Madison Childrens Museum Inc

MADISON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM WILL DEVELOP A CLIMATE AND RESILIENCY FRAMEWORK, DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE FOR CHILDREN AGES BIRTH THROUGH 8, THAT FOCUSES ON EMPATHY, RESILIENCY, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. A COALITION OF NINE CHILDREN’S MUSEUMS AND SCIENCE CENTERS WILL JOINTLY DEVELOP AND TEST THE FRAMEWORK. EACH INSTITUTIONAL PARTNER WILL USE THE FRAMEWORK TO DEVELOP NEW PROGRAMMING, AN EXHIBITION, OR EDUCATIONAL CONTENT AT THEIR MUSEUM. EACH INSTITUTION WILL ALSO COMMIT TO LOWERING THEIR CARBON EMISSIONS THROUGH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS BUYING WIND POWER OR INSTALLING A SOLAR ARRAY. THE MUSEUM WILL DEVELOP A TOOLKIT THAT CONTAINS THE FRAMEWORK AND MODEL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND STRATEGIES TO ENGAGE THE PUBLIC. THE PROJECT WILL PROVIDE MUSEUM PROFESSIONALS WITH CULTURALLY RELEVANT CLIMATE SCIENCE EDUCATION, TRAINING IN THE SCIENCE OF MINDFULNESS AND TOOLS FOR ITS APPLICATION, AND SUPPORT IN CREATING LOCALLY BASED CREATIVE INITIATIVES AND CLIMATE SOLUTIONS FOR THEIR MUSEUMS.

CARETAKERS OF WONDER CONSORTIUM CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING [NEH FUNDS WILL SUPPORT CLIMATE ACTION PLANNING FOR THE CARETAKERS OF WONDER CONSORTIUM, AN INTERDISCIPLINARY MULTI-MUSEUM COHORT ACROSS FOUR BIOREGIONS IN THE U.S. WHO SERVE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES. THE CONSORTIUM FOSTERS A NETWORK FOR SHARED LEARNING, UNDERSTANDING, AND AGENCY AROUND MEETING THE EVER-URGENT MOMENT OF CLIMATE CHANGE, USING A HUMANITIES LENS AS ITS FOCUS. CONSORTIUM MEMBERS WILL PARTICIPATE IN CLIMATE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION ASSESSMENTS AND PLANNING FOR THEIR INSTITUTION OVER 15 MONTHS, GUIDED BY ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS VERDIS GROUP AND ENVIRONMENT + CULTURE PARTNERS. ASSESSMENTS WILL INFORM INDIVIDUAL CLIMATE PLANNING EFFORTS AND HELP ESTABLISH NET-ZERO PATHWAYS AND LONG-TERM CLIMATE EDUCATION, COMMUNICATION, MITIGATION AND ADAPTATION STRATEGIES. COLLECTIVELY, AND IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS, THE CONSORTIUM WILL PRODUCE AGGREGATED CLIMATE ACTION DOCUMENTS OUTLINING MEASURABLE STEPS FOR THE LARGER MUSEUM FIELD TO STUDY AND REPLICATE.]

MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM WILL ENGAGE IN EXTERNAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EFFORTS AND INTERNAL CAPACITY-BUILDING ACTIVITIES AS PART OF ITS LONG-RANGE STRATEGIC PLANNING AND SITE EVALUATION PROCESS. A STRATEGIC PLANNING CONSULTANT WILL OVERSEE THE PLANNING PROCESS, AND STAFF WILL WORK WITH VOLUNTEERS IN LISTENING SESSIONS AND FOCUS GROUPS TO CREATE A RESPONSIVE STRATEGIC PLAN. THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION TO WORK WITH A STUDENT RESEARCH FELLOW WHO WILL ASSIST IN INCREASING THE MUSEUM’S RESEARCH AND EVALUATION CAPACITIES. AS A RESULT OF THE PROJECT, THE MUSEUM WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO FULFILL COMMUNITY NEEDS THROUGH COMMUNITY-INFORMED EXHIBITS, PROGRAMS, AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES.

MADISON CHILDREN’S MUSEUM WILL FABRICATE AND INSTALL "RHYTHMS OF LIFE," A LONG-TERM EXHIBITION THAT WILL EXPLORE THE INTERCONNECTEDNESS OF ALL LIVING THINGS AND PROMOTE THE IMPORTANCE OF EMPATHY AND CARING FOR THE EARTH. CENTERED AS A JOURNEY THROUGH THE FOUR SEASONS, THE EXHIBIT WILL FEATURE HANDS-ON COMPONENTS TARGETED TOWARD CHILDREN FROM BIRTH TO AGE 12. LOCAL ARTISTS REPRESENTING THE HMONG, HO-CHUNK, BLACK, AND LATINX COMMUNITIES WILL BE ENGAGED IN BRINGING THE EXHIBIT TO LIFE AND IN COLLABORATION WITH LOCAL CONTRACTORS, WILL USE NATURAL, LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE BUILDING MATERIALS. THE RESULTING EXHIBITION WILL ADVANCE THE MUSEUM’S COMMITMENT TO SUPPORTING YOUNG CHILDREN’S ABILITY TO PRACTICE EMPATHY AND KINDNESS THROUGH JOYFUL PLAY, AND WILL INCREASE VISITORS’ UNDERSTANDING OF HOW DIVERSE SPECIES ARE ALL INNATELY LINKED.

MADISON CHILDREN?S MUSEUM?S (MCM) DOWNTOWN BACKYARD PROJECT WILL CREATE A LANDMARK PARK THAT ADDRESSES CRITICAL COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS. THE PARK WILL INCLUDE A WHIMSICAL FIVE STORY CLIMBING SCULPTURE, TODDLER ZONE, HISTORIC LOG CABIN, STREAM, SECRET FOREST, AND SKATING RINK. OPEN-ENDED, COOPERATIVE, ACTIVE PLAY IN DOWNTOWN BACKYARD WILL IMPROVE SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL SKILLS, MOTOR SKILLS, AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION AND IS INTENDED TO STRENGTHEN BODIES AND MINDS. ANNUALLY, THE PROJECT WILL BENEFIT 300,000 CHILDREN AND ADULTS FROM DIVERSE BACKGROUNDS, ALLOWING THEM TO GAIN CONFIDENCE AND RESILIENCY WHILE CAREGIVERS WILL BECOME MORE COMFORTABLE GIVING THEIR CHILDREN THE FREEDOM TO EXPLORE. WORKING WITH TWO EVALUATORS, MCM WILL SEEK TO UNDERSTAND HOW DESIGN ENCOURAGES POSITIVE BEHAVIORS, HOW ACTIVE PLAY ENHANCES LEARNING, AND WHAT MOTIVATES VISITORS TO CHOOSE ACTIVE PLAY.

READY SET...GROW! CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FOR THE NEW MADISON CHILDREN'S MUSEUM

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT A NEW HANDS-ON INTERACTIVE EXHIBIT FEATURING WISCONSIN-BASED ARTISTS.

TO SUPPORT "PLAZA LANDMARK ART," A PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONING PROJECT.

NATIONAL AWARD FOR MUSEUM SERVICE