The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Mattel Present
Barbie^TM: The Fashion Experience
An Exclusive Partnership Creates a New One-of-a-Kind Exhibit

Indianapolis, IN - Industry leaders Mattel and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis have partnered to create a one-of-a-kind 6,500 square-foot exhibit about Barbie fashion and design. Today, Mattel’s Barbie doll is a worldwide fashion icon, pop culture princess and a global brand powerhouse that continues to inspire people of all ages to design, model fashions, collect dolls and share memories. With roots anchored firmly in the fashion world, Barbie has been the best-selling fashion doll for five decades. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is the world’s largest and best children’s museum, a leader in family learning with more than 1 million visitors annually. Museum visitors will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view artifacts from the Mattel Barbie Collection as they travel through what is sure to be a blockbuster exhibit. Barbie^TM: The Fashion Experience opens Dec. 19, 2009 at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

“The Children’s Museum couldn’t be more pleased and excited about this exclusive opportunity to work with Mattel to create and debut Barbie^TM: The Fashion Experience,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “It is a unique opportunity for everyone to learn more about a global icon and to share fond memories of their own Barbie collections.”

“In celebration of Barbie’s 50^th anniversary, we are excited to bring Barbie fashion and design to The Children’s Museum,” said Stephanie Cota, Senior Vice President, Barbie Marketing. “For five decades, Barbie has been a symbol of fashion, cultural relevance and aspiration. This one-of-a-kind exhibit allows Barbie fans a way to engage in the brand like never before.”

Barbie encourages children and adults to design and model fashions. Some of the top designers in the world have created fashions for Barbie. Visitors to the exhibit will have the opportunity to sketch their own fashions for her wardrobe. Young and old alike will enjoy seeing styles created especially for the Barbie 50^th Anniversary Runway Show held during the February 2009 Fashion Week in New York. Top designers Betsey Johnson, Nicole Miller, Rachel Roy and Koi Suwannagate created special styles based on iconic Barbie designs, which will be displayed in the exhibit as inspiration for the new creations young designers will be making.

Barbie is the quintessential fashionista, her appeal spans generations. Mention her name and conversations begin between the young and not so young, guys and girls. That is the real power of this exhibit, it encourages families to spend time together, share memories and learn about the art of collecting.

Barbie^TM: The Fashion Experience exhibit areas:
Fashion Studio Lobby: A chic setting will welcome families to the lobby featuring two showcases filled with memorabilia representing 50 years of Barbie, including dolls designed by top names in the fashion industry such as Bob Mackie, Bill Blass and Kate Spade. Nine vignettes, including the 1963-64 Barbie Fashion Shop, the 1972 Country Camper and the 1998 Deluxe Dream House, will spark Barbie memories.

Barbie the Fashion Icon: Four haute couture designs from the Barbie 50^th Anniversary Runway Show will be displayed along with photos of their world-renowned designers: Betsey Johnson, Nicole Miller, Rachel Roy and Koi Suwannagate.

Design Center: In the design center, families and children can design fashions for Barbie and learn the process of taking an idea from the workroom to the runway.

Share a Barbie Memory: Barbie crosses generations, sparking conversations among grandparents, mothers, sons and daughters. Children and families will be able to share memories, watch Barbie commercials from the 1960s, ‘70s and ‘80s, and view displays of vintage dolls, outfits and games.

Backstage with Barbie: Visitors will learn what happens in front of and in back of the house at a runway show and try lighting, photography, commentating or mixing music as a DJ.

Runway Show: Young fashionistas will be able to put their knowledge to the test and do the runway jobs they have learned about, or mix and match fashions and strut down the runway.

The Pink Vault: Inside the beautiful Pink Vault visitors will see some of the rarest, most collectible dolls and artifacts such as the #1 1959 Barbie, the 1961 brown-haired Ken and the 1969 Talking Julia. Fifty years of dolls, clothing and accessories will be on display, along with Andy Warhol’s 1985 Barbie portrait-one of the most famous items in the vault.

Designers Workshop: one of the joys of personally owning Barbie dolls has been to create fashions for her that can lovingly be passed down to other family members. In-depth facilitated design experiences will be available for families. The ticketed sessions focus on creating fashions using patterns, cutting fabric and building outfits. Vintage Barbie patterns and clothing made by parents and grandparents will be showcased to encourage sharing and inspire family learning.

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About Mattel, Inc.
Mattel, Inc., (NYSE: MAT) (www.mattel.com) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. The Mattel family comprises such best-selling brands as Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever introduced, Hot Wheels®, Matchbox®, American Girl®, Radica® and Tyco® R/C, as well as Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People®, Power Wheels® and a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. Mattel, Inc. is recognized as one of 2009’s “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE Magazine. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel employs approximately 30,000 people in 43 countries and territories and sells products in more than 150 nations. Mattel’s vision is to be the world’s premier toy brands-today and tomorrow.

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 472,900 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 19 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit www.childrensmuseum.org

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
jaclynf@childrensmuseum.org

Jolly Days Opens with Santa’s Big Arrival at The Children’s Museum

The annual Jolly Days Winter Wonderland exhibit will open at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Friday, Nov. 27, with Santa sliding down the Yule Slide at 9:50 a.m.

Santa’s Big Arrival at The Children’s Museum will be celebrated the day after Thanksgiving with festivities in the museum’s Welcome Center, Sunburst Atrium and Jolly Days exhibit. From 8:30 to 10 a.m., visitors will enjoy face painting, a roaming magician, 30 percent off all merchandise in The Museum Store, and a free youth admission with the purchase of an adult admission. Santa will make his official arrival at 9:50 a.m. by sliding down the Yule Slide with one lucky member child-the traditional kick-off to his visit to Jolly Days.

This year, Jolly Days is bigger than ever before with the addition of new interactive elements including a baby play Snow Castle for the littlest visitors, a reindeer barn where families can help prep Santa’s reindeer for their flight, an indoor “ice skating” area for children to skate in their socks, a larger kitchen area to make holiday goodies including traditional cookies, and staff-facilitated snow ball fun using cotton pom-poms at designated times throughout the day. However, while there are many new areas in Jolly Days, all the traditional elements that visitors know and love are still in the gallery, including the large Snow Castle, ice fishing area, holiday train and photos with Santa.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland will be open for visitors through Sunday, Jan. 10. Santa will be available for visits and photos through 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve-Thursday, Dec. 24-when he must leave to get ready for his big night. The Children’s Museum celebrates a free admission day on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Jolly Days is presented by Fifth Third Bank with additional support from Barnes & Thornburg, LLP, and Fazoli’s.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 472,900 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 20 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit www.childrensmuseum.org.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACTS:
Donna Lolla, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
317-334-4003 / 317-363-9840 (cell)
donnal@childrensmuseum.org

Laura Calliari, Arts and Exhibitions International
424-247-8619 / 310-941-8780 (cell)
laura@artsandexhibitions.com

FINAL MONTH TO SEE “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and

the Great Pharaohs’ AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM

INDIANAPOLIS (Oct. 1, 2009) - “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” will end its four-month run at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis after October 25, 2009. For the final month of the exhibition, special ticket offers to see the boy king’s priceless treasures include:

• Matinee Hours: Tuesday-Friday from 2 p.m. to close, adult tickets to the exhibition are available at a $19 matinee price, and youth tickets are $10 during these hours
• Family Four-packs: Family tickets (two adults, two youth) are available through the end of the run for $60, a significant savings over regular prices

The touring exhibition features more than 100 authentic artifacts from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites. The exhibition is organized by National Geographic, Arts and Exhibitions International and AEG Exhibitions, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. A portion of the proceeds from the tour will go toward antiquities preservation and conservation efforts in Egypt, including the construction of a new grand museum in Cairo. Northern Trust is a proud cultural partner of the tour, and American Airlines is the official airline.

The exhibition features an audio tour and National Geographic video documentary, both narrated by award-winning actor, Harrison Ford.

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” features striking artifacts from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C. - 660 B.C.). Derived from a variety of contexts, including temples and royal and private tombs, most of these artifacts had never visited the United States prior to this tour.

Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.).

The exhibition includes more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb presented alongside artifacts representing other important pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline focuses on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

Four galleries devoted to King Tut correspond to the four rooms of his nearly intact tomb, where the treasures were discovered by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Legendary artifacts from the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber will include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary.

TICKET AND VISITOR INFORMATION
Information and tickets to the exhibition at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis can be found at www.kingtut.org or Ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.com or 1-877-TUT-TKTS (877-888-8587)). Tickets are also available in person at the museum box office. Advance reservations are strongly recommended to secure desired date and time, which must be selected at time of purchase. The exhibition will stay open for 90 minutes past the last ticketed time. Hotel packages including VIP tickets that do not require pre-reserved times and dates are available at www.kingtuthotels.com.

