ACTON, Mass.—The Institute of Museum and Library Providers (IMLS) introduced Discovery Museum of Acton, MA at present as one among 10 recipients of the 2024 Nationwide Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make important and distinctive contributions to their communities. Over the previous 30 years, the award has celebrated establishments which can be making a distinction for people, households, and communities.
“IMLS is delighted to announce the ten recipients of the 2024 Nationwide Medal for Museum and Library Service,” stated IMLS Appearing Director Cyndee Landrum. “These establishments and their devoted workers are stepping as much as anticipate and meet the wants of their particular person communities. From New York to Arizona, these 10 recipients are unparalleled sources of schooling, well being, jobs, and cultural sources, bridging the gaps of distance, sources, and expertise for group members. We look ahead to honoring their accomplishments in Washington, DC, this summer season!”
Discovery Museum’s mission is to “spark enjoyment of studying by igniting curiosity and creativity in youngsters and adults as they uncover collectively the fun of science, nature, and play.” All through its 42-year historical past, the Museum has used a hands-on, low-tech strategy to supply significant, playful, STEM-based studying experiences for youths, households, and college students. A powerful deal with eradicating financial, bodily, developmental, and different boundaries to participation offers for a collection of entry applications that lead to 25% of the Museum’s annual viewers being served without cost or practically free.
Discovery Museum’s absolutely accessible Discovery Woods nature playscape and treehouse function a focus for out of doors, nature-based, environmental experiences, encouraging youngsters and households to reap the advantages of spending time in nature. Your complete Museum campus is accessible, with amenities, grounds, and displays all reimagined and redeveloped to be made inclusive in each means. For varsity college students, Discovery Museum’s participating, materials-rich, hands-on STEM workshops at school lecture rooms served greater than 53,000 college students in 116 cities in 2023, the most important STEM-focused museum outreach program in Massachusetts. Discovery Museum is the primary youngsters’s museum within the nation to provide all its personal electrical energy onsite and distinctive in its position as one of many largest nonprofit group photo voltaic suppliers within the state, with 4 nonprofits and 11 low-income houses working on discounted clear vitality due to the Museum’s manufacturing.
Chosen from 30 nationwide finalists, the ten recipients of the 2024 Nationwide Medal for Museum and Library Service characterize establishments that present dynamic programming and companies that exceed anticipated ranges of service. By way of their group outreach, these establishments result in change that touches the lives of people and helps communities thrive.
“We’re deeply honored and proud to be acknowledged with a 2024 IMLS Nationwide Medal for our work, and really grateful to the broad group of tourists, supporters, donors, and group companions who make that work attainable,” stated CEO Marie Beam. “For our board and workers, this nationwide recognition each reinforces the worth of our work to help youngsters and households and can function a platform from which to increase our attain and depth of affect in significant methods. Together with our operational and academic priorities round environmental sustainability, we are going to work to seek out extra methods to make our science, nature, and playful studying experiences accessible to all youngsters, households, and college students—regardless of boundaries reminiscent of price, developmental variations, sensory sensitivities, bodily talents, parental incarceration, refugee standing, cultural approaches, or studying kinds.”
The award shall be introduced at a ceremony this summer season in Washington, DC. For a whole record of 2024 recipients and to study extra in regards to the Nationwide Medal awardees, go to the IMLS web site.
Concerning the Institute of Museum and Library Providers
The Institute of Museum and Library Providers is the first supply of federal help for the nation’s libraries and museums. We advance, help, and empower America’s museums, libraries, and associated organizations via grantmaking, analysis, and coverage improvement. IMLS envisions a nation the place people and communities have entry to museums and libraries to study from and be impressed by the trusted info, concepts, and tales they comprise about our various pure and cultural heritage. To study extra, go to www.imls.gov and observe us on Fb and LinkedIn.
About Discovery Museum
Discovery Museum is a hands-on museum that blends science, nature, and play, inspiring households to discover and study collectively. The museum and its Discovery Woods accessible out of doors nature playscape and large treehouse mix the very best of STEAM (Science, Expertise, Engineering, Artwork and Math) studying on a stupendous 4.5-acre campus abutting 180 acres of conservation land in Acton, MA, about 20 miles west of Boston. Initially based in 1982 and expanded to 2 museums in 1987, the museum reopened in a single, 16,000sf accessible constructing after a whole renovation and growth in early 2018. Palms-on, open-ended displays developed by skilled educators encourage curiosity and exploration, offering a enjoyable and interesting expertise for kids and adults to find their world collectively. Serving households and colleges from cities all through the area, the museum is dedicated to casual schooling that enhances classroom studying. Discovery Museum is dedicated to accessibility and is a proud recipient of the Massachusetts Commonwealth Award, the one winner within the Entry class, and a LEAD® Group Asset Award from The John F. Kennedy Middle for the Performing Arts.
In 2024 Discovery Museum was awarded a Nationwide Medal for Museum Service from the Institute for Museum and Library Providers (IMLS), the nation’s highest honor awarded to museums.
For extra info, please go to www.discoveryacton.org. Discovery Museum is a community-supported non-profit group.
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