais, Mayor, City of Manchester.

“A trip to a museum provides fun and enlightenment as well as a boost to our regional economy and quality of life. I am delighted by the launch of the ‘Manchester Museums,’ an initiative that will help highlight the diversity of cultural offerings right here in the state’s largest city,” Ruais said.

The four institutions participating in ‘Manchester Museums’ are:

The Currier Museum of Art, 150 Ash St., Manchester, N.H. (currier.org) connects art with diverse audiences, from its neighborhood to international and digital visitors, and embraces regional new museum-goers and under-served communities.

The SEE Science Center, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, N.H. (see-sciencecenter.org) is a welcoming space where all generations can play, explore together, and discover our world and one another with fun, memorable science-based experiences.

The Millyard Museum, 200 Bedford St., Manchester, N.H. is operated by the Manchester Historic Association (manchesterhistoric.org), which collects, preserves, and shares the city’s history, and offers a wide variety of public and school programs.

The Aviation Museum of N.H., 27 Navigator Road, Londonderry, N.H. (aviationmuseumofnh.org) offers public programs and exhibits celebrating the history and science of flight, with a special focus on introducing young people to aviation and aerospace.

Each of the four institutions supporting the ‘Manchester Museums’ effort is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization offering public programs, activities, and exhibits on a year-round basis.

For more information about the ‘Manchester Museums’ group promotional effort, visit www.manchestermuseums.org or contact Jeff Rapsis, executive director, Aviation Museum of N.H. at (603) 236-9237 or via email at jrapsis@nhahs.org.