The Philomath Museum will host a May 7 lecture featuring Benton County Historical Society’s curator of exhibitions, who will explore how museums serve as more than just repositories of objects — and why that distinction matters for communities.
Natascha Adams will present “Museums: A Place and a Practice” at 10:30 a.m. Thursday. The talk will examine how museums and history organizations help communities document diverse experiences, navigate complex issues and foster meaningful public dialogue.
With the BCHS, Adams leads story-driven gallery programs at both the Philomath and Corvallis museums. She holds a master’s degree in museum studies and brings a background in archaeology, nonprofit leadership and community engagement to her work.
In the lecture, Adams will draw on examples from her experience in Oregon museums to highlight how storytelling and interpretation can strengthen civic connection and community identity. Her approach to the work is informed in part by an international upbringing and a family history of migration, which she has said shapes her commitment to themes of belonging and connecting past and present.
Organizers said registration is preferred and available online on the event’s webpage.