Tickets for groups of 10 or more are available at 1-866-LA-GROUP (866-524-7687). More information is available at www.kingtut.org or www.childrensmuseum.org.

The exhibition is open during the following hours:

Now - Oct. 17
- Sunday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.*
- Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Oct. 18 - Oct. 25
- Sunday - Thursday from 10a.m. - 6:30 p.m.*
- Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

*Mondays through October 19 are dedicated to school groups from 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., with no availability to the general public (limited availability weekdays prior to 1:30 p.m. due to school visits).

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 472,900 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 20 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit www.childrensmuseum.org.

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Talk Like a Pirate at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Ahoy! Come aboard as The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis celebrates International Talk Like a Pirate Day on September 19, from 10 a.m.-3p.m. Children and families will learn to speak like a pirate and take part in special activities highlighting swashbucklin’ pirates o’ old.

Visitors to this celebration at The Children’s Museum will discover fun awaiting pirates and landlubbers alike. Children and families will be able to map their way to a treasure-trove of activities including: stories, games and crafts in the infoZone; rope-tying stations to learn some basic knots of the sea; a spyglass investigation to learn how a spyglass was once used on pirate ships; and learning how to speak like a SCUBA diver while exploring the What if … ? exhibit and its underwater coral reef .

Local band Hogeye Naavy will entertain visitors with performances at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. After their performance, the group will help visitors choose a pirate name at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 and 2:30 p.m. Visitors will also have two opportunities to show off their best pirate-speak during the Talk Like a Pirate contests at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m., and everyone should be sure to wear their favorite pirate gear to be judged among the best-dressed on the high-seas during the Look Like a Pirate costume contest at 11 a.m., hosted by Hogeye Naavy!

International Talk Like a Pirate Day was the creation of friends John Baur and Mark Summers, known as Ol’ Chumbucket and Cap’n Slappy respectively, in 1995, and it has since become an international celebration that has taken place on all seven continents and even, in 2007, on the International Space Station.

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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 472,900 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass, and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 20 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit www.childrensmuseum.org.

Inaugural Neighborhood Exploration Tour (NExT) Offers Cyclists an Opportunity to Explore 15 Miles of Indianapolis Neighborhoods

On Saturday, September 26, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the Indiana State Fair, the Indianapolis Art Center, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art (IMA) are sponsoring an inaugural community bike ride called Neighborhood Exploration Tour (NExT).

NExT is an event to promote health and alternative transportation, which will highlight the ease of biking in the city and visiting Indianapolis attractions. Individuals and families will take a scenic, 15-mile route through some of Indianapolis’s most charming neighborhoods and make stops at The Children’s Museum, the IMA, the Art Center, and the Indiana State Fairgrounds. The route will also travel through Crown Hill Cemetery between The Children’s Museum and the IMA.

Anthony Bridgeman, director of community initiatives at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, and Kathy Shorter, president of the Historic Midtown Initiative (HARMONI), conceived the event in an effort to raise awareness of area neighborhoods and for people to see the city in a new way.

“The bike tour is an effort to promote the urban neighborhoods and sustainability by using alternate transportation, while in the process reaping the health benefits of cycling,” Bridgeman said.

“With the increasing availability of bike lanes in Indianapolis, more residents are relying on bicycles for daily transportation,” Shorter said. “We’d like to remind bike commuters and others that the Midtown cultural attractions are easily and safely accessible by bicycle.”

Registration for the event begins at 8 a.m. followed by a 9 a.m. ride start time; the event will conclude at noon. Participants in the 15-mile ride may register and start from any of four stops on the route: The Children’s Museum, the Indiana State Fairgrounds, the Art Center, or the IMA. Each starting location will have a limited supply of free bike helmets for children, courtesy of the Emergency Medicine Department of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

A shorter route is available for families with young children. Participants may begin this three-mile loop at either The Children’s Museum or the State Fairgrounds.

Bike patrol officers will be available along the route, and safety and directional markers will be located throughout the entire tour. Water and light snacks will be available at each stop, along with an activity for cyclists to enjoy.

• The Children’s Museum will feature a free bicycle safety demonstration from faculty and students of the Emergency Medicine Department of the Indiana University School of Medicine. Helmet decorating for children and a bicycle obstacle course will also be offered. While at the museum, visitors will be able to see the new rain garden and Sculpture Garden on the museum grounds. Inside the museum, families can participate in a day of health and fitness during the Worldwide Day of Play PlayFit event from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. which is free with museum admission.
• The Indiana State Fairgrounds stop will feature the State’s Largest Classroom with points on the tour to include a walk-through of the Green House and Normandy Barn (a 1936 vintage dairy barn), a pin frame barn complete with farm animals, a tour through the nationally recognized program “Little Hands on the Farm,” and the Pathway to Water Quality which demonstrates “backyard” environmentally friendly practices that protect the watershed.
• The Indianapolis Art Center will feature a ride through ARTSPARK, the Art Center’s 12-acre outdoor creativity and sculpture park designed by internationally acclaimed architect, Michael Graves. Stops on the ½ mile loop include: Efroymson Riverfront Garden & Canoe Launch to view native plantings and an entry point for a suggested cultural river tour (starting at the Art Center, through the IMA, and ending at White River State Park); Twisted House by John McNaughton, a permanent sculpture and crowd favorite, and the Nina Mason Pulliam Sensory Path providing sounds created by artist Cenk Ergün from recordings of the animals, insects and people of the White River.
• At the Indianapolis Museum of Art cyclists will catch a glimpse of 100 Acres: The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park (opening June 2010) from the bike route along the Canal Towpath. Then participants can pedal through the IMA’s 52 acres of beautiful historic gardens and grounds to see a new sustainable rain garden that filters environmental pollutants found in storm water runoff and a recently restored, historic orchard and vegetable garden where heirloom fruit and vegetable varieties are grown. Participants can return later to visit the museum galleries and historic Lilly House where admission is free!

“The NExT bike ride is a great example of organizations and citizens working together to achieve Mayor Ballard’s vision of making Indianapolis the most sustainable City in the Midwest,” said Kären Haley, director of the Office of Sustainability for the City of Indianapolis.

For more information and to register please visit www.childrensmuseum.org/next.

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Take Me There: Egypt was created after more than five years of planning, and provides such an immersive experience that visitors will feel like they’ve experienced the country firsthand.

John Lechleiter, chairman of the board, president and chief operating officer for Eli Lilly and Company, said, “Take Me There: Egypt is a powerful, invaluable opportunity allowing millions of families to feel they have left Indianapolis and are actually participating in the daily life of a different culture,” said. “The exhibit will foster understanding in a way that goes far beyond textbooks, television or even the Internet.”

Experience city and rural life and take part in family traditions and celebrations. To provide a thorough understanding of this fascinating culture, visitors will view Egypt through several different lenses. Visitors can explore an urban apartment and a rural home. In the marketplace they can see a coffeehouse, fruit stand/grocery store, clothing store, tent maker and an herbalist shop.

The exhibit features a variety of hands-on activities and family learning opportunities. Families can play a trivia game to test their knowledge of Egyptian families, play “I Spy” as they examine Egyptian currency, or visit the local herbalist and play a computer game in which they must prescribe a remedy. Discover the historical importance and modern-day environmental challenges of the revered Nile River, and find out about important Egyptian sites such as the Avenue of the Sphinxes and an archeological site in Sohag, Egypt.

In the clothing store, visitors will see how traditional Egyptian wear is mixed with more Western-style clothing. Families can also see and hear Egyptian instruments and music, including contemporary pop music. In the arts area, calligraphy, jewelry, rugs and carpet making will be featured, and visitors will learn how artists use the inlay process to create beautiful mother-of-pearl boxes and tables. Visitors can create their own table-top design or arrange beads on small dowels to create an Arabesque pattern. 

Perhaps the most unique feature of this new exhibit is the immersive experiences in which visitors can participate. In Take Me There: Egypt, visitors won’t just see Egyptian culture - they’ll play a part in it! Visitors can participate in a traditional Egyptian ceremony known as the sebou. This joyous celebration, which welcomes a new baby into the community seven days after its birth, began centuries ago and is still practiced today. Visitors will be invited into the happy home where a child has just been born, and they will take part in the preparations, the music and the fun of this exciting Egyptian ceremony. Registered school groups can participate in a sebou or in the majlis al-suhl, a traditional form of conflict resolution. Students may serve as advisors for those involved, as journalists who watch and report on the process, or as a council member who decides what is a fair resolution. Register for these exceptional learning experiences at www.ChildrensMuseum.org.

