Museum of Pop Culture — Case for Support

A MUSEUM FOR EVERYONE

A CASE FOR SUPPORT

In an increasingly fragmented world, pop culture is a universal language through which we can build connections. The Museum of Pop Culture creates both a physical space and an intellectual and emotional opportunity for people from every background to explore, find community, and recognize their own creative potential.

With the help of our supporters, we offer experiences that catalyze living a creatively inspired life. Please help us celebrate pop culture and use it to imagine what’s possible.

Since opening our doors in 2000, MoPOP has reached more than 11 million people. Thanks to unwavering support from donors, members, and volunteers, together we have preserved pop culture history for future generations, created community with engaging programs and events, and motivated future creators to innovate and inspire through their own artistic expression.

But we can do more. We need your support to amplify the power of pop culture. With your help, we know we can connect with more communities, reach more young people, and preserve more of our shared pop culture history for future generations.

HERE’S HOW...

JOIN US IN PRESERVING POP CULTURE HISTORY

Since our founding, MoPOP has launched more than 100 exhibitions on topics including music, video games, film, television, and fashion. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg — less than one percent of our permanent collection of more than 100,000 objects is on display at any given time (and we’re eager to bring more of it online to share 24/7).

MoPOP’s permanent collection focuses on the pop culture of the 20th and 21st centuries. These unique objects are often made of materials that weren’t meant to survive over decades, presenting unique challenges in the care and conservation of these treasures.

By donating to MoPOP, you are helping our expert collections team care for artifacts that help us bring vital pop culture stories that have shaped and influenced our society to current and future generations.

Sometimes restoring an Old Master is easier than displaying a foam rubber laser gun from Lost in Space that’s been moldering in a prop shop for more than 50 years. MoPOP is at the forefront of ensuring that important pop culture artifacts are not lost to time.

Jacob McMurray, Director of Curatorial, Collections, and Exhibits

HIGHLIGHTS FROM MoPOP’S EXHIBITIONS

NIRVANA: TAKING

PUNK TO THE MASSES

MINECRAFT: THE EXHIBITION

SCARED TO DEATH: THE THRILL OF HORROR FILM

INFINITE WORLDS OF SCIENCE FICTION

BODY OF WORK: TATTOO CULTURE

WOMEN WHO ROCK: PASSION POWER VISION YES YES Y’ALL: THE BIRTH OF HIP-HOP

AMERICAN SABOR:

LATINOS IN U.S.

POPULAR MUSIC

+ 90 MORE

JIMI HENDRIX: AN EVOLUTION OF SOUND

FENDER STRATOCASTER SMASHED BY JIMI

HENDRIX AT THE MONTEREY POP FESTIVAL, JUNE 18, 1967

MoPOP PERMANENT COLLECTION

JOIN US IN EMPOWERING TOMORROW’S VISIONARIES

Pop culture does more than entertain and inform. When thoughtfully examined, movies, television, games, and music can help young people see themselves as creative individuals — providing them accessible points of entry to complex ideas of their own. Each year, thousands of students of all ages develop their own creativity through MoPOP’s educational opportunities, exhibitions, and community outreach programs.

Change makers and culture shapers have always marched to a different beat. MoPOP helps young people, especially those without access to opportunities, to embrace their profound inner power and share their unique contributions with the world.

By supporting MoPOP, you are helping the 150,000 young people who engage in our programs annually connect with their creative potential. By empowering youth to see themselves as creative risk takers, you are helping MoPOP provide opportunities for tomorrow’s change makers.

Jason Porter, Director of Education and Programs

Young people who are able to tap into their innate creative abilities have the potential to affect tremendous change in their communities.

M o POP EDUCATION + YOUTH PROGRAMS

IN MUSEUM WORKSHOPS

LIVE AT MoPOP

SCHOOL VISITS

SCHOOL OUTREACH

SOUND OFF!

SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS

HOMESCHOOL DAYS

The Reid family from Charlotte, NC visited MoPOP when Kate was 7. She’d never touched an instrument before, so the experience of Sound Lab and the “make your own video” jam session area inspired her so much that when her family went home, she asked to take keyboard lessons. She is now 12 years old and has decided to take up the tuba in addition to piano.

From Kate’s mother Dawn: “Please let your staff know the mission was met for Kate and a life changing force has been put into motion and we are still seeing it play out. For her it all started with a fun hands-on experience someone at the museum dreamed up and through meaningful hard work she was able to put into action which set her on a different path in life.”

I just wanted to say thank you for all the work you and your whole team put into Sound Off!. It was such an amazing experience performing on the Sky Church stage, but I had no idea how much more incredible the experience of meeting everyone involved was going to be. I’ve honestly never experienced anything like this before and I feel like I grew so much as an artist and as a performer throughout this whole process. I could tell how genuinely invested you guys were in all of us and it really made all the difference in the world. Thank you so much for the opportunities you’ve given us and most importantly for so genuinely believing in us.

