The Leonardo is currently hosting the “Dead Sea Scrolls: Life and Faith in Ancient Times,” an exhibit that The Leonardo’s Events Manager Melissa Cecala calls special.
“I am very into experiential education,” says Cecala. “You walk in the doors, and experiential education is everywhere.”
Cecala is also a Salt Lake Community College student getting her events management certification online. Cecala, who also works full-time at The Leonardo, says that her job allows her to research and learn every day.
The Leonardo allows people the space and time to discover what is within the museum’s walls according to Media and Public Relations Coordinator Lisa Davis. The Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit, for example, doesn’t have a docent to lead a tour, but uses a self-directed optional audio guide.
“It’s a living history; you’re living it,” says Cecala.
The exhibit is so extraordinary that a group is coming from Israel to see it. Only 12 other cities in the United States are scheduled to show the exhibit and its artifacts.
“Not even in Israel could you see a display this size,” says Cecala. “Everything is real.”
For students who live in Salt Lake City and may not be able to afford entry, The Leonardo has a grant that allows any resident of the city to get in to the museum for free. Students just need to fill out a simple form at the desk, show either a driver’s license or utility bill with their name and Salt Lake City address, and have an EBT card or proof that their income is below a certain level. The program is available until the grant runs out.
“I love this idea of integration. Inspiring creativity is a big part of our mission,” says Cecala. “We learn better when it’s integrated. I love this whole concept of The Leonardo.”
Follow Shad on Twitter: @Shadexaminer
