On behalf of the ISHA Board, we’d like to thank the Motorsports Hall of Fame of America for hosting the 2023 ISHA Conference in Daytona Beach, FL at the end of September. A huge thank you to our sponsors Cortina Productions, CambridgeSeven, EOS Light Media and session sponsors HealyKohler Design and Pinpoint.
Here are some highlights from our time in Daytona Beach!
The International Sports Heritage Association has over 130 institutions located in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia that can call themselves members. In addition, various corporations and individuals participate in and contribute to the growth of the International Sports Heritage Association (or ISHA for shorthand) as Associate Members. These dedicated individuals and member institutions make up the backbone of a strong organization with a spirited competition that naturally occurs in and around athletics.
The ISHY Awards program was established to provide recognition for excellence in publications and exhibitions by all member sports museums, halls of fame, or sports heritage organizations, based upon a competition evaluated by a panel of ISHA Officers and organizational members. We split each category into three depending on their organizational budget for Small Organizations, Mid-Size Organizations, and Large Organizations. Here is a look at this year’s winners:
Books
Interpreting Sports at Museums and Historic Sites
Interpretingsports.com
Small Organizations category
Publications
2022 Little League World Series 75th LLWS program
World of Little League Museum
Mid-Size Organizations category
Marketing Materials
Capital Campaign Booklet
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
Mid-size Organizations category
President’s Circle Brick Campaign
USGA
Large Organizations category
Marketing Material – Audio/Video
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Television Special
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
Small Organizations category
The 75th Little League World Series
World of Little League Museum
Mid-Size Organizations category
Final Four Breakfast
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Large Organizations category
Marketing Material – Social Media Campaign
#LLWS75 Celebrating the 75th Little League Baseball® World Series
World of Little League Museum
Mid-Size Organizations category
We Back Pat
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Large Organizations category
Educational Programming
Hero Chats
Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame
Mid-Size Organizations category
Induction/Annual Event Supporting Materials
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2022 Printed Program
Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame
Small Organizations category
Induction 2022
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Large Organizations category
New Exhibit: Under $50,000 US
A Diamond Anniversary: A Celebration of 75 Years of the Little League Baseball World Series
World of Little League Museum
Mid-Size Organizations category
Anatomy of a Sailboat
The Sailing Museum
Large Organizations category
New Exhibit: $50,000-$250,000 US
Barrier Breakers Traveling Exhibit
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum
Large Organizations category
New Video/Digital Exhibit or Content: Over $7,000 US
Regal Partnership
Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame
Large Organizations category
The International Sports Heritage Association is a non-profit membership organization incorporated in 1971. The mission of ISHA is to educate, promote and support organizations and individuals engaged in the celebration of sports heritage. For more information about ISHA, visit www.sportsheritage.org.
We are thrilled to offer an exciting opportunity to showcase the remarkable Play Hard, Fight Hard: Sport & The Canadian Military bilingual pop-up travelling exhibit. Displaying fourteen sports played by civilian and military teams that represent athletes from the 1880s to the present day, this exhibit takes you back in time to meet outstanding individuals who left an indelible mark in Canadian sport history.
Allow visitors to explore the transformative impact of the Soldier On program, delve into the origins of the Paralympic Games, and witness the resilience and courage of athletes who participated in the Invictus Games. The exhibit also houses 20 captivating videos, featuring engaging oral histories and remarkable Second World War newsreel footage.
We are pleased to offer you the opportunity to host this exciting exhibit at 3 week intervals at your sport hall of fame or museum from January to August 2024. With the exhibit’s bilingual nature, visitors from diverse backgrounds can immerse themselves in the compelling stories of courage and dedication.
We understand the logistical challenges museums might face in hosting exhibits, and we’ve got you covered! Take advantage of possible complimentary transportation offered to most Canadian locations by our major transportation partner, making it easier for you to share this exceptional experience with your community.