Sound Off! Participant

JOIN US IN CREATING COMMUNITY AROUND TOPICS THAT ENGAGE AND UNIFY

Everyone wants to belong. We bring together pop culture fans and create community where people can share mutual passions. What’s better than geeking out with someone as into vintage science fiction or independent gaming as you are? Better yet, we expose people to fandoms they might not have known existed, and they become boosters for their newfound passions.

Pop culture is sometimes viewed as escapism — and it certainly provides that outlet. But MoPOP wouldn’t exist if it only provided an escape. The power that pop culture has to inspire and connect is its special sauce. It taps into what excites and unites us. It’s what we want to share with our family and friends, and it helps us makes sense of the world.

Different than many cultural institutions that are specific to one art form or genre, MoPOP is in a unique position to latch on to that power and creatve community in an increasingly divisive world.

As one of the country’s leaders in pop culture interpretation, MoPOP has extended its reach to more than 11 million people in 10 foreign countries and 80 different cities through traveling exhibitions.

M o POP PROGRAMS

DIGITAL CONTENT

FASHIONABLY UNDEAD BASH

MOVIES AT MoPOP

THROUGH THE EYES OF ART

MoPOP BOOK CLUB

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY

SHORT FILM FESTIVAL

POP+: MUSEUM TAKEOVER POP CONFERENCE

MASTERING THE HUSTLE

THE RESIDENCY

“Just want y’all to know that I had the time of my life yesterday at the mentorship thing for the Mastering the Hustle program. I met three amazing artists that have inspired me as much as I hope I inspired them. I got to connect with two of them afterwards and they all have really good music.

“One of the cats name was ‘Saiya’, he’s 17 and goes to Ballard High School. Attitude, demeanor, & swag of a much older cat & I related to him heavily. He came to my lab afterwards and we got a chance to chop it up and hang out. I got a chance to tell him a bunch of [things] I wish cats would have told me when I was his age and I could tell he was really grateful. Turns out the kids a genius and way more talented than he knows but yesterday helped get it a little more.

“Opportunities like yesterday are literally ‘live the dream’ moments for me. Want to thank yall again for giving me these types of opportunities. MoPOP is truly the s$%t.”

- Mastering the Hustle Mentor

JOIN US IN ENSURING MoPOP REMAINS A PLACE FOR EVERY POP CULTURE FAN

MoPOP makes creativity accessible in our communities. Free admission is offered via King County Public Libraries, Seattle Public Libraries, the Museums for All program, ticket donations to more than 1,000 nonprofit organizations each year, and our Community Access Partners program. We provide discounted admission, waived program fees, and bus transportation as needed to eligible schools for our educational programs.

In 2019, MoPOP recorded 410,325 discounted tickets across all platforms and 29,729 free tickets. Of the 668,000 total admissions for 2019, 71% of all admissions were free or discounted.

Every year we create additional points of access. For example, Sensory-Friendly programs welcome anyone who can benefit from a low-sensory environment to enjoy the museum before we open to the public.

ACCESS PROGRAMS

SENSORY FRIENDLY

COMMUNITY ACCESS PARTNERS

MUSEUMS FOR ALL

KING COUNTY LIBRARY

MUSEUM PASS PROGRAM

SEATTLE PUBLIC LIBRARY

MUSEUM PASS PROGRAM

The feeling of acceptance, the friendliness and interest of the staff, and the lack of crowds made the whole visit so much easier and less stressful.

Sensory Friendly Participant 2019

HELP US TODAY

MoPOP works tirelessly to create cutting-edge exhibitions, engaging programs, and accessible educational content.

By giving to MoPOP, you are helping us impact the lives of the millions of people who visit the museum and participate in our programs and events, creating community around a shared love of pop culture, and preserving its history for generations to come.

A gift to MoPOP moves our mission forward by:

• Helping fund our discounted tickets and transportation subsidies

• Enabling the preservation of historical pop culture artifacts and oral histories

• Investing in the development of future exhibitions

• Designing innovative programs that reach young people through topics they find engaging

• Providing young people opportunities to develop their own creative potential

• Creating community through shared interests

• Creating innovative digital content that unites pop culture fans around the globe

WAYS TO GIVE

Become a Member

Sponsor a Program or Exhibition

Become a Recurring Donor

Adopt an Artifact

Planned Giving

OUR VALUES OUR MISSION

The Museum of Pop Culture’s mission is to make creative expression a life-changing force by offering experiences that inspire and connect our communities.

OPEN ARMS

We practice radical hospitality and equitable access.

LIGHTBULB MOMENTS

We use pop culture as a catalyst for learning, connecting, and creating.

EXCITEMENT

We vaue the thrill that comes from experiencing creativity together.

CREATIVE EXCHANGES

We create space for community voices and collaborations.

PURSUING EXCELLENCE

We believe integrity, innovation, and hard work lead to amazing things.