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 Descriptive panels and artifact display cases make up the WACM exhibit showcased on Walkway A at the Albany Airport until August 2009.   Exquisite Hina Dolls from WACM's artifact collection displayed as part of the Saga City, Japan exhibit at the Glens Falls City Hall.  "Snakecharmer" by Afroja Sultana, age 12, Bangladesh was part of the World Music Exhibit Apr. 5 - June 4, 2008 at Aimie's Dinner & M ovie Gallery. |
2008 – The Year in Review Some said it couldn't be done... they said it would be impossible for a Museum like ours to raise one million dollars to build a permanent home. Fortunately, they were wrong. We've raised more than one million. This has allowed us to complete the exterior renovations at 89 Warren Street. We now begin interior renovations and construction of exhibit installations. Business as Usual. Even without a permanent home in 2008, the Museum continued to provide many amazing programs. Through the hard work of our devoted staff and the generosity of the community it was "business as usual" for the World Awareness Children's Museum in 2008. Following are brief descriptions of some of the exhibitions and programs completed this past year. The International Youth Art Exchange. In the U.S. and around the world, hundreds of children participated in our International Youth Art Exchange. Empowered through art, these children share their world with others. Our collection includes well over 6,000 pieces from 68 countries. World travelers, both young and old, bring us back art. Jessica Hoy, a former Queensbury student who lived in Kenya this past year, gave Kenyan students their first opportunity ever to hold a paint brush. Nancy Corliss, a former English teacher from Glens Falls, brought us over 90 artworks from children at the Dali Lama's Tibetan Refuge in India. Local Exhibitions. We mounted seven local exhibitions in 2008. Hundreds of local children, their families, tourists and visitors to the region enjoyed interactive exhibits and programs at Aimie's Dinner & Movie Gallery this year. They also toured exhibits at City Hall, the Lake George Arts Project, and Albany International Airport, and participated in culture camps. In 2009, we are planning seven more exhibits at such local venues as Crandall Public Library, Glens Falls Hospital, Glens Falls City Hall, Dog Ate My Homework, EXPLORE!, and Aimie's Dinner & Movie Gallery. Traveling Treasures–Exhibitions on Loan. In schools around the country, children viewed thematic art exhibits on loan from the Museum. Themes like "SPORTS", "MUSIC", and "DANCE" enabled students to compare and contrast their lives with those of children in other countries, and provided creative inspiration and motivation for their own work. Educational Outreach. Our Outreach Educator visited classrooms in schools throughout the region to share authentic artifacts and art from other cultures with the students, supporting New York State Learning standards in both social studies and the arts. Free Kids Activity Days. Over school vacations, the Museum sponsred Free Kids Activity Days to foster individual creativity and awareness of world cultures. Children wore Mexican sombreros and tribal faces from New Guinea, created Indonesian shadow puppet plays and Japanese origami, played Nigerian hopscotch, and designed sculptures from reycled clarinets and flutes. Busy, Busy, Busy. As you can see, we have been busy. All this has been accomplished in cramped temporary offices on a budget of only $200,000 annually. At the same time fundraising for both operational expenses and the capital campaign for renovations of the new building and ongoing planning of space and exhibitions for the new Museum continued without interruption. We hope to occupy the offices of our new space in 2009 and welcome children and the public to exhibitions at the new Museum soon after. Fulfilling the Mission. We count on your support as donors, volunteers and ambassadors to help us fulfill our mission of promoting tolerance, curiosity, understanding, and respect for other cultures by bringing international experiences to local children and families through our collections and programs. Contact the World Awareness Children's Museum at 518-793-2773 or email admin@worldchildrensmuseum.org to find out how you can help. |
 Pella replacement windows and doors bring the facade of the new building at 89 Warren Street close to completion.  "Spreading Fertilizer" by Dewa Ayu Putu Eka Putri, age 9, Bali, Indonesia. Part of the Pacific Island Adventures Exhibit Aug. 6-Sept. 28, 2008 at Aimie's Dinner & Movie Gallery.  Power of Masks exhibition Oct. 1- Nov. 15, 2008 at Aimie's Dinner & Movie Gallery, Glens Falls, NY.  photo by Rick Gargiulo Museum Outreach Educator Shieleen Nicholson presents the Celebrations and Traditions Program to a local elementary school. The program introduces Chinese New Year and Day of the Dead, a significant Mexican celebration of ancestors, culture and heritage.  Austin Markey checks out the Mexican Sombrero at the WACM Summer Fun Around the World Exhibition at Aimie's Dinner & Movie Gallery June 6 - July 30, 2008.     Annual fundraising events are cruicial to the Museum. The Genie Team Challenge in March, the Celebrity Luncheon in June, The Great Outdoors Art Contest running throughout the summer, and our premiere event the International Cuisine in October brought in operational funds and spread awareness of our mission to a new group of potential supporters. |
World Awareness Children's Museum |
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