National Children’s Museum to Receive Grant From the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development

Grant will fund new access initiatives and hands-on experiences

WASHINGTON – National Children’s Museum, a nationally recognized cultural and educational institution dedicated to play-based science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) learning, is among the inaugural recipients of the Family Fun Destination Grants program managed by D.C.’s Office for Planning and Economic Development.

Funded by a $6.5 million grant from the Economic Development Administration, the new program invests in local businesses to promote the development of family-friendly experiences in downtown D.C. On Monday, Mayor Muriel Bowser and Deputy Mayor Nina Albert unveiled the conditional awardees of the first round of Family Fun Destination Grants during a Downtown Family Fun Day hosted by National Children’s Museum.

“We are very focused on bringing more people to Downtown DC, and experiences like these — where people can bring their kids, then walk to the White House or the Mall, or maybe just get back on the Metro, or go out to eat — this is how we do it,” said Mayor Bowser.

“As the only museum in Washington, D.C., designed exclusively for young learners, National Children’s Museum is a unique resource for the region, providing playful, interactive experiences for children ages 0–12 and their families,” said Crystal R. Bowyer, president and CEO of National Children’s Museum. “We are grateful to Mayor Bowser and the Office of the Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development and honored to be a recipient of the Family Fun Destination Grant, which will support our efforts to continue to turn up the fun for families who live in and travel to the District.”

The grant will support the Museum’s plans to serve more families in the years to come through the introduction of new access initiatives and hands-on experiences. Free admission days for the D.C. community will add to the Museum’s existing suite of access programs, including discounted admission for EBT cardholders through the Museums for All program (https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/access/) and free admission for local families with economic barriers through the Museum’s signature Community Access Program (https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/access/#cap). New temporary and permanent experiences, including an outdoor, sensory installation to welcome visitors as they enter the Museum from Woodrow Wilson Plaza and a digital experience within the rotating Innovation Sandbox exhibit, are now in development.

For more information on the Family Fun Destination Program, please visit www.dmped.dc.gov/page/fy24-business-funding-opportunities. A recording of Mayor Bowser’s and Deputy Mayor Albert’s announcement at Downtown Family Fun Day is available at bit.ly/3OmpTZU.

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About National Children’s Museum

STEAM adventure awaits at National Children’s Museum, located in the heart of downtown Washington, D.C. With a mission to inspire children to care about and change the world, the Museum sparks curiosity and ignites creativity for children under the age of twelve and their families. Through playful science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) based exhibits, programs and virtual offerings, the Museum reaches millions of people each year. Learn more and plan your visit at nationalchildrensmuseum.org.