Amazeum Charter Membership Drive Met With Positive Response

It took less than 10 days for the Amazeum in Bentonville to sell nearly 200 charter memberships, according to development and communications director Molly Rawn.

“We have been thrilled with the response,” Rawn said.

The Amazeum, a nearly 50,000-SF interactive museum under construction by Nabholz Construction Services near the entrance of Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, is scheduled to open in late 2015.

Museum officials announced a “soft launch” Nov. 7 for charter memberships. By the morning of Nov. 17, Rawn said the museum had sold 189 of them.

The breakdown was: 110 family memberships ($95), 55 premier family memberships ($145), 20 discover memberships ($500) and four explore memberships ($1,000).

Rawn said museum officials thought the membership drive would be off to a great start if 250 families joined before the end of the year.

“It is clear that we will surpass that goal and that this community is ready for our museum,” she said.

Philanthropist Johnelle Hunt purchased the first Amazeum membership at one of the museum’s fundraising events four years ago.

Rawn added that 202 day passes had been donated to the Amazeum For All program as a result of the purchase of a membership. The program ensures that all children and families can attend the museum, which will carry an admission fee, unlike Crystal Bridges.

That program lasts through Jan. 15.

Rawn also said construction was running on schedule, and the building should be “dried in” by mid-December, meaning it’s enclosed and weather tight.

“We could not be more pleased with Nabholz,” Rawn said.