Lawrence Hall of Science Joins “Museums for All” Designed to Expand Access

Lawrence Hall of Science Press Contact:
Adam Frost
Marketing Specialist
510-642-2226
adamfrost@berkeley.edu

October 3, 2016 — Berkeley, CA Today the Lawrence Hall of Science, UC Berkeley’s Public Science Center, announced that it has joined Museums for All, a signature access program of the Association of Children’s Museums (ACM) and the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS). As part of the program, the Hall will offer free admission to individuals and families with the presentation of an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. This program is directly aligned with the Hall’s mission: to inspire and foster science and mathematics learning for all—especially those with limited access to science.

The Museums for All initiative represents a significant stride toward the goal of reaching more children and parents, especially those living in poverty, with the valuable learning resources of museums. Children’s museums and science centers, with their unique focus on bringing children, families, and communities together, are committed to providing access to all. The Museums for All initiative allows these institutions to further expand their reach and impact.

Equity and access have been important parts of the mission of the Lawrence Hall of Science since it opened in 1968. Access programs such as camp scholarships enable the Hall to reach a diverse community of families and educators. In 2015, more than 230,000 people learned science, technology, engineering, and mathematics through Hall programs at the museum and in schools, libraries, and other community centers around the San Francisco Bay Area.

“The Museums for All program is directly in line with a key focus of the Hall’s mission—expanding opportunities for low-income communities to engage in high-quality science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning experiences,” said Rena Dorph, interim director of the Lawrence Hall of Science. “Being able to offer free passes to the Lawrence Hall of Science provides us with a new way to welcome a broader audience into our fun and inspiring exhibitions and programs.”

Participation in the Museums for All initiative by the Lawrence Hall of Science is sponsored by Genentech.