The Science Museum of Western Virginia is launching a crowd fundraising campaign on Tuesday June 4th to raise $250,000 and complete the funds needed to renovate the existing planetarium into a new half-million dollar exhibit: “The Eye”.
The Science Museum of Western Virginia will introduce the concept for their newest exhibit “The Eye” – an upgrade of the existing planetarium to a fully immersive digital environment. Using technology similar to that at The Cube at Virginia Tech’s Moss Art Center, The Eye will significantly expand the traditional planetarium experience – becoming a superior education resource, a collaborative community space, and an economic asset for the region.
The Eye will be the only such space open to the public on the East Coast and a crowd fundraising campaign is hoping to raise $250,000 to complete the funds necessary to move forward and bring The Eye to the community.
A $100,000 matching grant from a family foundation in Richmond, VA provides a unique opportunity to raise additional funds that can be used to complete the renovations and make additional enhancements to the space.
“As our region continues to evolve, it is vital that we design and invest in spaces that contribute to our community’s overall innovative identity,” says Executive Director, Rachel Hopkins. “We have a unique opportunity to become a destination location for tourists above larger cities such as Washington DC and Richmond.”
