Georgia Magazine - February 2018 - 25

COURTESY TUBMAN MUSEUM

LOUIS TONSMEIRE

Visitors to the Tubman Museum learn about important historical
figures, such as Jefferson Franklin Long, the first African-American to represent Georgia in the U.S. House of Representatives.

small event with performers performing on the back of a flatbed truck,"
Ambrose says. "So we're treating this
as a way to celebrate this festival's impact and expand the venue so that
we can accommodate larger audiences and [more] vendors."
Attendees can anticipate an
eclectic mix of music genres, including rhythm and blues at the Saturday
night outdoor concert and traditional
gospel at Sunday's Praise Fest, which
last year featured national recording
artist John P. Kee.
A highlight of last year's festival
was an African dance and percussion
troupe from Atlanta that performed
and also taught a dance class in the
museum's rotunda.

The annual Pan African Festival, scheduled for April 28-29 this
year, includes several cultural events, including outdoor concerts.
This year's festival will be held at Central City Park to accommodate the large crowds expected.

"We're one of the few festivals
that has this kind of focus, and it really seems to appeal to people of various backgrounds and ages. We're so
excited about how this has become
a locally important event but [also] a
more regional event, and it's distinctive," Ambrose says.

This way for fun
With grant funding from the
Knight Foundation, the Tubman has
brought back a one-time entertainment go-to: the drive-in. Back Lot
Drive-In at the Tubman presents a
seasonal showcase of historical, family-friendly, free films that moviegoers
view on a large screen on the museum's terrace. Timely for Black History

Month, the museum will show "Hidden Figures," the true story of three
African-American women who were
instrumental in NASA's launch of an
astronaut into orbit, on Feb. 18.
"It's a way to engage people not
only inside but outside the walls of
the museum," Ambrose says. "We're
trying to be a dynamic, social and
cultural entertainment force in downtown Macon. It's challenging, but it's
a lot of fun."

A foundation of education
Whether it's thousands at a festival or a handful touring the museum,
education is at the forefront of all
that the museum offers. Visitors can
become immersed in hands-on activities such as an African drum class,
art class or workshops on specialized
topics.
Last year nearly 30,000 visitors

Upcoming events at the

Tubman Museum

COURTESY TUBMAN MUSEUM

* Second Saturday at the Tubman: Negro
Spirituals Workshop, Feb. 10, 2-3 p.m.
* Back Lot Drive-In at the Tubman:
"Hidden Figures," Feb. 18, 6 p.m.
* African Drumming with Brother
Kwame, March 10, 11 a.m.-noon
* Symbols and Messages Workshop,
April 14, 2-3 p.m.

Schoolchildren check out the artwork at the museum, including the Leo the Lion and Moses
the Leopard sculptures.
February 2018

More online at www.georgiamagazine.org

The Tubman Museum is at
310 Cherry St. in Macon. For more
information, go to tubmanmuseum.com
or call (478) 743-8544.
25

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - February 2018