An exciting trip isn’t complete without a postcard back home, so before visitors leave the exhibit, they can sort through photos of the exhibit and record a message about their experiences. They can e-mail their story back home or send it to family, friends or teachers to tell them about their Egyptian adventures.

Take Me There: Egypt is the museum’s newest permanent gallery and will focus on a different culture every few years. You don’t need to call your travel agent or get a passport for your “trip” to modern-day Egypt, just come to The Children’s Museum!

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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families.  The 472,900 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 20 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year.  For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/Media Contacts:
Donna Lolla
Director of Public and Media Relations
(317) 334-4003
(317) 363-9840 (cell)
DonnaL@ChildrensMuseum.org

Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

CONTACTS:

Laura Calliari
Arts and Exhibitions International
424-247-8619 / 310-941-8780 (cell)
Laura@artsandexhibitions.com

Donna Lolla
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
317-334-4003 / 317-363-9840 (cell)
DonnaL@ChildrensMuseum.org

‘Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs’
Opens June 27 at The Children’s Museum of IndianapolisINDIANAPOLIS (June 26, 2009) - Doors will open tomorrow for “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs,” a touring exhibition featuring more than 100 authentic artifacts from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tutankhamun and other ancient Egyptian sites. The exhibition will be on display at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis from June 27 to October 25, 2009, its first Midwest showing following the U.S. premiere in Atlanta. Most artifacts in the exhibition have never visited the U.S. prior to this tour.”Tutankhamun’s magic still captures the hearts of people all over the world, even though more than 85 years have passed since the discovery of his amazing tomb,” said Zahi Hawass, secretary general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. “America has welcomed the golden king, and now he is bringing with him all the great pharaohs of Egypt. This exhibition will raise much-needed funds for the preservation of Egypt’s monuments and the construction and renovation of museums throughout the country. I always say that Egyptian antiquities are the heritage of the world and that we are only their guardians.”

“We have a longstanding partnership with Dr. Zahi Hawass and with Her Excellency Suzanne Mubarak, the First Lady of Egypt, and we are thrilled that collaboration has led to the incredible opportunity for Indianapolis to host this world-class exhibition and welcome the treasures of King Tut,” said Dr. Jeffrey Patchen, president of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “We look forward to welcoming people of all ages to our institution for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The exhibition features an audio tour and National Geographic video documentary, both narrated by award-winning actor, Harrison Ford.

“Egypt’s ancient treasures are among the world’s greatest cultural legacies,” said Terry Garcia, executive vice president, National Geographic Society. “Even with the great wealth of research that already exists, new technologies continue to open up the past in ways never imagined. Visitors to this exhibition will not only see stunning artifacts spanning 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, but they will also learn more about the life and death of Tutankhamun through recent CT scans conducted on his mummy.”

Teachers throughout the state of Indiana and beyond have a unique opportunity to teach a new generation about King Tut and ancient Egyptian history with financial assistance from Lilly Endowment, Inc., which has generously provided The Children’s Museum with a grant that will enable the museum to provide nearly 98,000 free tickets for teachers and their students. These free tickets are available to school groups on a first-come, first-served basis by registering at http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.

To further the exhibition experience for students, The Children’s Museum has created Units of Study with customized lessons created in conjunction with the exhibition for students in grades 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. These materials are available free of charge at http://www.childrensmuseum.org/. Designed to supplement class trips and curriculums, these materials let students become “Curious Egyptology Investigators” (CEI), using the strategies of Egyptologists and archeologists to discover clues and reveal learnings about the lives and customs of Egyptian royalty.

Northern Trust is a proud cultural partner of the tour, and American Airlines is the official airline.

“Corporate citizenship has been a focus at Northern Trust since our founding in 1889. We are proud to uphold this legacy by supporting important initiatives that promote cultural education and awareness,” said Frederick H. Waddell, president and chief executive officer of Northern Trust Corporation. “We look forward to sharing this inspiring educational experience with the local community and visitors from around the world.”

“American Airlines is thrilled to have a role in bringing ‘Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs’ to Indianapolis,” said Dan Garton, executive vice president of marketing for American Airlines. “As the official airline of the exhibition, we are pleased that American Airlines is helping to make it possible for these extraordinary objects to be seen by thousands of visitors.”

ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
On display from June 27 through October 25, 2009 at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, “Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” features striking artifacts from some of the most important rulers throughout 2,000 years of ancient Egyptian history, from the 4th Dynasty into the Late Period (about 2600 B.C. - 660 B.C.). Derived from a variety of contexts, including temples and royal and private tombs, most of these artifacts had never visited the United States prior to this tour.

Tutankhamun was one of the last kings of Egypt’s 18th Dynasty and ruled during a crucial, turmoil-filled period of Egyptian history. The boy king died under mysterious circumstances around age 18 or 19, in the ninth year of his reign (1323 B.C.).

The exhibition includes more than 50 treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb presented alongside artifacts representing other important pharaohs and notables, along with the latest scientific research about King Tut. The storyline focuses on the splendor of the Egyptian pharaohs, their function in the earthly and divine worlds, and what kingship meant to the Egyptian people.

Four galleries devoted to King Tut correspond to the four rooms of his nearly intact tomb, where the treasures were discovered by British explorer Howard Carter in 1922. Legendary artifacts from the antechamber, the annex, the treasury and the burial chamber include Tutankhamun’s golden sandals, jewelry, furniture, weaponry and statuary.

A special area features CT scans of Tutankhamun that were obtained as part of a landmark, Egyptian research and conservation project, partially funded by National Geographic, that will CT-scan the ancient mummies of Egypt. The scans were captured through the use of a portable CT scanner, donated by Siemens Medical Solutions, which allowed researchers to compile the first three-dimensional picture of Tutankhamun and discover more about his life and death.

“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” is the second National Geographic exhibition dedicated to the remarkable treasures of King Tutankhamun and ancient Egyptian royalty. The other exhibition, “Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs,” opens June 27, 2009 at the de Young museum in San Francisco.

TICKET AND VISITOR INFORMATION
Information and tickets to the exhibition at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis can be found at http://www.kingtut.org/ or Ticketmaster (www.Ticketmaster.com or 1-877-TUT-TKTS (877-888-8587)). Tickets are also available in person at the museum box office. Advance reservations are strongly recommended to secure desired date and time, which must be selected at time of purchase. The exhibition will stay open for 90 minutes past the last ticket. Tickets for groups of 10 or more are available at 1-866-LA-GROUP (866-524-7687). More information is available at http://www.kingtut.org/ or http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.

The exhibition will be open during the following times:

• June 27 - Aug. 1
  • Sunday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.*
  • Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
    *Special Thursday Hours: July 2 from 4 - 8 p.m.
• Aug. 2 - Oct. 17
  • Sunday - Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.*
  • Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
    *Special Thursday Hours: Aug. 6, Sept. 3 and Oct. 1 from 4 - 8 p.m
    Aug. 20, Sept. 17 and Oct. 15 from 4 - 8 p.m. (ADULTS ONLY)
• Oct. 18 - Oct. 25
  • Sunday - Thursday from 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.
  • Friday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

From Sept. 14 through Oct. 19, Monday’s will be reserved for school groups only (9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.).

On weekdays (Mondays - Thursdays), ticket prices are $25 for adults and $23 for seniors age 60 and over. On weekends (Fridays - Sundays), tickets are $30 for adults and $27.50 for seniors.  Tickets for youth ages 2-17 are $15 on any day, and children ages under 2 are free. A companion audio tour narrated by award-winning actor Harrison Ford will also be available for an additional charge.

Hotel packages including VIP tickets that do not require pre-reserved times and dates are available at http://www.kingtuthotels.com/.

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 472,900 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 20 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit ChildrensMuseum.org.

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THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS AND NICKELODEON PARTNER ON FIRST-EVER THE BACKYARDIGANS AND THE WONDER PETS!  INTERACTIVE TRAVELING EXHIBITS

NEW YORK and INDIANAPOLIS-April 13, 2009-The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Nickelodeon are partnering to create two new interactive exhibitions based on the network’s award-winning preschool television series: The Backyardigans and The Wonder Pets!.  The visually and musically dynamic exhibits-currently in the design stages and scheduled to debut in the next two years– will allow families to join along with the Backyardigans and Wonder Pets on interactive learning adventures that explore imaginary play, problem solving, music and movement.  After initial stints at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, the exhibits will then travel to 15 international markets.

Early conceptual designs for The Backyardigans exhibit invite kids to join the backyard pals in adventures such as a jaunt in the jungle or sailing the seas as pirates.  Children can participate in the adventures through activities like dress up, treasure hunts or by playing musical instruments. The Wonder Pets! exhibit designs showcase the unlikely heroes in their classroom where children can help them build a flyboat and join them as they rescue animals in need. Children and their families can work together to free a baby dolphin trapped in a net or build a house for the three little pigs.

