NCM Brings the Picturing America Exhibition to Children of the Kingdom of Bahrain

WASHINGTON, DC (January 12, 2010) – The National Children’s Museum (NCM) has accepted an invitation from the Bahrain National Museum in Al Manamah, Kingdom of Bahrain to support their hosting of a landmark exhibition, Picturing America. Featuring 42 artistic reproductions, the exhibition highlights a range of iconic representations associated with the United States of America, from 1100 to 1960. Through interactive and engaging kid and family programs designed and implemented by NCM, Picturing America will educate Bahraini children, parents, and childcare providers about American masterpieces and their historical significance. The exhibition will be on display at the Bahrain National Museum from January 17 through February 5.

Generated by the National Endowment for the Humanities and cosponsored by the American Library Association, Picturing America has reached a sizable population with the help of federal entities. Since its launch in 2002, Picturing America has visited 60,000 classrooms, libraries, Head Start centers, home school facilities, and daycare centers. Although the exhibition is well-traveled — with appearances in 50 U.S. states and several U.S. Territories — the NCM Partnerships and Museum Without Walls (MWoW) staff play a central role in this inaugural visit to Bahrain. Mark Thorne, Director of Museum Without Walls, and Lisa Marie Adkins, Manager of Museum Without Walls, will serve as children’s program specialists for the Picturing America exhibition and as NCM ambassadors in Bahrain.

Mark Thorne values NCM’s emerging partnerships. “With support from the Ministry of Culture and Information of Bahrain and the U.S. Department of State, this programmatic partnership marks an exciting time for our institution.” Although the National Children’s Museum is scheduled to open in 2013, the Museum Without Walls actively facilitates hundreds of programs, activities, and events in the Washington, DC region. Lisa Marie Adkins adds, “Serving kids, families, and teachers in the Kingdom of Bahrain extends our reach to a diverse audience and emphasizes how NCM truly is a Museum without walls.”

Picturing America consists of 42 works of American art presented in the form of framed posters. In accordance with NCM’s mission to inspire children to care about and improve the world, the Museum Without Walls leadership team will:

• Deliver customized programs to two distinct audiences, ages 6 to 9 and 10 to 13;
• Support creativity with elements of music, collage making, and drama;
• Evoke critical thinking and close examination of the artwork with a scavenger hunt; and
• Provide workshops and training sessions for Bahraini art educators.

About the National Children’s Museum

Scheduled to open in 2013, the National Children’s Museum (NCM) will be a world-class cultural and educational center dedicated to engaging children and empowering them to make a difference. The mission of NCM is to inspire children to care about and improve the world. Through its interactive exhibits, online community (www.ncm.museum), and unique national programs and partnerships, NCM is transforming the concept of a traditional museum by becoming a catalyst and forum for a national movement to inspire and empower kids to speak up, take action, and get engaged in their communities. Through 2013, NCM is operating as a Museum Without Walls, participating in a variety of community events and working with other arts and cultural organizations to develop creative partnerships that benefit kids and families. This spring, NCM opened the Launch Zone, a 2,700 square-foot space at National Harbor where kids and families can prototype and test exhibit and program concepts. For more information, visit www.ncm.museum.

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