The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (BCRI) has been named an affiliate to the Smithsonian Institution. The BCRI learned of the acceptance in May; they will be receiving a certificate recognizing the association next week during a reception at the Institute.

The Smithsonian’s Affiliations Program allows participating institutions to borrow artifacts from the Institution’s collection It also allows them to take advantage of the Smithsonian’s educational resources and expertise in the areas of conservation, collections care and exhibition development. 

The official kickoff of their partnership will not be until September, when BCRI will take part in Museum Day 2007. This nationwide event, to be held on September 29, provides free admission to Smithsonian Magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors to participating museums and cultural institutions across the country. BCRI is also, incidentally, one of several local cultural attractions taking part in Member Day this coming Saturday throughout metro Birmingham.

The announcement now gives Alabama three affiliates to our nation’s museum (the others are the U.S. Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville and the Anniston Museum of Natural History. The entire Smithsonian affiliate network includes 153 museums, cultural and educational organizations in 39 states, the District of Columbia, Panama and Puerto Rico.