“The Backyardigans and The Wonder Pets! have influenced millions of children around the world with their educational curriculum,” said Gerald Raines, Senior Director of Nickelodeon Recreation. “Bringing the interactivity of these television shows to life in an exhibit is a terrific way to bring the learning experiences to families on a grassroots level.”

“The Children’s Museum is excited about the exclusive opportunity to work with Nickelodeon to create and debut The Backyardigans‘ and The Wonder Pets! first traveling exhibits,” added Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “The exhibits will reach millions of children and will offer them extraordinary learning experiences that closely mirror each show’s messages of problem solving, imagination and teamwork.”

Both The Backyardigans and The Wonder Pets! air during Nickelodeon’s preschool programming block weekdays from 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. (ET/PT).  The Backyardigans is an animated musical-adventure series featuring five friends who use their imaginations to embark on epic journeys. The Wonder Pets! is a photo-puppetry animated series, where the story is told in mini-operetta with dialog often sung to an original score from some of Broadway’s top composers.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

Star Wars^TM: The Clone Wars Exhibition Opens at
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

This spring, a galaxy far, far away comes to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis when STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Exhibition opens March 23. The visual exhibition features artwork, costumes and other pieces used in the concept and production for STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS, the first-ever animated feature and television series from Lucasfilm Animation.

Children and families to The Children’s Museum will be able to visualize the characters, the stories and the worlds of STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS as they view maquettes, concept designs and artwork from the series, as well as costumes, props, models and character art from the live-action feature films.

Animation scale models introduce visitors to The Clone Wars and the process by which its characters and worlds were created, designed and brought to life. A single scale model - known as a maquette - illuminates how a character concept can translate from an idea, to an actor, to a sculpture and finally to the screen.

Framed digital prints of original Clone Wars art and environments allow visitors a look into worlds beyond the stars. Life-sized flats of Anakin, Yoda, Ahsoka and other Star Wars characters stand in poses allowing children (and adults!) unique opportunities to pose for photos with their favorite Clone Wars characters.

In addition, props from the live action feature films will be on display to illustrate how physical designs were incorporated into the unique look of the animated series. In addition to lightsabers and costumes from the movies, a full-sized Jedi starfighter will be prominently displayed in the museum’s Welcome Center.

The animated STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS series covers an exciting era in the Star Wars Saga, taking place between Episodes II and III. As the Clone Wars sweep through the galaxy, the heroic Jedi Knights struggle to maintain order and restore peace. Led by Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, the heroic forces of the Galactic Republic valiantly resist the evil Count Dooku and his sinister Separatist agents. New episodes of the animated television series can be seen each Friday at 9 p.m. on Cartoon Network.

The STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS Exhibition will be at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis through January 31, 2010. For more information, visit ChildrensMuseum.org.

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The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families.  The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 19 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year.  For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.

STAR WARS^TM and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. TM & © Lucasfilm Ltd.  All rights reserved.  All other trademarks and trade names are properties of their respective owners.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

Celebrate President’s Day with The Children’s Museum

WHAT:           President’s Day Celebration
In celebration of America’s leaders, The Children’s Museum will present a free admission day on February 16 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate fitness and Hoosier President Benjamin Harrison with fun activities for the entire family.

WHERE:        The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis

WHEN:           Monday, February 16, 2009; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

DETAILS:      Activities will take place throughout the day including:
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
- American Heart Association Go Healthy Challenge; Information from the IUPUI Sport Complex and Riley Hospital for Children (Welcome Center)
- Marion County Health Department - Lead Safe and Healthy Homes Lead Screenings (Room 103)
- 44^th President Collaborative Puzzle (Room 104)
- Meet President Lincoln: Celebrate the 200^th Birthday and life of our 16^th President (Level 2 Mezzanine)
- 100 Black Men of Indianapolis (Level 2)
- Saint Florian Center (Level 2)
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
- Preschool Fitness (Room 101)
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.; 12:30, 1:30 & 2:30 p.m.
- Meet President Harrison: Celebrate the life of Hoosier President Benjamin Harrison (Story Ave.)
10:30 & 11:30 a.m.; 1:30, 2:30 & 3:30 p.m.
- The Importance of George Washington Carver: Be a scientist like George Washington Carver! Learn about the famous scientist’s achievements and discover the nutritional value of peanut butter and other foods. (Biotechnology Learning Center)
1:30 p.m.
- President’s Show with Don Miller of Family Time Entertainment (infoZone)

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families.  The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 19 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year.  For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.

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MEDIA ALERT:
Donna Lolla                                                         Jaclyn Falkenstein
Director of Media and Public Relations           Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4003                                                  (317) 334-4007
(317) 363-9840  (cell)                                        (317) 626-4555 (cell)
DonnaL@ChildrensMuseum.org                      JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF INDIANAPOLIS AND LEGO SYSTEMS, INC. OPEN THE  DRAWBRIDGE ON LEGO^® CASTLE ADVENTURE
LEGO Inspired Multimedia Museum Exhibition Opens Jan. 31, 2009

Hear ye, hear ye, calling builders of all ages! Join The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis as they debut the opening of LEGO^® Castle Adventure. The new traveling museum exhibit begins at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Jan. 31, 2009 and will visit 12 major markets in North America through 2013, reaching more than 2 million children and families.  

In LEGO Castle Adventure, children and families are transported to a LEGO kingdom where they too can become master castle builders, using one of the greatest building materials of all time - LEGO bricks!  

“We are thrilled to partner with the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis with this new hands-on, minds-on showcase of castles,” said Soren Torp Laursen, president LEGO Systems, Inc. “We hope that this exhibit will not only inspire learning and creativity, but also unleash the inner creator and builder.”

“LEGO^® Castle Adventure is an extraordinary opportunity for families to make cross-generational connections. Adult fans of LEGO bricks can share their ideas and memories with their children and grandchildren,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.

Visitors to this exhibit will be immersed in castle-life through experiences designed specifically for children and families. Enter the LEGO kingdom’s royal castle to sit in their majesties’ thrones and view the royal family’s portrait - made out of LEGO bricks - and LEGO suit of armor. View the king’s secret treasure room filled with LEGO jewels.

Even the youngest of builders will enjoy putting together their own LEGO castle creation. LEGO models of real-world castles Blarney, Arundel and Neuschwanstein offer insights about how castles were planned and built. Age-appropriate build areas for Apprentice Builders (toddlers), Journeymen Builders (ages 3 - 6) and Master Builders (ages 7 and older) allow children to use their newfound knowledge to create their own unique structures.  

After visiting the throne room, visitors can tour the castle grounds and learn about day-to-day castle life. Children and families are able to dress up as princes, princesses, knights or dragons; build a LEGO brick topiary; or climb a lookout tower. Children are invited to don suspender-style horses to play in a safe “jousting field” with foam-rubber lances and soft targets set up on the field. And, of course, no trip to a castle would be complete without meeting the resident LEGO dragon, but don’t worry, she doesn’t bite!

Once visitors have learned what it takes to plan and construct a proper home for the king and queen, they can test out the castle’s defenses with what else … a catapult. Using a 3-D computer program and real-world catapult, one can virtually build and test the castle walls and learn through trial and error the most durable way to build the castle’s defenses.

LEGO Castle Adventure is open through May 3, 2009. Castles might belong more to the Middle Ages, but the skills of planning, imagination and fun learned in a trip through LEGO Castle Adventure are valuable to every age!

To learn more about LEGO Castle Adventure, visit ChildrensMuseum.org, or contact the museum at (317) 334-3322 or toll-free at (800) 208-KIDS.

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 433,000-square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World^®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 19 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit ChildrensMuseum.org.

About LEGO Systems, Inc.
The LEGO Group (www.LEGO.com) is a privately held, family-owned company, based in Billund, Denmark. Founded 1932, today it is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children’s creative and imaginative abilities through its products, which can be purchased in more than 130 countries.

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MEDIA CONTACT:¼br> Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with The Children’s Museum

WHAT:      Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, A Celebration of Unity
In celebration of the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., The Children’s Museum will offer a free admission day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Celebrate the life and achievements of Martin Luther King Jr. with special activities.

WHERE:        The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis

WHEN:           Monday, January 19, 2009

DETAILS:      Activities will take place throughout the day including:
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Martin Luther King Jr. Activity Room - take part in art-based activities to celebrate the life of Dr. King
10:30 a.m.
Freedom March - visitors will participate in a recreated march to remember Dr. King  and those who persevered within the movement for change.
11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Asante Touring Company, a subsidiary of the Asante Children’s Theatre - watch excerpts from Martin Luther King and the Hip Hop World
12:30, 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
In Their Words - listen to famous speeches from Dr. King and his contemporaries. Delivered by Jonathan Thompson and students from New Generation Artist.     

