Dear Branch Friends and Supporters, Things are still quiet at The Branch, just as they are throughout Richmond and the rest of the country. While we’ve been quarantined, our staff has been trying to envision what ‘normal’ will look like in a post-pandemic world and to plan for that future. What we expect is that things will look and feel very different than they did before the shutdown.  We know that as the permitted size of public gatherings is allowed to grow, we will be crazy-busy on fall and winter weekends with weddings that have been postponed from spring and summer moving into fall. We believe that smaller weddings may grow in popularity, and John is preparing a “Small Wedding Package” for the couple who have decided that 10 – 30 people total sounds just perfect.  We think that by July and August some of you will be interested in small camps that meet health guidelines, so Stephanie is working on a plan for 4 camps of no more than 10 kids. She’s working through the protocols now, so see below and send her an email if you are interested, or check it out on the website. We’ve decided that rather than postpone the Brunch at The Branch again, we are cancelling the 2020 Brunch. Emily and I will be working on planning for the 2021 Brunch where we will recognize winners from both 2020 and 2021. We do hope, though, that we will be able to have another Holiday Party, and we’ve put a tentative date of December 18 on the calendar, in the hope that we can make that happy event happen. Exhibitions and programs are in a bit of a jumble at the moment, as some exhibits had to be postponed, and we are juggling those with future dates. John and I are working to get it all together and get a schedule out once we have the governor’s guidelines for reopening.   In the meantime, we have a fun project that’s about to be unveiled in our front Courtyard and an upcoming Richmond museum treasure hunt that we hope to send out next week.    Stay safe, and know that we are all looking forward to seeing you again!

Penelope C. Fletcher Executive Director

As the summer approaches, we are hopeful that we will still be able to operate our museum as usual and offer a modified slate of seasonal programming, including sessions of our Architecture Camp. Our regi stration is still open, and we have posted an  FAQ page   specifically for Architecture Camp on our website that outlines the precautions we’ll be taking to keep our campers and staff safe. If you and your family are looking for a great opportunity for your rising 3rd through 8th graders to explore architecture and design, please visit our  website , or contact Stephanie Burr, The Branch Museum’s Education Manager, at  education@branchmuseum.org

New from our Education Department!   Check out what Education Manager Stephanie Burr has been up to! Motif Mondays highlight the Branch House, while Storytime Tuesdays introduce kids to great books about architecture, engineering, and the built environment. If you have suggestions for other books for Stephanie to explore, please email her at education@branchmuseum.org.

Motif Monday:  Join us on our Facebook or Instagram page for Motif Monday, a once-a-week series highlighting a motif, or decorative design or element, found in our incredible Branch House. We hope they bring your Monday mornings a little aesthetic cheer and tide you over until you can visit us once again in person!

Storytime Tuesday:   Families, kids, and children's book fans of all ages are invited to join us on Facebook Live on the first and third Tuesday of the month at 11:00 a.m. for Storytime Tuesday! Every other week, The Branch Museum's Education Manager will read a critically acclaimed selection that captures the imagination and the essence of inspired building. Check out our Facebook event page for the dates and which books we’ll be reading. We hope to see you there!

3rd Annual BMAD Design Contest Winner Constructs Trojan Horse

Ed Pokoj is an artist living in Richmond, Virginia.  Ed's work is often playful and vibrant while exploring different techniques and media ranging from illustrations for children's literature to larger than life puppets.  Ed chose to take on the 2020 BMAD project as an opportunity to work on a larger scale than he had worked than he had worked in before. The design itself, a take on the Trojan Horse, had its own specific points that Ed found particularly interesting: creating a giant sculpture that could move within the space of the Branch Museum courtyard, and to build a horse out of bamboo gathered in Richmond. This task to some may sound like an impossible task, but as Walt Disney once said, "It's kind of fun to do the impossible."

The Branch Museum of Architecture and Design 2501 Monument Avenue Richmond, VA 23220 (804) 655-6055 frontdesk@branchmuseum.org www.branchmuseum.org

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