Lyra Monteiro and Andrew Losowsky are co-creators of The Museum on Site, which is a project dedicated to helping people understand their worlds through site-specific, free public experiences that share ideas and information in accessible and stimulating ways. The museum's current "installation" is Westminister Stories.

In an effort to share their innovative work Lyra and Andrew recently took a few minutes to answer some questions.

Westminster Stories is a project to share the history, memories, and stories of the people, animals, buildings, and things that make up the two blocks of Westminster Street between Dorrance and Union Streets, in downtown Providence. 

After interviewing and photographing more than 150 people, and researching the history of the buildings and street furniture, we've created a 3-D diorama of the north side of those two blocks of the street, which is now on display in an empty store window, at 191 Westminster (on the block between Dorrance and Eddy). Every week, we change the labels in the window to highlight different aspects of the stories of the street. We also have a website (westminsterstories.com) where we share more stories, and where people can add their own.

We were inspired to create Westminster Stories by the space itself: an empty store window on a busy shopping street, in the heart of the historic downtown area. We wanted to create something that took advantage of the place where it was and that also could deepen people's sense of connection with that area.

Q: What was the most challenging aspect of Westminster Stories as well as the most rewarding?
The most challenging aspect was the logistical coordination---managing volunteers and interviewees and making everything happen according to
schedule. The most rewarding has been the reactions we've received. With a project like this, we rarely see how people react when they encounter the project by chance, but a few have e-mailed us to share how special the project was for them.

Q: How did your grant from RICH impact the project?
The support made it possible for Andrew, the co-creator of the project, and a freelance writer and editor, to take the time to research the history of the street, interview current users of the street, and write up their stories for the labels and the website.

Q: Speaking of stories, what are some of your favorite publications?
We really enjoy the way that New York Magazine focuses on city stories of all kinds, with great articles, graphics, and photography. We don't live there, but we still subscribe.

Q: Any future projects in the works?
We have a few ideas in the oven, but the only other project that we're actively working on right now is the book about our last project---A
Thousand Ships, which also was supported by RICH.

To learn more and experience firsthand the Museum of Westminster Stories stop by Dorrance and Union Streets on Friday, March 5 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. and Saturday, March 6 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.