Beginning this year, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis has partnered with The Indiana Association of School Principals (IASP) to expand the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay contest. The IASP, Department of Student Programs will facilitate the program to expand the reach and influence of the contest.

Each year, participating students in grades 6-12 are asked to write an essay based on a quote from Martin Luther King Jr. The 2009 contest will kick-off on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, January 19, with the announcement of the quote for this year’s contest. Awards are provided by Ball State University for age groups 6-8^th graders and 9-12^th graders. For more information about the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest, please visit www.iasp.org/dspcompetitions.aspx on January 19.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families.  The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 19 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year.  For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

SANTA’S BIG ARRIVAL WELCOMES JOLLY DAYS WINTER WONDERLAND
Annual Holiday Exhibit Opens at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis on Nov. 28

The holidays are almost here and soon Santa will make his grand entrance at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis! From 8 - 10 a.m. on Nov. 28, Santa’s Big Arrival celebration heralds the start of the holiday season at The Children’s Museum and opening day of the annual wintertime favorite exhibit, Jolly Days Winter Wonderland.

Santa’s Big Arrival
In celebration of Santa’s Big Arrival, The Children’s Museum Store, Welcome Center, Jolly Days and Animation exhibits will open early at 8 a.m. Children and families will enjoy holiday activities, face-painting and a roaming magician as well as a free youth admission with the purchase of a same-day adult admission. All specials and festivities take place until 10 a.m. when Santa makes his grand entrance down the holiday-favorite Yule Slide. Register your child before 10 a.m. to be the first to tell Santa his or her holiday wish and to take a trip down the Yule Slide when Santa arrives and the entire museum opens for fun.

Jolly Days Winter Wonderland
Santa’s Big Arrival heralds the opening of the annual holiday-favorite, Jolly Days Winter Wonderland exhibit. Children and families will once again enjoy trying out their ice fishing skills in the Fishing Shack, visiting the Cookie Café to warm up their imagination with lots of cookie fun or taking a trip through the winter wonderland Snow Castle, which includes a toddler-size version of the popular Yule Slide. Jolly Days offers families the opportunity to visit Santa and to take home a holiday photo keepsake. Santa will be at The Children’s Museum through 2 p.m. on Christmas Eve, so be sure to stop by and let him know all your wishes for the holiday season. Jolly Days will remain open through Jan. 4, 2009, for museum visitors.

Museum Store and Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved
During Santa’s Big Arrival, holiday shoppers can make their early-morning purchases in The Museum Store beginning at 8 a.m. and take advantage of 30 percent off all merchandise until 10 a.m.

For those adults who may need a little help with their holiday purchases, The Museum Store is available to help. Toy test experts - kids! - recently tried out their favorites in The Museum Store and the top 10 Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved favorites are now available in the store or online at ChildrensMuseum.org. Or, check out the free personal shopping service to help choose gifts which might appeal to the recipients on your list this year.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Also beginning Nov. 28, the popular children’s book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, comes to life in Lilly Theater this holiday season. As the houseguests of an old professor who lives on the outskirts of London, four children playing inside a wardrobe discover a magical world called Narnia. In Narnia, the White Witch has declared that it will always be winter, but never Christmas. The children and their Narnian friends, including Aslan the lion, join together to defeat the White Witch, bring Aslan back to power and spring back to Narnia. Running through Jan. 4, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is recommended for families with children 4 and up. Show times and dates vary; visit ChildrensMuseum.org for a full list of show times.

This holiday season, a trip to The Children’s Museum offers a variety of events, activities and even shopping for both children and adults. To learn more about The Children’s Museum during the holiday season, visit ChildrensMuseum.org.

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2008 Kid-Tested, Kid-Approved Top Ten Toys

1. Beware the Dog Game: Take the bones out of a sleeping dog’s bowl, but be careful not to wake him or there could be trouble.
2. Bump ‘n’ Chuck R/C Bumper Cars: Futuristic radio-controlled, colliding, driver-ejecting, bumper cars.
3. PlayFoam: Lightweight foam sculpting beads in bright colors. Will not dry out, crumble, or stick to skin or surfaces.
4. LEGO^® Special Edition Set: Retro Box includes 700 pieces and a golden brick, celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the LEGO brick.
5. Light “N” Strike Math Game: Arcade-style game where kids use a soft mallet to strike the correct answer when it lights up. Features three levels of play for addition, subtraction, multiplication and division.
6. Smart Toss Bean Bag Tossing Game: Four games in one. Toss beanbags through holes to match colors, shapes, or numbers, or invent your own game. Promotes active play and challenges gross motor skills.
7. Airzooka: Blasts a harmless ball of air up to 20 feet.
8. Zolotopia Game and Building Set: 67 pieces of colorful constructive fun, plus a spinner to jumpstart the fun with four games.
9. Magformers: Magnetic building sets that help you create complex 3-D models using two basic geometric shapes.
10. Blokus Trigon Game: A challenging spin on award-winning Blokus.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

See Green, Learn Green, Save Green!

America Recycles Day Activities: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Meet the Incredible Hulk Appearance Times: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 & 2:30 p.m.

Visit The Children’s Museum on November 15 and ‘See Green’ with an appearance by The Incredible Hulk, ‘Learn Green’ during America Recycles Day with information about living green, and ‘Save Green’ with discounts on admission and in The Museum Store. America Recycles Day (ARD) is the only nationally recognized day dedicated to encouraging Americans to recycle and to buy recycled products. Children and families will learn how to help reduce trash and keep our planet clean. Participate in recycling activities and find out what small changes you can make every day toward creating a better natural environment.  

Appearance times are limited to 30 minutes.
Marvel, Hulk: TM & © 2008 Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and its subsidiaries. Licensed by Marvel Characters B.V. www.marvel.com. All rights reserved.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Donna Lolla                                                      Jaclyn Falkenstein
Director of Public and Media Relations       Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4003                                              (317) 334-4007
(317) 363-9840 (cell)                                     (317) 626-4555 (cell)DonnaL@ChildrensMuseum.org                   JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

Fourth Annual Power of Children Awards: Making a Difference
Awards Presented Nov. 7 at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis recognizes that children and young people throughout the state make significant contributions and provide countless hours of volunteer service to make their communities better. In 2004, The Power of Children Awards were created by The Children’s Museum to honor and empower the selfless efforts of middle and high school students throughout Indiana. These awards help extraordinary children and families realize that many others in our own communities also perform extraordinary acts and that their good deeds should not go unnoticed. For 2008, four outstanding youths were chosen as Power of Children Award recipients: Kyle Gough, Westview Jr.-Sr. High School, Topeka, Ind.; siblings Amanda and Grant Mansard, Terre Haute North High School, Terre Haute, Ind.; and Alison Mansfield, Summit Middle School, Fort Wayne, Ind.

The Power of Children Awards were inspired by the museum’s dynamic exhibit, The Power of Children: Making a Difference, now celebrating its first year of public visitation. This moving exhibit features the lives of three nationally and internationally known extraordinary young people who touched the world in unique ways - Anne Frank, Ruby Bridges and Ryan White.

“Now in its fourth year of recognizing extraordinary youth service, The Power of Children Awards are an important way to recognize the powerful work that young people accomplish,” said Dr. Jeffrey Patchen, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “The philanthropic efforts of these young people are making positive differences in the lives of others now that will impact and inspire not only their own generation, but also future generations.”

This year, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will honor four youths as role models who exemplify an extraordinary commitment to public service and social responsibility. During the Nov. 7 awards presentation, the 2008 Power of Children Award winners will each receive a cash recognition award of $2,000 from Kroger to further extend the depth and reach of their extraordinary projects, a Sam H. Jones Community Service Scholarship to be used for post-secondary education at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI), the opportunity to attend the Youth Philanthropy Initiative of Indiana summer youth conference and a museum membership. Emceed by Scott Sander, anchor of WISH-TV’s Daybreak, the 2008 awards ceremony will feature remarks from Gerald Raines, senior director, Nickelodeon Theme Parks and Attractions. Mr. Raines is responsible for the expansion and management of Nickelodeon’s global theme parks and attractions business.  

The Deborah Joy Simon Charitable Trust generously provided a major gift to support the establishment and continuation of The Power of Children Awards. Additional support has been provided by Crowe, Duke Energy, Kroger, IUPUI, Starbucks and WISH-TV 8.

