As fall and winter approach and the snow starts to fly, you may not see the Grand Forks Children’s Museum outreach programs as much, however, our work is far from slowing down. Between staff, volunteers and our board of directors, our dedication to building the Grand Forks Children's Museum continues to accelerate with unwavering commitment and enthusiasm. Here are just a few highlights of our ongoing efforts…
Successful visits to the Minot and Winnepeg Children's Museums
Museum staff and board members visited the children’s museums in Winnepeg and Minot with the goal of strengthening our relationship with their museum professionals, share experiences, collaborate on projects, gather inspiration for new exhibits, and understand the latest trends in interactive and educational displays. We also discussed how each museum engages with their local community through their partnerships and outreach programs.
As we are still facing fundraising challenges to meet our $43 million goal, we also
discussed successful fundraising events, campaigns, and donor engagement strategies that could be adapted for our use. At the Winnepeg museum we had the privilege of viewing a new exhibit designed by Laurent, who also serves as our exhibit designer.
Planning for the New Location
The Grand Forks Children's Museum is embarking on an exciting journey as we plan our move to the new location in the Destination Corridor. While the actual architectural design is still in the planning phases, this move represents a significant step toward our goal of creating an inspiring and engaging environment for children and families. Our dedicated building committee is at the forefront of this endeavor. The committee is coordinating with architects and designers to ensure the new space meets the highest standards of educational and interactive experiences.
The efforts of the building committee are vital as they contemplate every detail of this move and redesign. The committee's expertise and commitment are driving the process forward, and their passion for creating a state-of-the-art facility is unwavering. As we move forward, community support will be crucial in helping us realize this dream. Together, with the guidance and hard work of the building committee, we can build a museum that will continue to ignite curiosity, creativity, and lifelong learning for children in our community.
Progress in the Exhibit Development
The exhibit committee is currently immersed in the design and development phase. They are working diligently to integrate local exhibit fabricators and develop a role play area, creative art space, as well as other ideas. As we continue to develop the building designs, these elements will be defined, refined, and incorporated.
While adding these features will affect the space requirements for our programming, we are committed to ensuring that our exhibits remain dynamic and engaging. Our goal is to keep young children, older children and adults excited to return the museum by continuously introducing fresh and innovative experiences.
TAG – A Generous Benefactor
The Art Committee has been formalized and recently held a meeting to discuss the allocation of TAG funds. TAG is generously providing $71,000 this year, bringing their total commitment to $250,000! The Art Committee plans to utilize these funds for public art initiatives. Additionally, the committee is collaborating to ensure that there is ample space in the museum for music, art, and other creative activities in our programming.
Our Work Continues…
So, while you might not have seen us outdoors recently as much as in the summer, rest assured our work is far from over. We continue to push forward with our projects and initiatives, ensuring that we remain dedicated to our mission and our community. The community’s ongoing support is invaluable in helping us achieve our goals.
We are committed to building the Grand Forks Children's Museum…creating a space that will inspire curiosity, creativity, and learning for children and families for years to come.
By Katie Mayer, Executive Director, Grand Forks Children’s Museum
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