RELEASE DATE:
December 16, 2021
CONTACT:
New Sloan Museum of Discovery in Flint Announces Opening Date and Exhibit Gallery Details New building is a bold transformation into a world-class, fully interactive museum of science, history and hands-on learning for the community Flint, MI – After nearly four years of planning and construction, the new Sloan Museum of Discovery announced that it will re-open to the public Saturday, July 16, 2022, featuring brand new science, history and hands-on learning exhibits. The $30 million expansion and renovation of the museum was re-imagined as an inclusive center for the entire community.
"This new museum is literally being built from the ideas of our members, guests, and the community at large," stated Todd Slisher, CEO of Flint Institute of Science and History (FISH), the nonprofit organization that oversees Sloan Museum, as well as the Longway Planetarium. "They are asking for a more inclusive and interactive museum that reflects the people who have lived in Genesee County and who are important to its foundation. That input helped us design and build a world-class museum that’s fully accessible to all," Slisher added. For example, inside the museum is a space called The Community Gallery. This space will be co-curated with local organizations on a rotating basis to showcase community-based exhibits.
The museum will also feature a new hands-on science gallery, Discovery Hall, that will engage visitors in earth and physical science exploration, featuring the multi-story Spaceship Earth exhibit, a Maker Space, and a large interactive water table that will teach visitors about the Great Lakes. The water table will be the first of the new hands-on science exhibits to arrive for installation in early January 2022.
An all-new auto exhibition area, the Vehicle City Gallery, will be located inside the new Sloan Museum of Discovery. The Vehicle City Gallery is 11,000 square feet and will feature rotating vehicles showcasing the history and future of the automobile. The Early Childhood Gallery, Hagerman Street, will prepare kids for Kindergarten through play-centric exploration. New History Gallery spaces will showcase stories of Flint and Genesee County, as well as artifacts collected from the community.
Most exhibits will be custom made and installed by Grand Rapids-based Xibitz. "We have been extremely mindful to make galleries inclusive and flexible so that displays can change frequently," noted Curator of Collections Geoff Woodcox.
Over 95% of the $30 million goal has been supported by grants and donations from foundations, businesses, individuals, and state government. Major supporters include the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, State of Michigan, GM Corporate Giving, and the Hagerman Foundation. Millage funding helps support operating and program expenses and allows free general admission for all Genesee County residents.
To help close the gap to their fundraising goal and finish installing new exhibits, the new Sloan Museum of Discovery has partnered with Patronicity, a crowdfunding platform with Michigan roots. Those wishing to contribute to the capital campaign through Patronicity can learn more at Patronicity.com/Sloan or call Development Director Debbe Campbell at 810-237-7331. To learn more, visit SloanLongway.org/DiscoverSloan.
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About Sloan Museum of DiscoverySloan Museum of Discovery and Longway Planetarium are part of the Flint Cultural Center in downtown Flint, Michigan. They share in their mission to ENGAGE COMMUNITIES ON A LEARNING JOURNEY IN HISTORY AND SCIENCE. Sloan Museum of Discovery is supported in part by the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Sloan Museum of Discovery is funded in part by the Genesee County Arts Education and Cultural Enrichment Millage. Your tax dollars are at work. Follow Sloan Museum on Facebook and Instagram @SloanMuseum, or learn more at www.SloanLongway.org. | 