Honour the legacy of extraordinary athletes and the impact of sports on Canadian military history. Reserve your spot today and let these captivating stories inspire generations to come! Contact us to discuss hosting opportunities or visit | Play Hard, Fight Hard Travelling Exhibits (sportshall.ca) to learn more.
2023 ISHA Special Project Grant Application NOW AVAILABLE
The International Sports Heritage Association (ISHA) has established the Special Project Grant, supported through the Founders Fund, to provide financial assistance up to $2,000 for a project that supports museum activities intended to address at least one of the following priorities within the organization:
Eligibility:
The deadline for 2023 applications is March 31, 2023.
For more information please reference the ISHA Founders Fund & Grants webpage or download the application.
Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame to Undergo Renovation
The Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame and Museum in Jackson, Mississippi is proud to announce they will be undergoing a $3.5 million renovation to their facilities in 2023. Renovation plans include a reconfigured lobby and gift shop as well as an exterior facelift. The MS Sports Hall of Fame first opened its doors in 1996 and this will be the largest renovation project to date on the building. “The Museum houses the stories of Mississippi’s—and in many cases, the world’s—greatest athletes. We are excited to be able to upgrade the facilities for sharing these stories with our guests so they have the best experience possible.” says MSHOF Executive Director, Bill Blackwell.
CSHoF Announces Remarkable Story of Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins to Inspire Youth
Youth across Canada will be provided the opportunity to learn from and be inspired by the journey of one of this nation’s most prolific athletes in the sport of baseball, Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins.
Inspiring the leaders of tomorrow through the invaluable lessons of sport is at the core of Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame’s (CSHoF) mission. Through the organization’s web-based education platform – https://link.edgepilot.com/s/cec5ce64/Ys_gM_TVTkyod0ZhGLIPQw?u=http://www.beyondthewin.ca/ – classrooms across Canada are provided with curriculum-aligned education programs and resources at no cost. In 2023, youth will have access to four (4) newly launched asynchronous program modules, sharing the lessons and impact of Ferguson Jenkins’ story, further demonstrating CSHoF’s commitment to connect youth to outstanding Canadian sport role models.
Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame President and CEO, Cheryl Bernard shares the following: “we have worked extensively to provide an accessible, free education hub where teachers, students and coaches can easily access a variety of education assets. We are so proud to be developing and presenting a new asynchronous program, celebrating his 80th birthday and honouring Ferguson Jenkins as a role model in this country, in collaboration with Ferguson and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.”
“Teaming up with Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame to tell the story of Hall of Famer Fergie Jenkins and his impact on sports history in Canada is a remarkable way to connect today’s youth with the past,” said Jeremy Diamond, Chair, Board of Directors of the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum. “We look forward to bringing this story alive and sharing it with Canadians of all ages.”
The first module of the education program will begin rolling out in June 2023 with all four (4) modules accessible to schools for the start of the 2023/24 school year
BC Sports Hall of Fame Announces Class of 2023 Inductees
In October, the BC Sports Hall of Fame was very pleased to announce its new Class of 2023 inductees, an enlarged class to account for the disruptions to the regular nomination/selection process caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Introduced at the media announcement by Honoured Members Lori Fung and Richard Peter, the Class of 2023 will be formally inducted into the BC Sports Hall of Fame at the annual Induction Gala in June in Vancouver. The Class of 2023 includes:
Athlete
Builder-Coach
Team
Pioneer
Media
W.A.C. Bennett Award
Hallowed Ground: The Sports Museum Podcast New Episode
In the latest episode of Hallowed Ground: The Sports Museum Podcast, ISHA Emerging Professional member Andrew Stockmann spoke with Tricia Herald and Bill Hawker of Elevate97, which you can find on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Upcoming episodes include a discussion on storytelling, accessibility, and social justice in sports heritage organizations with Katie Tanner of the Nova Scotia Sport Hall of Fame and Adam Thompson of the World of Little League Museum. If you would like to be a guest on the podcast, please email Andrew at [email protected].