The Mint Museum Annual Report 2008 / 2009

Museum Shop customers
browse the colorful selection
of merchandise
In addition to celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, The Mint Museum Shops experienced
an exciting year thanks in large part to two blockbuster exhibitions: Andy Warhol Portfolios:
Life & Legends and Masterworks from the New Orleans Museum of Art. Popular Warhol
merchandise included the artist’s small prints, posters, and plate and tumbler sets. Visitors
also purchased the catalogue of the New Orleans Museum of Art’s collection, note cards,
prints, mini framed prints and magnet sets in conjunction with the Masterworks exhibition.
The Mint Museum of Craft + Design Shop, known for its Crafts of the Carolinas, continued
to be popular with customers seeking pottery, glass, jewelry and wood items from local
artists. With each handmade purchase, customers received an artist information card to learn
about the many talented artists in our region. The Mint Museum of Craft + Design Shop also
received its third nomination as Best Museum Shop by Niche magazine.
Charlotte residents continued their tradition of visiting The Mint Museum Shops to purchase
Christmas cards, decorations and presents during the holidays. The shops offered a wide
array of ornaments, including the ever popular hand-blown North Carolina glass balls. This
year, the shops also had Andy Warhol Christmas cards along with the customary variety
of traditional and contemporary holiday cards, showcasing a look that was both fun and
functional.
As busy as this year was, the shops are also looking to the future as the Mint prepares to
open its new facility in uptown Charlotte. The street-level shop at the Mint Museum Uptown
will feature 3,000 square feet of retail space to showcase the popular collection of Crafts of
the Carolinas and other merchandise complementing the Museum’s collections and special
exhibitions.
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