Malliotakis Announces Voice & Votes Smithsonian Exhibit is Coming to Staten Island's Alice Austen House

(STATEN ISLAND, NY) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis today announced that that the Voices and Votes: Democracy in America exhibit from the Smithsonian Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) will be making its next stop in Staten Island and will be on view at Alice Austen House from December 27, 2024, to February 7, 2025. The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the SITES, state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions.

Voices and Votes is adapted from the exhibition American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. This traveling exhibition includes many of the same dynamic features: historical and contemporary photographs; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives, and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest material.

"With the United States approaching its 250th anniversary, this traveling exhibit focused on our country's upbringing is the perfect way for our community to learn more about our Democratic process," said Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis. "I've been proud to work with the Smithsonian to bring the Trump-authorized Women's History Museum to the National Mall, and I encourage everyone to visit the Alice Austen House while this exhibit is on display to reflect on the foundations of our nation and the progress we've made to build a government that represents the diverse voices of the American people."

"The Alice Austen House is looking forward to collaborating on this project," said Alice Austen House Executive Director Victoria Munro. "It allows us to develop complementary programming that celebrates Alice Austen's role in organizing and community building while also recognizing the contributions of other women, both from her time and throughout history, to the advancement of American democracy."

Voices and Votes exhibition themes include:

• the principles and events that inspired the writers of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution;
• the struggle for voting rights and equal participation in our democracy; 
• freedoms and responsibilities of citizens; 
• the formal and informal processes of our political systems;
• music, performance, and visual arts as expressions of democracy;
• protest and actions beyond the ballot including civil rights movements and the struggles of historically marginalized people;
• and engaging new American citizens.

Learn more about the Voice and Votes exhibition HERE

Learn more about the Alice Austen House HERE