LACS Starts 2020 Renewed!
BELGIUM, WISCONSIN, DECEMBER 30, 2019. As people sit down this week to plot out their 2020 New Year’s resolutions, the Luxembourg American Cultural Center already has firm plans in place for exciting new improvements in 2020.
Within about the last month, the LACS has rolled out a new logo, a new website, welcomed a new director on-board, and is now gearing up to begin building renovations this month.
Why all the changes? Some are simply due. The website was several years old, as was the logo- it only made sense to update to keep them both fresh and current. They are designed with a crisp, modern feel that celebrates the LACS’s mission of preserving its roots and nurturing its leaves. The colors in the logo reflect the vibrant colors in the Luxembourg flag, with the two-toned leaves reflecting the variety of services offered by the LACS. The font is the same used in the new Luxembourg Fest logo, which was also introduced this year.
With LACS membership having skyrocketed 365% over the past four years, the executive board was compelled to add a second director position to its team. The board worked with former LACS Executive Director, Sara Jacoby, to create a new position of Director of Operations, which will support and complement the Executive Director’s role.
Jacoby was excited to take on the new position, and transitioned to that new role when new Executive Director, Patricia Lutz, was welcomed to the team in the end of November.
Lutz is the former Executive Director of the Washington County Historical Society. In her prior position, her guidance led to the organization receiving millions of dollars in grant money for a variety of needs. She also has proven skills in generating sponsorships, increasing museum attendance and memberships, and reducing operating expenses. Additionally, she has executed a number of successful and unique fundraisers.
LACS Board Chair Steve Befort says, “We are very impressed by her achievements and are excited to have her be a part of our staff.”
The building renovations are an effort to improve the functionality and appearance of the existing Luxembourg American Cultural Center, which was dedicated by the Grand Duke of Luxembourg in 2009.
Renovation highlights include a more modern and airy JB Krier Welcome Center with increased space for events and children’s programming. The Dooley-Wagner Research Center will be more accessible and user-friendly and feature a dedicated research space for genealogists. The gift shop will have a more open and inviting look and feel, and the Acuity Rotating Exhibit area is being upgraded.
Local interior design studio Maven Workshop has created the color palette, which integrates existing colors- warm, earthy neutral browns, balanced by worldly earthen grays, fully contrasted and complimented by strong black elements already present in the building’s architecture throughout. Local company Mueller Construction is managing the building renovations.
During construction, which begins January 6th, the LACS staff will be working and answering phones, but the museum and research center will be closed.
Museum visitors will instead be invited to visit Belgium’s Village Hall across the street, where a special temporary exhibit will be on display at no charge.
The LACS anticipates re-opening by Saturday, March 7th. Donations for this project are currently being accepted, with all renovation donors invited to get the first peek at the finished product at an exclusive grand opening party.