To be considered for The Power of Children Awards, Indiana youth in grades 6-11 were nominated by adults, 21 years or older, who reside in Indiana. The nominees had to be individuals who actively created and implemented their projects during the 2007-2008 school year.

2008 Power of Children Award winners:
In response to a need for computers in his community, 17-year-old Kyle Gough founded PC’s for Youth, Inc. This Topeka, Ind., Westview Jr.-Sr. High School senior recognized the importance of owning a computer with word processing capabilities for educational and social supplementation. Through his desire to bring these benefits to others in his community, Kyle created the organization PC’s for Youth, Inc., to provide recycled computers to youth in need and adults seeking to continue their education. Since beginning this project, nearly 100 individuals have directly or indirectly benefited from PC’s For Youth, Inc., and Kyle hopes to establish 501(c)(3) status to improve sustainability for this organization.

Siblings Amanda and Grant Mansard founded the non-profit organization Youth Embracing Service (Y.E.S.) as a way to start service projects and to get other students involved. After their father was injured at work, Amanda and Grant formed Y.E.S. as their self-described way “to focus on helping others so they wouldn’t feel sorry for themselves and focus too much on their problems.” The Y.E.S. organization provides an opportunity for youth to volunteer in their community. Since August 2007, Y.E.S. has completed several projects, including “Calling All Angels” which sent 3,400 holiday cards to Indiana soldiers serving overseas; “Y.E.S. We Go a Caroling” in which 55 volunteers went Christmas caroling to terminally-ill individuals and their families; and in February 2008 completed “You’ve Been Hugged” to deliver Valentine “hugs” in the form of gift bags and balloons to 127 terminally-ill individuals. These Terre Haute North High School students also created the Web site YouthEmbracingService.org to provide information about Y.E.S. service projects and volunteer opportunities for youth in local community organizations, as well as general information about volunteering and how to do service projects. The Mansards plan to continue the work they have begun and hope to expand their organization to students throughout the state.

Alison Mansfield, an 8^th grade student at Summit Middle School in Fort Wayne, created Operation Socks for Our Troops as a way to provide wool socks for soldiers. During a trip to the post office to ship toiletries to soldiers, a clerk mentioned to Alison the need troops serving in the mountains of Afghanistan have for wool socks. In response to this need, Alison started the Operation Socks for Our Troops campaign to collect socks and money to help pay for overseas shipping expenses. Since Veteran’s Day 2007, more than 5,000 pairs of socks and $5,000 cash and in-kind donations have been collected by donors and Operation Socks for Our Troops has met the needs for approximately 19.2 percent of soldiers serving in Afghanistan and areas of Iraq. The 13-year-old Alison plans to continue her sock-donation campaign and to expand her efforts to meet the needs of troops serving overseas.

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Everyone’s a Kid at The Children’s Museum!
Youth pricing offered for all admissions Nov. 1 through 26

Everyone is invited to be a kid at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and beginning Nov.1 this offer will extend to admission prices as well! The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is offering youth admission prices ($8.50) for all adult, senior and youth admissions to the museum Nov. 1-26. Also, be a kid for an entire year with a museum membership. Save $25 now on all Basic and Plus Museum Memberships purchased before Nov. 26.

All Aboard the Eerie Express!
It’s The Children’s Museum Guild’s 45th Annual Haunted House at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

WHAT:           Get ready to board an imaginary train and experience a trip like no other on the Eerie Express, the 45th annual Children’s Museum Guild’s Haunted House. The Haunted House is a central Indiana tradition that will span 21 days in October, providing guests a family-friendly and eerily-fun filled time together.

Friendly Hour tours are designed for younger children and those who scare easily. This year The Children’s Museum Guild, with the assistance of The Children’s Museum staff, has created a fun and interactive experience aboard the Eerie Express. Frances the Friendly Witch, the newest Haunted House mascot, will make her debut to greet and interact with passengers waiting to board the train.

For our more adventurous travelers, Frightening Hours are sure to provide a frighteningly good ride in the dark! Gather up your courage and dare to wander the creepy cars of this haunted train. You never know what might be waiting in the shadows … for you!

WHEN:           Oct. 11 through 31, 2008. The museum and the haunted house are closed on Mondays. Specific dates and times for Friendly Hours, Frightening Hours, Feast with the Witches, and Trick-or-Treat Theater are on the enclosed flyer.

WHERE:        The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian Street, Indianapolis, IN 46208

DETAILS:      Tickets for the Haunted House are available at Marsh Supermarkets and at AAA branch locations for $5.50; at the door for $6.50 ($6 for museum members); or online at ChildrensMuseum.org. Please call (317) 334-3322 for more information.

SPECIAL EVENTS:
Member Preview Party (6 - 9 p.m.) - Friday, Oct. 10
A special night where passengers can be one of the first to board the Eerie Express - a night especially for Children’s Museum members only! Not only will passengers get to board the Eerie Express (for either a Friendly or Frightening ride), but they will be able to tour the entire museum and enjoy special activities including a costume contest for kids, Halloween crafts and fun for everyone! ($12 per person)

Opening Day (10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.) - Saturday, Oct. 11
The Eerie Express will be open to the public the entire day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for Friendly Hours and from 3:30 to 9:30 p.m. for Frightening Hours. Be prepared for a unique and fun-filled experience!

Feasts with the Witches - Tuesdays & Thursdays, (Oct. 16, 21, 23 or 30 at 6 p.m.) and Saturdays (Oct. 18 or 25 at 9 a.m.)
The ever-popular Feasts with the Witches events are back again this year. Enjoy either a Friendly Feast with the Witches, perfect for children who scare easily or a Frightening Feast with the Witches, for children who dare to be scared.

Children and their families will enjoy a breakfast or dinner “boo-ffet”, see a special Halloween musical, The Little Red CaBOOse, and tour the Haunted House (Friendly Hours for Friendly Feast with the Witches and Frightening Hours for Frightening Feast with the Witches). Tickets for these events are available through the Museum Box Office. Please be sure to book your event early, tickets are limited. ($15 per person). Discounts apply for AAA members.

Trick-or-Treat Theater - Wednesdays (Oct. 22 & 29 at 11:30 a.m.) and Sundays (Oct. 19 & 26 at noon)
Your little ones will enjoy a pizza lunch, a craft, and a live and interactive show with our very own Frances the Friendly Witch as well as a friendly and interactive experience aboard the Eerie Express Haunted House. ($10 per person)

Special Scout Days - (Oct. 14, 16, 17, 21, 24, 28)
Put on those Boy and Girl Scout uniforms and board the Eerie Express! Visit the Haunted House (during either Friendly or Frightening Hours) in your Scout uniform, and receive a patch after your trip.

Scout Overnight - Friday, Oct. 17 & 24
Pack your bags and get ready for a ride like no other. Join us for a lights-out journey and behind-the-scenes tour of the Haunted House, Eerie Express. Take a behind-the-scenes look at the museum’s Animation exhibit and experience Star Tales in the Planetarium. To make the night complete, scouts will enjoy a late night pizza party and movie in Lilly Theater. The official Eerie Express Scout Patch will be awarded to our train passengers! Check-in is at 7 p.m. and check-out is the next day at 7 a.m. One adult chaperone per 10 children. ($35 per person)

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

Celebrate Grandparents at The Children’s Museum

WHAT: Celebrate the special grandparents in your life during September at The Children’s Museum! Free admission programs, special guests and learning opportunities designed especially for grandparents are offered throughout the month.

During the month of September, a special $20 grandparent and youth admission package is available online at ChildrensMuseum.org.

WHERE: The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St.

WHEN: September 2008

DETAILS: Interested adults are invited to attend any of the following special events. The Children’s Museum is closed on Mondays from Labor Day - March; regular exhibits will not be open. Please R.S.V.P to Helena Grip at (317) 334-3330 or HelenaG@ChildrensMuseum.org to attend the programs below.

Indiana Living Green
Monday, Sept. 15; 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Join special guest, Lynn Jenkins, editor of Indiana Living Green magazine to learn more about how grandparents can live a greener lifestyle.

Eating for Good Health
Monday, Sept. 15; 10:40 - 11:45 a.m.
Learn healthy eating habits from St. Francis dietician, Jill Frame.

Comics Connecting Generations
Grandparent Workshop, featuring Josh Elder
Tuesday, Sept. 16; 10 - 11 a.m.
Josh Elder made it in the comics’ world in April 2005 when his short story “Mail Order Ninja” won the grand prize in TOKYOPOP^®’s Rising Stars of Manga contest. He scored a six-book deal as a result, and his work was soon picked up as a syndicated Sunday comic strip in more than 45 newspapers worldwide - including the Los Angeles Times, The Denver Post and The Boston Globe. More recently, he fulfilled a lifelong dream with the publication of his first issue of DC Comics all-ages superhero comic titled “The Batman Strikes.” Hear from Josh about his work, and how grandparents can use comic books to connect with their grandchildren.

