NATIONAL
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM TO GIVE SESAME
STREETA HOME IN THE NATION’S CAPITAL Museum
and Sesame Workshop Will Collaborate on Content and Program
Development WASHINGTON,
DC (FEBRUARY 3, 2011) – The National
Children’s Museum (NCM) today announced it will work in
partnership with Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street. The National Children’s
Museum will provide Sesame Workshop a permanent museum home in the
nation’s capital extending the Workshop's educational mission.. As part of the
partnership, Sesame Street, and
its characters, through interactive
exhibits, educational video segments and books, will be integrated into elements of the Museum’s Early Learners gallery and incorporated
in select Museum events and
programming. Additionally, Sesame Workshop will collaborate with NCM on content development,
exhibits, and program creation for the Museum’s Our World gallery, which will focus on
diverse cultures and places around the
globe. Founded in 1974
as the Capital Children’s Museum, and designated by Congress in 2003 as a
nationally recognized cultural and educational institution serving children and
families, the
National Children’s Museum will open in 2013 at National Harbor, Md.
NCM is poised
to become the Washington, DC area’s premier family attraction, and will
be the only national
museum dedicated entirely to children and their
families. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan underscored the importance of
museums as an educational resource for
children: “Early childhood education is an important priority of the Administration, and we know how important
supportive learning opportunities are for a child's development and later success in
school. The National Children's Museum is an important leader in early childhood and
elementary school-age learning programs, and I know that through this
partnership with Sesame Street, they will continue to be
at the forefront
both regionally and nationally. As Americans, we believe our children can
achieve
anything, and now more than ever before, the National Children's Museum will
be, indeed, a special
place to realize that dream." “The National
Children’s Museum and Sesame Workshop share not only a similar mission, but a
similar story — both organizations have been making a difference in this
field for forty years and
are committed to engaging with kids and their families in new ways that are educational, inspiring, and lead to
a better future,” said National Children’s Museum President and CEO Kathy Dwyer
Southern. “Our mission is to inspire children to care about and improve the
world. We believe great things will stem from this partnership and look forward to working
together on behalf of kids, their families, and their communities across
the nation.” “We at Sesame Street have been impressed by the
National Children’s Museum’s dedication to evolving the concept of a traditional
museum by not just building a world-class museum, but also creating outreach
programs that help kids build a better future. We look forward to collaborating on what we
believe is going to be a very compelling and exciting family destination and are happy for
NCM to be Sesame Street’s new
home in the nation’s capital,” said
Sesame Workshop President and CEO Gary E.
Knell. Through 2013,
NCM will continue its outreach to nearly 200,000 kids each year by operating its
Launch Zone, located at
National Harbor, which is open free of charge seven days a
week and offers children and their families a chance to see and engage
with prototype
exhibits and programs, as well as regional and national outreach programs with other partners across
the country and online at http://ncm.museum. About
the National Children’s Museum Scheduled to open in
2013, the National Children’s Museum (NCM) will be a world-class cultural and
educational center dedicated to engaging
children and empowering them to make a difference. The mission of NCM is to inspire children to care
about and improve the world. Through its interactive exhibits, online community (www.ncm.museum), and unique
national programs and partnerships, NCM is transforming the concept of a
traditional museum by becoming a catalyst and forum for a national movement to inspire and empower kids to speak
up, take action, and get engaged in their communities. Through 2013, NCM
is operating as a Museum Without
Walls, participating in a variety of
community
events
and working with other arts and cultural organizations to develop creative
partnerships that benefit kids
and families. In 2009, NCM opened the Launch Zone, a 2,700 square-foot space
at National Harbor where kids and
families can prototype and test exhibit and program concepts. The National
Children’s Museum is led by President and
CEO, Kathy Dwyer Southern.
www.ncm.museum
About
Sesame Workshop
Sesame Workshop is
the nonprofit educational organization that revolutionized children’s television
programming with the landmark Sesame Street. The Workshop produces
local Sesame Street programs,
seen in over 140 countries, and other
acclaimed shows to help bridge the literacy gap including The Electric Company. Beyond television, the
Workshop produces content for multiple media platforms on a wide range of issues
including literacy, health and military deployment. Initiatives meet specific
needs to help young children and families develop critical skills, acquire
healthy habits and build emotional strength to prepare them for lifelong learning. Learn more
at www.sesameworkshop.org.
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Media
Contacts:
Terry
Banks, Fleishman-Hillard Inc. 202.828.9710
Amy
Lowman, National Children’s Museum 202.675.4145
alowman@ncm.museum
Pam
Hacker, Sesame Workshop 212.875.6225
Photo: © 2009 Sesame Workshop
