MADISON CHILDRENS MUSEUM INC
100 N HAMILTON ST, MADISON, WI 537032116 www.madisonchildrensmuseum.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM CONNECTS CHILDREN WITH THEIR FAMILIES, THEIR COMMUNITIES, AND THE WORLD BEYOND THROUGH DISCOVERY LEARNING AND CREATIVE PLAY.

MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM PROVIDES EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AND PROGRAMS FOR LEARNING THROUGH PLAY

EXHIBIT ENVIRONMENTS CREATE THE CORE EDUCATIONAL AREAS AND PLAY SPACES WITHIN THE MUSEUM SETTING, PROVIDING INTERACTIVE, ENGAGING PLAY OPPORTUNITIES FOR CHILDREN OF ALL AGES, ALONG WITH THEIR ADULT CAREGIVERS. EXHIBITS ARE INTERDISCIPLINARY AND WEAVE TOGETHER THEMES FROM OUR CORE EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES: ART, HISTORY, CULTURE, SCIENCE, AND INNOVATION. EXHIBITS OCCUPYING MORE THAN 30,000 SQUARE FEET OF INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PUBLIC SPACE WERE DESIGNED AND FABRICATED BY A WISCONSIN WORKFORCE IN COLLABORATION WITH THE COMMUNITY-INCLUDING MORE THAN 120 LOCAL ARTISTS-AND FEATURE THE USE OF LOCALLY OBTAINED MATERIALS. EXHIBIT AREAS PROMOTE LEARNING THROUGH PLAY FOR AGES 5 AND UNDER IN THE WILDERNESS AND URB GARDEN EXHIBITS, BOTH OF WHICH ARE CONSTRUCTED OF ALL NATURAL MATERIALS. THE FOLLOWING AREAS ENGAGE CHILDREN UP TO AGE 12: THE TWO-STORY HODGEPODGE MAHAL CLIMBER AND HUMAN-SIZED GERBIL WHEEL FOR WHOLE-BODY EXERCISE; AND THE ART STUDIO FOR CREATIVE EXPRESSION. AN ACCESSIBLE GREEN ROOF, THE ROOFTOP RAMBLE, ENABLES FOUR-SEASON EXPLORATION OF NATURE IN A "PARK IN THE SKY". ADDITIONAL ROTATION EXHIBITS ON DISPLAY DURING THE PAST YEAR INCLUDED FOUR TEMPORARY ART EXHIBITIONS IN OUR SIDEWALK SURPRISE SPACE, INCLUDING A CROWD FAVORITE-TRACEY DRIER'S BLOWN CHEMISTRY GLASS DISPLAY, FUSING ART AND SCIENCE; AN INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT ABOUT LAKES AND WATER QUALITY CALLED SEYMORE'S ADVENTURE; AN EXHIBIT CALLED FROM COOPS TO CATHEDRALS ABOUT NATURE, CHILDHOOD AND THE ARCHITECTURE OF FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT; AN OCCASSIONAL, TEMPORARY EXHIBIT ABOUT CIVIC ENGAGEMENT CALLED POLLING PLACE, A SMALL COLLECTIONS EXHIBIT CURRENTLY FEATURING COLLECTIONS OF CHILDREN'S ENVIRONMENTAL GOOD DEEDS, ACTIONS AND PRACTICES; AN ART EXHIBIT ABOUT NATURE MADE BY CHILDREN FROM A LOCAL COMMUNITY ART CENTER; A WHIMSICAL AUTOMATA EXHIBIT; AN HISTORICAL EXHIBIT ABOUT THE HISTORY OF CHILDREN'S SEWING CIRCLES CALLED "A STITCH IN TIME; A FEW INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS FOR THE ROOFTOP, INCLUDING A CEDAR-SHAKE THATCHED HUT, A TODDLER ICE RINK, AND SEVERAL SUSTAINABILITY EXHIBITS INCLUDING AN ELECTRIC CAR, A WORKING WINDMILL, AND A SOLAR SUNFLOWER EXHIBIT.

EDUCATION PROGRAMMING ENRICHES THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE THROUGH CLASSES, DROP-IN ACTIVITIES, RESIDENCIES, SPECIAL EVENTS, AND FACILITATION OF THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBIT GALLERIES. PROGRAMS PROVIDE DEEPER ENGAGEMENT FOR VISITORS IN THE MUSEUM'S CORE INITIATIVES OF ARTS, SCIENCE AND INNOVATION, CULTURE AND HISTORY, HEALTH, SUSTAINABILITY, EARLY LEARNING, AND ACCESSIBILITY. THE MUSEUM USES ITS PROGRAMS TO EXPRESS ITS VALUES, INCLUDING THE IMPORTANCE OF PLAY, CREATIVITY, RESILIENCE, SENSE OF PLACE, CRITICAL THINKING, AND COLLABORATION. DURING THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM SERVED 127,967 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ON SITE AND PRODUCED OVER 630 PROGRAMS. AFTER CLOSING THE MUSEUM DUE TO COVID-19 ON 3/13/20, THE MUSEUM PRODUCED 101 ONLINE PROGRAMS AND PROVIDED OUTDOOR SIDEWALK GAME INSTALLATIONS IN 64 NEIGHBORHOODS. THE MUSEUM STRIVES TO SERVE EVERY CHILD, REGARDLESS OF ABILITY, CULTURE, OR ECONOMIC BACKGROUND. THE ACCESS FOR EVERYONE PROGRAM PROVIDED ACCESS FOR 26,177 INDIVIDUALS THIS YEAR THROUGH FREE AND LOW-COST ADMISSIONS, MEMBERSHIPS, OUTREACH PROGRAMMING, AND EVENTS.

MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAMS HELP THE MUSEUM MEET ITS MISSION BY DEVELOPING AND DELIVERING INFORMATION ABOUT EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS TO CONSTITUENTS THROUGHOUT SOUTH CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THE MUSEUM USES A VARIETY OF COMMUNICATION METHODS INCLUDING ITS WEBSITE, SOCIAL MEDIA, EMAIL, PUBLIC RELATIONS, ADVERTISING, AND PRINTED COLLATERAL MATERIALS TO SPREAD THE WORD ABOUT MUSEUM ACTIVITIES. EXHIBIT SIGNAGE AND MANY MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS INCLUDE BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH VERSIONS. THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT HOUSES ALL FRONT DESK STAFF TO ENSURE EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE, EFFICIENT CASH-HANDLING AND CONSISTENT DATA-TRACKING. THE FACILITY RENTAL PROGRAM HOSTS WEDDINGS, BUSINESS RENTALS, AND OTHER EVENTS TO CONNECT MORE OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE MUSEUM. THE MUSEUM ACTIVELY COLLABORATES WITH THE DOWNTOWN BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT, GREATER MADISON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, AND GREATER MADISON CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU -- AND MANY OTHER GROUPS SUCH AS THE LATINO AND LGBTQ CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE -- TO EXPAND ITS REACH THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. WHEN THE MUSEUM CLOSED ITS DOORS ON MARCH 13 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, MARKETING ACTIVITIES PIVOTED TO HELP PROVIDE ONLINE CONTENT AND TO PROMOTE NEW OUTREACH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MCM ROADSHOW'S SIDEWALK SURPRISES PROGRAMMING. MARKETING STAFF ALSO TOOK ON A GREATER ROLE IN DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS FOR FUNDRAISING.

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