With a $4 million capital campaign achieved and the Durango Discovery Museum now open, the Board of Directors and the Executive Director Claire A. Bradshaw announce a new strategic direction for the museum. As of November of 2011, Claire will focus her attention on the museum’s strategic development initiatives. These include: leading the proposal development process for a two-year collaborative National Science Foundation grant with Crow Canyon Archeological Center and the Mountain Studies Institute. If awarded, this grant will provide funding to develop and test a Science Career Ladder program across cultural and scientific organizations and in a rural setting. If successful, this opportunity could lead to a second multi-year $2-$3 million grant from the National Science Foundation for broad implementation of the Science Career Ladder model. Claire will also focus on the Gates Family Foundation challenge grant to the museum to raise $600,000 over the next 12 months. Once achieved, the Gates Family Foundation will donate an additional $100,000 to the museum to finish implementing our exhibit plan for the Powerhouse, as well as other construction needs.

Ashley Hein, currently serving as the Community Outreach Manager and previously as the Discovery Kids Manager, will serve as the interim Executive Director.

Quote from Board President, Melissa Youssef:

“The Board of Directors for the Durango Discovery Museum takes great pride in the progress achieved during the past five years. The challenges have been numerous and the economic backdrop has made our work especially daunting at times. We have been fortunate during these years to have Claire Bradshaw as our executive director. Claire’s leadership produced a viable vision for the museum and science education center. Together we secured the funding for facility renovation, exhibit construction, and programming. The museum was opened to the public on February 23, 2011, and has attracted visitors in impressive and increasing numbers. We are proud of all these achievements. Nevertheless, the future of the museum can only be secured with strategic efforts to raise the funds required for further growth and to consolidate and preserve our gains and the board is working diligently in this regard.”

Quote from Claire Bradshaw:

 “At this time, the board and I have decided to implement a new direction. The fundraising committee and I will develop a campaign to secure long-term operating funding and meet the Gates Family Foundation challenge. I am an entrepreneur at heart and, thus, thrive in a dynamic, creative environment – especially environments having the public good as a central focus. I am tremendously proud of the past five years and the many accomplishments, especially the opening of the Durango Discovery Museum at the Powerhouse and the Carlton Family Science Education Center.

During my tenure, the museum has raised over $4 million, has increased paid staff from 1.5 to 9 full-time-equivalent employees (FTE), has increased earned income from 10% to 40% of the operating budget, and tripled the number of members. In addition, we have received two historical first funding awards from the Southern Ute Tribe for museum exhibit programming and educational services…

While I will miss the challenges as executive director, I also welcome turning over the Durango Discovery Museum to a new executive director who also shares this passion for experiential science education. It is time for me and the development aspects of the museum to ‘power on!’, as the museum staff and I say when it is time to make great things happen.”

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About the Discovery Museum

The Durango Discovery Museum is a hands-on science center providing interactive energy-related exhibits and programs for all ages. Phase II of the museum, now open to the public, includes two remodeled buildings and a river-facing public plaza. In addition to an interactive science center, the Powerhouse site includes an outdoor stage, workshops, event space, and offices. Housed in the country’s oldest surviving coal-fired, steam-generated AC power plant, the museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 1-5pm.

Contact:           

Melissa Youssef

President, Board of Directors

Durango Discovery Museum

1333 Camino Del Rio

Durango, CO 81301

(970) 759-6477

www.durangodiscovery.org

Claire A. Bradshaw, MBA

Major Gifts Officer

Durango Discovery Museum

1333 Camino Del Rio

Durango, CO 81301

(970) 903-3241

claire@durangodiscovery.org