Heart, Body and Mind Health
Monday, Sept. 29; 9:30 - 11:30 a.m.
Join a representative from the St. Francis Cardiac Screening Center to learn more about heart health. Afterwards, enjoy the museum as a destination for health and fitness. Wear your walking shoes and receive a pedometer to track your mileage.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 13 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit http://www.ChildrensMuseum.org.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)

Dragons Unearthed at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Discover Fossil Evidence that Fuels Dragon Myths

In 2006, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and Dr. Robert Bakker, considered one of the leading paleontological scientists in the world, announced the naming of a 66-million-year-old, first-of-its-kind, dragon-like dinosaur in honor of celebrated children’s book author J.K. Rowling. The name Dracorex hogwartsia comes from the Latin words draco (meaning dragon), rex (meaning king), and hogwartsia (after the fictional Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry created by J.K. Rowling). Millions of visitors have seen Dracorex with its long muzzle, bizarre knobs and spiky horns and agree that it does conjure up visions of ancient majestic beasts. On Sept. 19, 2008, Dragons Unearthed will open in Dinosphere’s Mann Properties Gallery of Dinosaur Imagery featuring the John Lazendorf Collection of paleo art.

Dragons Unearthed, highlighting Dracorex hogwartsia, will present information that helps us understand how fossils of mysterious, extinct animals may have inspired ancient people around the world to believe that dragons and other fabulous creatures once lived. The Dracorex skull looks strangely familiar to anyone who has studied dragons. It bears a remarkable resemblance to the dragons of ancient China and medieval Europe. Sioux Indians who found a skull like this might have identified it as Unktehi, the mythical horned water monster of the South Dakota Badlands, where the fossil was unearthed. Like modern paleontologists, fossil hunters in antiquity tried to imagine the appearance and behavior of the creatures whose bones they found. In fact, many paleontologists today believe there might be a link between the mythological creatures ancient peoples believed to be dragons and the discovery of dinosaur fossils. Dragons Unearthed is a family-friendly, art-based exhibit centered around the old stories about dragons that still have the power to enchant us today. The exhibit explores the mythology behind dragons using true dinosaur facts.

Other dinosaur specimens will be presented alongside paleo paintings, drawings and sculpture from the Lanzendorf Collection. Interactive stations give children and families the opportunity to fashion their own dragons from fossil evidence. Dragons Unearthed also includes Asian artifacts from the museum’s Cultural World collection that feature dragon imagery.

A number of artifacts such as a Chinese infant hat, neckband, a huge dragon dance costume from Guangdong, China used for special festivals like Chinese New Year and a beautifully-carved Japanese miniature called a netsuke will be on display. The netsuke acted as a toggle to function as part of a sort of removable hip pocket.  

In celebration of the opening of Dragons Unearthed, LEGO^® Master Builders will create a 10-foot-tall dragon made entirely out of LEGO® bricks. Children’s Museum visitors are invited to work alongside the Master Builders to help assemble the dragon. This project is so big that it will take nearly three days to complete, from Sept. 19 - 21, so there will be plenty of opportunities for visitors to help.

For more information about Dragons Unearthed or the LEGO® dragon build at The Children’s Museum, please call (317) 334-3322 or visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World^®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 19 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit http://www.ChildrensMuseum.org.

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Donna Lolla
Director of Media and Public Relations
DonnaL@ChildrensMuseum.org

Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

Museum Apprentice Program at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis

Partaking in a variety of programs has become customary in the lives of children. Young people today often have agendas packed with activities of every nature. One week it is basketball, then it is photography and then maybe acting classes. Programs offer children the opportunity to explore different avenues of interest; perhaps something they will find a career in, or just something they will spend a lifetime enjoying.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis offers another fun opportunity for teens looking for a worthwhile activity: the Museum Apprentice Program, also known as MAP. For over fifty years, the MAP at The Children’s Museum has afforded young adults a chance to see what it may be like to work in a museum and explore that particular career avenue. “How many places can you go and become an assistant to a paleontologist? Or participate in NASA Lunar Plant Growth? I am willing to bet not many places offer this opportunity to teens,” said Jill Gordon, MAP coordinator.

The MAP is funded in part by The D.J. Angus Scientech Educational Foundation, which provides money to be used over a three year period. The organization has been funding the MAP program for several years. Every year in June the MAP coordinator and several participants present the year’s projects to the club. “This year three MAPS and I presented a video that highlighted interviews with more than 10 MAPS. I think the group was very impressed with our work,” said Gordon.

The Children’s Museum offers an environment ideal for learning about the museum business, but that is not all children will gain from this project-based program. The MAP also provides teens with a chance to learn about teamwork, service learning, philanthropy and commitment. During this year-long program, participants volunteer six to eight hours per month during the school year, and average around fifteen hours per month in the summer. “Of course we have those who go above and beyond the hour requirements, but that is only to their benefit. The more they are here, the more they learn,” said Gordon.

MAP apprentices go though an application process as well as a formal interview. “We are looking for teens with high levels of maturity and commitment and who show interest in the learning opportunities of this program,” said Gordon. The program has an assortment of teens, up to thirty each year, from different schools, backgrounds and interests. Once an apprentice has been accepted into the program they may work with a mentor from the museum staff or with other apprentices in a mentor-like relationship.

Applications for the 2008/2009 program are due August 30 and are available at http://www.childrensmuseum.org/volunteer/student_vol.htm.

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The destination experts at ShermansTravel.com posted their picks for the ten most kid-friendly museums across the United States. The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis made the list. Museums were chosen based on their ability to stimulate young people, provide educational value under the guise of child-like fun, offered hands-on exhibits and kept adults entertained.

Top Ten Kid-Friendly Museums:

American Museum of Natural History, New York
The Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago
Charles M. Schulz Museum, Santa Rosa
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Experience Music Project, Seattle
Exploratorium, San Francisco
Franklin Institute Science Museum, Philadelphia
John F. Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral
National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Cooperstown

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ Extraordinary Collaboration with Egypt’s First Lady Suzanne Mubarak and Egyptologist Dr. Zahi Hawass Results in 2009 Egyptian - Indianapolis Showcase

“Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs” and new Children’s Museum permanent exhibit featuring Egypt to open in Indianapolis in June 2009

What began as a joint effort with world-renowned archaeologist Dr. Zahi Hawass, the National Geographic Society and The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to produce a new traveling exhibit in 2002 has developed into an extraordinary partnership with Egypt’s First Lady Suzanne Mubarak and the real “Indiana Jones” of modern Egypt, Dr. Zahi Hawass, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Egypt.

As a result, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will host Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs for four months beginning in late June 2009; the museum will open a new $8 million permanent exhibit Global Perspectives featuring modern Egypt, also opening in June, 2009; and the museum will continue its successful collaboration with the country of Egypt to ultimately develop a new children’s museum in Cairo.

Treasures from King Tut’s tomb and other Pharaohs and Notables to be showcased
Tutankhamun: The Golden King and the Great Pharaohs will present more than 130 matchless treasures from the tomb of the celebrated pharaoh King Tut and additional ancient sites to visitors of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis from June 2009 through the end of October 2009. Nearly 4 million people visited an earlier King Tut exhibition, Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs during a four-city U.S. tour from 2005 to 2007.

Dr. Jeffrey Patchen, president and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, “Our ability to secure this magnificent exhibit in Indianapolis evolved through our ongoing partnership with Dr. Zahi Hawass.”

New Global Perspectives exhibit offers interactive experiences of modern-day Egypt
When it opens in June 2009, the new Global Perspective exhibit will allow visitors to “arrive” in modern Egypt and experience city and rural life with all of their traditions and celebrations. Visitors will have the opportunity to shop in a modern marketplace, understand how the environment and its care are crucial to modern Egyptians, participate in a traditional Egyptian celebration, and learn about Egyptian music and artistic traditions.

John Lechleiter, president and chief operating officer for Eli Lilly and Company, said, “Global Perspectives will be a powerful, invaluable opportunity allowing millions of families to feel they have left Indianapolis and are actually participating in the daily life of a new culture. “The exhibit will foster understanding in a way that goes far beyond textbooks, television or even the Internet.”

Planning for the new $8 million 13,000 square-foot international changing exhibition space started in 2003. Global Perspectives opens in June 2009. Every two to three years, the exhibition’s focus will change to another culture.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis helps design new Suzanne Mubarak Children’s Museum in Cairo
In commenting on the collaboration between The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis and the planned Suzanne Mubarak Children’s Museum, First Lady Mubarak said, “The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is giving us a wonderful message and service for family-oriented museums. We do hope that we’ll be able to gain and learn and share the experiences of your museum, and in a sense, enrich our own museum.” 

