Support

The Everything is a Primary Source mindset and method creates a system which preserves the past, encourages dialogue, and produces an interactive learning resource for all.

Media literacy, historical literacy and engagement are routinely referred to as areas with growing deficits among the general public, and among young people in particular. These terms may wash over a good number of people as “edu-speak” buzzwords. However, they are, in fact, important concepts to address in order to support a society where civility, free thinking, and open discourse are the standard. The Everything is a Primary Source (EPS) mindset, method, and project not only advocates for these goals, but provides the activities necessary to meet them.

**The Pop LAB means for participants to** Learn, Archive, and Build with popular culture artifacts, and involves both a fixed space and a mobile exhibit.

Learn

EPS possesses an ever-growing collection of all varieties of media and physical objects which connect to popular culture themes. Participants will be welcome to casually browse and interact with pieces from the collection as they would in a library or reading room. Formal classes on a variety of focuses related to the themes of media, history, and the arts, and for a range of ages, will be offered in the fixed location, using the collection as the basis for content. Smaller, time-contained enrichment activities will be a part of the mobile lab experience.

Archive

This word is used as both a noun and a verb in this instance. The physical lab will contain an archive of media and objects and the website will continue to be an oral history archive. The process of collecting both will involve participants as they will take part in museum and library curation techniques to properly document and organize the materials.

Build

The cornerstone of the EPS Project is media creation, especially audio/podcasts. Both versions of the lab will set aside time for guests to select an artifact that appeals to them and record an oral history conversation which will turn into an episode of the Everything is a Primary Source Podcast. These audio segments will then become the centerpieces of an online archive that can not only be accessed by others, but added onto with more audio, writing, or photography. The labs will also be places of building themed displays collaboratively, as well as creating media individually, using the contents of the collection.

The Pop LAB is ahead of the curve in the realm of student engagement as well as the navigation of media and history for the general public.

Education of all varieties is altering rapidly, with the least-nimble of institutions struggling the most to keep students motivated and educators feeling effective. While the fixed location will serve the Seacoast region of New Hampshire and Southern Maine most directly, the visiting version of EPS can have its impact at schools, libraries, museums and other cultural centers around New England, and beyond. With a network of educators, experts and creatives to work with, certified and experienced social studies teacher Eric Salmonsen will oversee all aspects of this project in order to ensure that it provides a well-rounded learning experience for all who take part.

This project cannot happen without your support.

Individual supporters and organizational sponsors will be helping to fund the leasing of the space needed for a worthwhile archive experience, as well as the work necessary to operate the archive and website, not to mention the production of quality podcasts and videos.

Depending on the size of the gift, contributors will receive:

Thank you messages and promotion on the EPS Podcast and YouTube Videos
Recognition in the Pop LAB by way of signage, advertisement, and having a place to sell products
Cross-linking of websites and social media
Unique pieces from the EPS collection to add to fit your interior design needs