Festivalof Animals
This event integrated artwork with interactive biology and conservation activities.
Passport to the Natural Worldat Whatcom Museum
The Whatcom Museum developed a printed passport-type brochure for its multidisciplinary programming series, which was designed to engage college students with the natural world beyond the exhibition “Un/Natural Selections: Wildlife in Contemporary Art.”
Funding Categories
Honoraria
Marketing & Outreach
Printing
Supplies
Translation
Travel & Lodging
partner
Whatcom Museum
location
Bellingham, WA
About
With the passport, students gained free admission to the Whatcom Museum throughout the run of the exhibition, and they collected a new stamp at each activity they attended. Ten wellness-centered activities were hosted across three local college campuses, parks, and the museum, allowing students to engage with the programming in different environments. Activities included a movie night, petting zoo, plein air workshop, yoga class, book discussions, gallery tours, and more.
Intended Outcome and Projected Attendance
The Whatcom Museum sought to increase participation among 2,000 students at four local colleges and develop new offerings that encourage different practices of mindfulness.
Actual Outcome and Actual Attendance
Through the passport program, the Whatcom Museum saw an increase in attendance from college students across various fields of study and an increase in scheduled tours by college professors. The museum succeeded in collaborating with three out of four local colleges, and it established relationships with faculty and students, encouraging repeat visitation. Overall, the museum distributed 1,692 passports, with 385 students participating in the related public programming.
Advice Post Project
For museums looking to increase attendance from college students, create a resource that facilitates multiple visits and collaborate with colleges to bring students to the museum and develop on-campus programming. Since the Whatcom Museum wanted to engage students from multiple campuses, the passport program offered structured museum access to this targeted audience. The museum gave on-campus presentations about the exhibit, hosted select on-campus activities, and shared the passport resource (which included public transportation information for how to get to the museum) with first-year faculty. By pairing this programming series with free admission, the Whatcom Museum incentivized student audiences to return to the museum multiple times.
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This event integrated artwork with interactive biology and conservation activities.
Live Animals in Artat Yellowstone Art Museum
As one of four free programs associated with the Companion Species exhibition, Animals in Art and Stories gave Yellowstone Art Museum’s audiences a chance to pet and draw live animals and learn different ways to depict animals in art from local and exhibiting artists.
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Inspired by the exhibition, "Scarlet Poppies and Ultramarine Butterflies: Language of Color," the Allentown Art Museum hosted an eight-session art program led by educator Rain Black that combined ethical foraging with creative projects like papermaking and watercolor. It culminated in a public virtual field guide, associated with local parks, to inspire community engagement with nature and art.
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