APPE to Partner with the Prindle Institute to Host Smithsonian Exhibit

The Association for Practical and Professional Ethics (APPE) will co-host a nationally touring exhibit from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street at its headquarters in Greencastle, Indiana, with the Prindle Institute for Ethics at DePauw University in 2026.

The exhibition, “Voices and Votes: Democracy in America,” examines the nearly 250-year-old American experiment of a government “of, by and for the people,” and how each generation since continues to question how to form “a more perfect union.”

APPE and the Prindle Institute were selected by Indiana Humanities to host “Voices and Votes” as part of the Museum on Main Street program—a national/state/local partnership to bring exhibitions and programs to rural cultural organizations. The exhibition will tour six communities in Indiana in 2026. The Putnam County Museum, the Greencastle League of Women Voters, and the Putnam County Public Library will also partner to help tailor the exhibit and programs to the local community.

“Voices and Votes” explores the action, reaction, vision and revision that democracy demands as Americans continue to question how to shape the country. From the revolution and suffrage, to civil rights and casting ballots, everyone in every community is part of this ever-evolving story—the story of democracy in America. Exhibition sections explore the origins of American democracy, the struggles to obtain and keep the vote, the machinery of democracy, the right to petition and protest beyond the ballot and the rights and responsibilities of citizens. “Voices and Votes” features historical and contemporary photos; educational and archival video; engaging multimedia interactives with short games; and historical objects like campaign souvenirs, voter memorabilia, and protest materials.

“This exhibit is for anyone who’s ever cast a vote, debated an issue, or wondered what democracy really means in their day-to-day life,” said Kristen Fuhs Wells, executive director of the Association for Practical and Professional Ethics. “From high school students to lifelong residents, Voices and Votes offers something for everyone in Greencastle who cares about their community and the future we’re shaping together. APPE is proud to co-host this exhibit alongside the Prindle Institute to help spark the kind of honest, reflective conversations that strengthen civic life—especially in an election year.”

Opening at the Prindle Institute on October 10, 2026, “Voices and Votes” will be on display through November 20, 2026.

“It’s really exciting to bring such an impactful exhibit to our community, particularly during what promises to be another contentious election cycle. In a time when we don’t always know what to say to each other around our politics, it’s important to create space to reflect on where we’ve been as a society, on our core values, and, most importantly, on what we have in common,” said Alex Richardson, Associate Director at the Prindle Institute, and APPE Board Member.

Designed for small-town museums, libraries and cultural organizations, “Voices and Votes” will serve as a community meeting place for conversations about democracy, the freedoms and responsibilities of citizens, participating in government, and more. With the support and guidance of state humanities councils, these towns will develop complementary exhibits, host public programs and facilitate educational initiatives to raise people’s understanding about their own history, the joys and challenges of living rural, how change has impacted their community, and prompt discussion of goals for the future.

APPE plans to host its annual undergraduate leadership conference at the Prindle Institute in conjunction with the exhibit's visit in 2026.

“Voices and Votes” is based on an exhibition currently on display at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History called American Democracy: A Great Leap of Faith. The exhibition is part of Museum on Main Street, a unique collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES), state humanities councils across the nation, and local host institutions. To learn more about “Voices” and other Museum on Main Street exhibitions, visit museumonmainstreet.org.