National Children's Museum to Give Sesame Street a Home in the Nation's Capital

Museum and Sesame Workshop Will Collaborate on Content and Program Development

WASHINGTON, Feb. 3, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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. 

Industry Leaders Applaud National Children's Museum Partnership with Sesame Street

The Honorable Arne Duncan

U.S. Secretary of Education

"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."

T. Berry Brazelton, MD

Professor of Pediatrics, Emeritus Harvard Medical School

Founder, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Children's Hospital Boston

Joshua Sparrow, MD

Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School

Director, Special Initiatives, Brazelton Touchpoints Center, Children's Hospital Boston

"Family time and a sense of community are critical to a child's growth and development. Having Sesame Street and the National Children's Museum working together on programs and interactive exhibits in the areas of early learning and world cultures will provide great support for parents and caregivers looking for creative, new ways to engage their children in the joy of learning."

Matthew E. Melmed

Executive Director

ZERO TO THREE

"Sesame Workshop and the National Children's Museum are innovative organizations whose partnership is both natural and smart.  We support strategic efforts that promote the health and development of infants and toddlers, and look to this new collaboration to provide informative and educational opportunities for kids across America."

Janet Rice Elman

Executive Director

Association of Children's Museums

"Creating interactive programming that meets children's cultural, social, and developmental needs is common ground for the National Children's Museum and Sesame Workshop.  I'm thrilled to have Sesame Street join forces with one of our members, because I know that together they will provide families and children with world-class exhibits and programs, and enrich the informal learning experience for kids of all ages.  This is exciting news, and I know we'll see great things come from this partnership."

SOURCE National Children's Museum