Children’s Museum to Host International Conference
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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe Association of Children’s Museums and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis are preparing to host the InterActivity conference this week. Nearly 1,000 people from about 20 countries are expected to attend the Indianapolis event.
May 11, 2015
News Release
Arlington, VA — The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will host InterActivity 2015: Bringing the World to Children May 13-15 in Indianapolis. InterActivity is the largest convening of children’s museum professionals, bringing nearly 900 attendees from 19 countries to discuss and share best practices and pressing issues affecting children, families, and children’s museums themselves.
This year’s theme, Bringing the World to Children, provides inspiration for experts and practitioners from children’s museums and other sectors—including architectural design, technology, philanthropy, to name a few—to explore deeply the new opportunities and challenges our quickly changing world presents for children and families, and how children’s museums can continue to be critical community resources for navigating this fluid landscape.
Inspired by The Children’s Museum’s commitment to developing exhibits and programming that encourages children and families to discover new vistas—from new cultures to the frontiers of science—this year’s program features content reflecting this broad spectrum of interest to advance children’s museum practice. Highlighted speakers include:
– Leslie Lagerstrom, founder of the transformative blog Transparenthood™, will share her experience as the parent of a transgender child, followed by a workshop in partnership with TransActive on creating welcoming spaces for families with transgender people;
– Erin Reilly, creative director and research fellow at the University of Southern California’s Annenberg Innovation Lab, will present emerging research on how our connected world is changing the landscape for playful learning; and
– Ruby Bridges, Yvonne Simons, and Jeanne White-Ginder, whose ongoing contributions to The Power of Children initiative at The Children’s Museums highlights the important role children can play in changing the world. Bridges, Simons, and White-Ginder are also the recipients of the 2015 Great Friend to Kids Award, an annual honor bestowed by ACM honoring those making a national or international impact in strengthening education and advancing the interests of children.
– Leaders from The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and Conner Prairie Interactive History Park will discuss the value, promise, and practice of the humanities in the context of children’s museums.
Major supporters of InterActivity 2015 include: Lilly Endowment, Inc., the National Endowment for the Humanities, Nickelodeon, Blackbaud, and CrowdTorch by Cvent. InterActivity 2015 sponsors include: 1220 Exhibits, Inc., Cambridge Seven Associates, Inc., Children’s Museum of Houston, Haizlip Studio, Hands On! Inc., Heartland Scenic Studio, Imagination Playground, Jack Rouse Associates, Lee H. Skolnick Architecture + Design Partnership, Luckey Climbers, LLC, MindSplash, Minnesota Children’s Museum, Morris & Berger, Paul Orselli Workshop, The Portico Group, Redbox Workshop, Roto, and ZB Kids.
Media are welcome to attend InterActivity and can obtain a press pass from the InterActivity 2015 registration desk on the second floor of the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. The full conference program can be downloaded from www.ChildrensMuseums.org.
About the Association of Children’s Museums
In an increasingly complex world, children’s museums provide a place where all kids can learn through play and exploration with the caring adults in their lives. There are approximately 400-children’s museums around the world, which annually reach more than 31million visitors. The Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) provides leadership, professional development, advocacy, and resources for its member organizations and individuals. To learn more about ACM and to find an ACM-member children’s museum near you, visit www.ChildrensMuseums.org.
About The Children’s Museum
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences across the arts, sciences and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about the tourist attraction and museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org
Source: The Children's Museum of Indianapolis