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US$4m has been gifted to the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, with the funding being used to explore American history through the ‘all-encompassing lens of food’
Lauren Heath-Jones | Planet Attractions | 28 Jun 2021
The Smithsonian’s American Food History project explores the nation’s history with food and drink Credit: Canva
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History has started the search for a curator of food and wine history, following a significant donation to explore the history of the subject in the US.
Celebrated winemakers Warren and Barbara Winiarski, and their charity; the Winiarski Family Foundation, have gifted US$4m (€3.35m, £2.8m) to the museum in support of its American Food History project - an initiative exploring America’s history “one bite at a time”.
The donation comes some 25 years after the family provided the initial funding for the project, which began as a research and collecting initiative for the history of viniculture - wine and winemaking - in the US.
The new position, dubbed the ‘Winiarski curator of food and wine history’, is a permanent role that will ensure the continuation of the museum’s research into food and beverage history, as well as support its acquisition, exhibition and programming initiatives.
"We’re so very grateful to the Winiarskis for their vision of documenting the impact of viniculture and the evolution of American winemaking and accompanying food culture to ensure its central place in US history," said Anthea Hartig, the museum's director.
“Their support over the decades and this generous bequest will sustain and enhance the nuanced and central place of food and wine history for the benefit of our many audiences."
Food funding for the future
To further support the curatorial position, the museum is launching the ‘25 at 25 Initiative: Food Fund for the Future’ - a scheme aiming to secure 25 gifts of US$25,000 (€21,000, £18,000) to fund the programme.
In addition to funding programming, research and collecting projects, the 25 at 25 Initiative will also create new opportunities for the museum to work with individuals and communities on documenting, collecting and presenting food history to wider audiences.
The museum has already secured a lead donation for the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts. The gift commemorates another foundational milestone in the museum's exploration of food history; the acquisition of Julia Child's kitchen. The kitchen, which was acquired in the early 2000s, is central to the museum's "Food: Transforming the American Table" exhibition.
Barbara and Warren Winiarski with a display of 1976 Judgment of Paris winning wines CREDIT: RICHARD STRAUSS/THE SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AMERICAN HISTORY
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