InsideTucsonBusiness.com
MARCH 30, 2012
13
PROFILE
Children’s Museum is a giant playhouse for Tucson Read By Christy Krueger Inside Tucson Business
BIZ FACTS
Children’s Museum Tucson 200 S. Sixth Ave. www.childrensmuseumtucson.org (520) 792-9985 Children’s Museum Tucson photo
Imagine going to work each day in a giant playhouse, where kids laugh and enjoy learning about everything from gardening to biology and technology. This playhouse is the Children’s Museum Tucson, housed in the former Carnegie Library. Its head funmaster is Executive Director Michael Luria, who formerly ran the popular foothills restaurant Terra Cotta. Luria believes his change from restaurateur to running a nonprofit wasn’t such a big leap. “There are similarities,” he said. “It’s about guest services. You succeed or fail on your merit.” He joined the Children’s Museum board of directors in 2003 and became president in 2006. When the previous executive director left in late 2008, Luria stepped into the position on an interim basis. As it turned out, Terra Cotta closed at the end of January 2009. “After some soul searching, I put my name in the hat for the position,” Luria recalled. “The museum was my philanthropic passion. In April 2009 I started full-time as executive director.” Created by Cele Peterson, Dorothy Finley and Evelyn Carswell-Bing, the Children’s Museum has come quite a distance since opening in 1986 in a one-room building at Fort Lowell Park. In 1991, after the downtown library moved out of the historic Carnegie Library building, Children’s Museum Tucson took over the space and has remained ever since. The organization had been going through some tough times when Luria joined the board of directors. But he helped get things on the right foot again and now says the facility is hardly recognizable from its old form. “In the last three years we’ve completely transformed the museum,” starting with the exterior, Luria said. On the wish list for years was the plan to tear down a large masonry wall blocking the beautiful façade of the 1901 building. “In 1997 a bond package was passed to remove the wall. In 2008 it happened. It only took 11 years,” he said. The grounds have a more spruced up appearance now, as well, with the City of Tucson maintaining the lawn and flowerbeds. Perhaps the greatest transformation has come in the way of the hands-on exhibits, which are central to CMT’s mission of providing fun learning experiences for children and families. These exhibits are possible thanks to numerous partners and grants. “This past November we opened Bodyology with a $170,000 investment. It’s a holistic approach to health and wellness, with a playhouse, orchard, juice bar and grocery store. TMC (Tucson Medical Center) is the primary funder for that
The Children’s Museum Tucson opened in 1986 at Fort Lowell Park. It has been downtown since 1991.
exhibit,” Luria explained. Blue Cross and Dairy Council of Arizona are among other Bodyology sponsors. “In May we’re opening the largest exhibit ever — Investigation Station, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) exhibit using a $236,000 grant from Angel Charity.” Tucson Electric Power has been the biggest supporter since 1986, Luria added. “They fund school tours, and they gave us a grant to improve the Electri-City exhibit,” which teaches the uses of electricity and how to conserve resources. Cox, another corporate partner, is the exclusive sponsor of Techtopia, a digital trip through bugs, shadow mosaics and reading. “Corporate partners engage with us because of philanthropic desires,” Luria emphasized. “From the business side, we have 130,000 kids and their families, and the businesses have an opportunity to connect with them.” In addition to having their names on the walls of rooms they sponsor, partners have a chance to personally interact with visitors. For example, during Science Sundays in the summer, partners are sometimes on hand to distribute information, such as coloring books, appropriate to the week’s topic. Children’s Museum Tucson’s Kevin Mills designs, builds and maintains many of the exhibits, but it’s too big a job for one person, according to Luria, so they also contract out-of-town companies for much of the work. Museum staff members organize dozens of programs and events for the kids, often
inviting downtown businesses to collaborate. Janos Wilder, owner of Downtown Kitchen + Cocktails, helped the children build their vegetable garden, and for a recent Science in the City he made liquid nitrogen ice cream to the kids’ delight. Short-term goals for the museum, Luria said, include more renovations and increasing the emphasis on science and technology programs. “Next year we have ambitious plans. One section of the museum not touched in awhile — the art studio and music room — we’ll improve.
We’ll expand the education program to move more into STEM. We’ll do a school tour around it next year.” Luria also plans to continue developing relationships with the business community. Personally, he feels the museum is a wonderful backdrop to carry out one’s work. “The best part,” he said, “is if you’re having a bad day, you walk into the museum and interact with the kids. It’s a great time; it’s very rewarding. Everyone on the staff has a passion and commitment to who we serve.”
Are your competitors stealing your customers because their technology is better than yours?
WE CAN HELP. The Technology Movers
www.copper-state.com TUCSON
PHOENIX
FLAGSTAFF
1919 S. Country Club Rd. Tucson AZ 85713 P 520.795.1877 | F 520.795.6064
2820 N 36th Ave Phoenix AZ 85009 P 602.272.2800 | F 602.272.2828
1155 W. Kaibab Ln Flagstaff AZ 86001 P 928.774.8733 | F 928.773.7501