Madison Childrens Museum Inc

Programs: Exhibit programs: 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 wildernest 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 during the past year include four temporary art exhibitions in our sidewalk surprise space; 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 exhibit about civic engagement called polling place, a small collections exhibit featuring a four leaf clover collection from a staff member's collection; a collection of artist-made fiber objects called "tiny friends and foes; an historical exhibit about the history of ice cream called "milky way dairy bar; a few new interactive exhibit components for the rooftop, including a geology station, a temporary construction site exhibit, and a natural weaving area, among others.

education: 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 2017-2018 fiscal year, the museum served 219,591 children and families and produced almost 1,000 programs. The museum strives to serve every child, regardless of ability, culture, or economic background. The access for everyone program provided access for 45,571 individuals this year through free and low-cost admissions, memberships, outreach programming, and events.

marketing and visitor services: 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.