Mubarak is known throughout Egypt for her dedication to children, libraries and women’s issues, and she views revising the current children’s museum as an extension of her work and commitment on behalf of children. She said, “We want to share with Egyptian children and make them understand there are other cultures and values out there; but at the end of the day, we all share the same values. We want to care for each other, love each other and live in a peaceful world. And that is our message.”

Hawass said, “Mrs. Mubarak would like this museum to be the best for children and families, and this is why we need The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.” The new Suzanne Mubarak Children’s Museum will be the beneficiary of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ approach to family learning across the sciences, arts and humanities. The new museum is being planned on the site of an existing children’s museum that is 15 years old. 

Patchen and Jennifer Pace-Robinson, Vice President of Experience Development and Family Learning The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis are serving as exhibit design advisors and continue to meet with Mubarak and Hawass to discuss proposed exhibit themes. Patchen and Robinson have also reviewed preliminary plans for the architecture and exhibit layout at the new museum and early designs including a ground floor exhibit based around three seasons with a hands-on area, activities table and a touch screen.

“It was such an honor to be invited to meet with Her Excellency,” Patchen said, “We are extending our reach far beyond the boundaries of the United States to benefit the children of Egypt. Sharing The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis’ approach to family learning with Her Excellency, touring Egypt to assist in the creation of a permanent exhibit here that shows Egyptian life today in Global Perspectives, and having the King Tut exhibit in Indiana is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

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Tutankhamun: The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs is organized by National Geographic, AEG Exhibitions, and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Global Perspectives, a permanent exhibit developed by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is made possible through funding from The Eli Lilly and Co. Foundation and The Lilly Endowment, Inc.

Contact:
Donna Lolla
Director of Public and Media Relations
(317) 334-4003
(317) 363-9840
DonnaL@ChildrensMuseum.org

Media Advisory

A First Lady, A Real ‘Indiana Jones’ and A King
An Extraordinary Collaboration!

 The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis Announces New Exhibits

On Monday, June 2, 2008, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis will announce upcoming exhibitions that will impact the state and region.

WHERE/
WHAT:          The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, 3000 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, 10 a.m., Monday, June 2, 2008

           Announcement schedule

9:45 a.m.
Live camels and Museum Apprentices in Egyptian costume greet visitors.
Special music selection begins

10 a.m.
Welcome and explanation by Dr. Jeffrey Patchen, President and CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
Remarks from Lloyd Lyons, Board Chair, The Children’s Museum; Robert Bedell, President and CEO, Indiana Convention and Visitors Association; Mark Lach, Senior Vice President of Arts and Exhibitions International

10:45 a.m.
Special Unveiling

Spokespersons available for interviews following the ceremony

Family activities on Level 2 Mezzanine: Egyptian face painting, design Egyptian collars and cuffs and more.

WHY:              Tutankhamun: The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs and Global Perspectives will grand open together at The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis in June 2009. Tutankhamun: The Golden King and The Great Pharaohs is organized by National Geographic, AEG Exhibitions, and Arts and Exhibitions International, with cooperation from the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. Global Perspectives, a permanent exhibit featuring modern day Egypt developed by The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is made possible through funding from The Eli Lilly and Co. Foundation and The Lilly Endowment, Inc.

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MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 (cell)
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

“ANIMATION” EXHIBIT INVITES VISITORS TO STEP INTO WORLD OF ANIMATION WITH CARTOON NETWORK CHARACTERS

Animation Brings Science, Math and Technology to Life!

At The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis visitors will soon step into the exciting and visually rich world of animation when the 6,000-square-foot, highly interactive exhibit Animation featuring Cartoon Network opens on May 24.

The Animation exhibit will be on display at The Children’s Museum from May 24 through Jan. 4, 2009. In Animation’s stimulating and fun environment, visitors explore animation from concept to finished product - from storyboarding, character design, and drawing techniques to movement, timing, filming, and sound. Larger-than-life graphics of popular Cartoon Network characters provide a colorful backdrop to the exhibit, which also explores the history of animation and features a screening room and a cartoon museum.

“What this exhibit reveals in full interactive detail is the number of different skills involved in creating animation, from voice-acting and recording to computer programming and scoring, from screenwriting and storyboarding to sound-effects and editing,” said Dennis Adamovich, senior vice president of marketing, Cartoon Network. 

“There truly is a science to this colorful, engaging art form. Animation will offer visitors a more complete understanding of it, and hopefully inspire young people to consider animation as a future career,” Adamovich added.

The six thematic areas in the exhibit include: History - Visitors learn about early animation and apparent motion. Animation Studio - Visitors explore the process of animation, story creation, animator techniques and tools. Art in Motion -With help from Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, visitors discover why art and math are important allies when creating characters, motion, and change. Science Laboratory - In Dexter’s Laboratory, visitors can delve into the science and technology that make animation possible. Sound and Stage - Visitors can discover the principles of sound and phonetics with the Kids Next Door. Cartoon Museum - Visitors will take a seat in this intimate theater setting and view clips of popular animations while learning the secrets behind their production.

Several exhibit areas feature digital slide shows of real animators working in the Cartoon Network studios. Visitors will learn more about the skills and training needed to pursue an animation career.

About The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary family learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, experience Dale Chihuly’s Fireworks of Glass and examine children’s impact in shaping history in The Power of Children: Making a Difference. The Children’s Museum, situated on 13 acres of land in Indianapolis, presents hundreds of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/.

About Cartoon Network
Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in 88 million U.S. homes and 160 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s ad-supported cable service offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families.  Overnight from 11 p.m.-6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, is a major producer of news and entertainment product around the world and the leading provider of programming for the basic cable industry.

Animation was developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in collaboration with Cartoon Network and partially funded by The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation. Ô and Ó 2006 Cartoon Network. All rights reserved.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jaclyn Falkenstein
Public Relations Coordinator
(317) 334-4007
(317) 626-4555 cell
JaclynF@ChildrensMuseum.org

Junior Division Winners
1st Place Winner - Sarah Denne, “The Ultimate Measure of a Man,” 6th grade, Zionsville Middle School
2nd Place Winner - Jinny Kim, “Fallen Star, Behavioral Conscience, and Advanced World,” 6th grade, Riverside School
3rd Place Winner - Emma Green, “Discrimination Essay,” 8th grade, Eastwood Middle School
4th Place Winner - Ali MacAllister, “The Measure of a Man,” 8th grade, The Orchard School
5th Place Winner - Matthew Skolnik, “Racism,” 8th grade, Eastwood Middle School

Senior Division Winners
1st Place Winner - Megan Crowther, “I Can Make a Difference,” 9th grade, Roncalli High School
2nd Place Winner - Matthew Blandford, “Silence: Society’s Sin,” 9th grade, Roncalli High School
3rd Place Winner - Trishya Srinivasan, “Living Dr. King’s Sermon,” 9th grade, The International School of Indianapolis
4th Place Winner - Daniel Ortiz, “More than Just a Man,” 9th grade, Roncalli High School
5th Place Winner - Paige Dossey, “In the end we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends,” 12th grade, Avon High School

Students participating in the 2008 essay contest were asked to reflect on one of the following quotes from Dr. King: “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends” or “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” The students’ essays focused on their own perceptions of the quote and how it related to the issue they selected.

The annual Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest is open to all Indiana students in grades 6 through 12. Junior Division (6^th to 8^th graders) and Senior Division (9^th to 12^th graders) awards are given for first through fifth place winners. Essays were limited to 450 words and were judged on the basis of originality, clear connection between the quote and the issue selected, use of supporting examples or evidence, organization and clarity of composition in spelling, punctuation and grammar. All entries were judged anonymously by the Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest Committee. Award recipients were presented with cash prizes ranging from $500 for first place winners, $300 for second place winners and $100 for third, fourth and fifth place winners for both the Junior and Senior divisions.

The essay contest is presented annually in conjunction with the museum’s Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in January. Special thanks to The Indiana Civil Rights Commission and The Martin Luther King Commission and Learning Center their commitment to the essay contest.

The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis is a non-profit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. The 433,000 square-foot facility houses 11 major galleries. Visitors can explore the physical and natural sciences, history, world cultures, the arts, see how dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago in Dinosphere: Now You’re in Their World®, and experience Fireworks of Glass, the largest permanent sculpture of blown glass by renowned artist Dale Chihuly. The Children’s Museum, situated on 13 acres of land in Indianapolis presents thousands of programs and activities each year. For more information about The Children’s Museum in English and Spanish, visit ChildrensMuseum.org.

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