Louisiana Art & Science Museum
Sponsored by the Louisiana Art & Science Museum
A historic 1925 railway station on the banks of the Mississippi River uses curiosity, not coal, to power creative growth in the capital city. For nearly sixty years the community-driven Louisiana Art & Science Museum has been harnessing wonder from young and old minds alike, right in the heart of downtown Baton Rouge. From exhibits and field trips to after-hours events, there are endless opportunities for the city to engage with LASM's cultural offerings.
Each year, 178,000 people visit the Museum; more than half are school program participants. Education is the tenet of LASM's mission to serve its community, and on any given weekday, you'll likely encounter a plethora of school buses parked along River Road, and spot droves of excited young students being shepherded into the museum.
Louisiana Art & Science Museum
That's Fascinating!
The Museum's popular education programs are aligned with the state curriculum and offer resources often not available to classroom teachers. Students benefit from hands-on experiences that encourages cross-disciplinary learning and creative problem solving to introduce subjects like forensics, robotics, chemistry, engineering, abstract art, and writing, to name a few.
"Coming to a museum helped me understand how what I was learning in the classroom matters and that the real world can be just as exciting as the plot of any book."
Nicholas BeJeaux, the communications and public relations manager for LASM, remembers attending the Museum for the first time on a student field trip.
"Coming to a museum helped me understand how what I was learning in the classroom matters and that the real world can be just as exciting as the plot of any book," BeJeaux said. "That's what museums are here for: to show people how amazing, huge and miraculous our world is ... and also to remind us that there are still questions left to answer."
Where Art and Science Collide
The Museum's world-class Irene W Pennington Planetarium-one of just three planetaria in the state-is a technological marvel that wows attendees not only with the history and beauty of scientific endeavor, but also with the sheer boundlessness of space. Right alongside, the Museum's galleries host revolving exhibitions that showcase not only nationally-acclaimed artists but also cultural gamechangers based in Baton Rouge and around Louisiana.
Currently, you will find work by two LSU researchers exhibited at LASM, and both explore the fertile ground where art and science collide: Astral Visions: Photographs by Connor Matherne reveals the mysterious beauty of galaxies and nebulae located thousands of light years away. Frameworks of Absence is a poignant project exploring biodiversity and extinction created by Louisiana-based biologist Brandon Ballengée.
A Little Goes a Long Way
Supporting local non-profit museums like LASM is an effective way to invest in the growth of your community, your children and yourself, too. "Every cent we receive through donations and sponsorships goes back into our programs for our community," said BeJeaux.
Next month on September 20, LASM will host its 34th annual gala, "CHROMA: Color Your Senses." Patrons can purchase tickets to attend one of the city's longest-running philanthropic events, where 100 percent of funds raised go straight back into education programs at the Museum.
But there are lots of ways to support LASM. Here are a few of the best:
- Donate directly on lasm.org.
- Use AmazonSmile for product purchases. When you do, the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate .5% of the purchase price of certain products to the charity of your choice.
- Become a Museum member and receive perks like free admission to the galleries, planetarium shows and Art After Hours events, discounts, and more.
By supporting the Louisiana Art & Science Museum you're ensuring the future of a Louisiana institution that is teaching creativity to drive innovation, and molding young minds to build a better future. Learn more at LASM.org.
