MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM

IN FY2024-2025 (FY25), MARBLES WELCOMED ALMOST 544,000 VISITORS FROM ALL 50 STATES, 98 NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES AND EVERY CORNER OF WAKE COUNTY TO EXPERIENCE THE POWER OF PLAY. HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE OPENING THE MARBLES PLAYWAY, A JOYFUL COMMUNITY SPACE THAT BRINGS KIDS AND FAMILIES TOGETHER TO CONNECT WITH NATURE AND EACH OTHER. THIS COLORFUL URBAN OASIS WELCOMES MARBLES GUESTS AND DOWNTOWN VISITORS ALIKE TO AN ACCESSIBLE, FREE-TO-ALL DESTINATION IN THE HEART OF RALEIGH. MARBLES IN-HOUSE EXHIBITS TEAM DESIGNED, FABRICATED AND INSTALLED TWO CUSTOM CLIMBING STRUCTURES A DRAGONFLY AND A BEE TO ENCOURAGE KIDS TO KEEP THEIR BODIES AND IMAGINATIONS ACTIVE. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE OTHE MARBLES PLAYWAY EARNED TWO HONORS FOR ITS IMPACT ON DOWNTOWN RALEIGH A 2025 DRA IMPRINT AWARD AND THE SIR WALTER RALEIGH AWARD FOR COMMUNITY APPEARANCE. MARBLES ALSO SUCCESSFULLY CONCLUDED OUR FIRST-EVER CAPITAL CAMPAIGN, BIGGER PLAY, BRIGHTER FUTURES, WITH MORE THAN $9.1 MILLION RAISED. WITH CAMPAIGN FUNDS, MARBLES WILL ADD NEW INDOOR AND OUTDOOR EXHIBITS, ENHANCE GUEST AMENITIES AND LAUNCH THE MARBLES IMPACT FUND TO SUPPORT FUTURE SUSTAINABILITY. IN SUPPORT OF OUR MISSION TO SPARK IMAGINATION, DISCOVERY, AND LEARNING THROUGH PLAY, MARBLES DELIVERS POWERFUL PLAY EXPERIENCES ALIGNED WITH FIVE CORE CONTENT INITIATIVES: READY SET LEARN, BE HEALTHY BE ACTIVE, CREATE INNOVATE, EXPLORE EXPERIMENT, AND CONNECT. CONTENT IS DELIVERED THROUGH INNOVATIVE AND INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, DAILY EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS, FIELD TRIPS, CAMPS, SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAMS AND GIANT SCREEN IMAX DOCUMENTARY MOVIES. IN FY25, MARBLES KIDS MUSEUM SERVED ALMOST 544,000 VISITORS ACROSS CAMPUS AND WELCOMED OVER 50,100 FIELD TRIP PARTICIPANTS IN PRESCHOOL THROUGH 8TH GRADE. MUSEUM FIELD TRIPS OFFER OPEN-ENDED MUSEUM EXPLORATION OF OUR EDUCATIONAL EXHIBITS AS WELL AS HANDS-ON SPECIALTY PROGRAMS ON TOPICS LIKE STEM, FINANCIAL LITERACY, NUTRITION, AND WEATHER. MARBLES ALSO OFFERS CURRICULUM-ALIGNED EDUCATIONAL FIELD TRIPS THAT INTEGRATE AWARD-WINNING IMAX DOCUMENTARIES WITH HANDS-ON LEARNING LABS FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 5-8, BRINGING CONTENT TO LIFE THROUGH HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES. CAMP MARBLES ENGAGED MORE THAN 3,000 KIDS IN FUN, INTERACTIVE LEARNING AND PLAY THROUGH CREATING, BUILDING, AND EXPERIMENTING. MARBLES ACCESS AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS PROVIDED OVER 50,900 FREE AND REDUCED RATE MUSEUM VISITS IN FY25 FOR TRADITIONALLY UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS, ENSURING ALL CHILDREN HAVE ACCESS TO MARBLES, DESPITE FINANCIAL OR PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS. MARBLES ACCESS PROGRAMS INCLUDE MUSEUM ACCESS FOR AT-RISK TITLE I AND PRESCHOOL GROUPS, EXTENDED HOURS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, FREE EVENTS FOR RISING KINDERGARTENERS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND FREE EVENTS FOR CHILDREN WITH SPECIAL NEEDS. IN FY25 MARBLES WON THE ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS' ROY L SHAFER LEADING EDGE AWARD FOR MARBLES' UNDER THE WAVES EXHIBIT (SEPTEMBER 2024).