Who Are We?
The Friends of Arlington’s David M. Brown Planetarium is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, incorporated in May 2010, whose purpose is to keep the planetarium in operation. Here’s our story:
Friends of the Planetarium, Arlington Public School Board, and Jim Moran (Credit: Frank Bellavia)
How long has Arlington had a Planetarium?
Arlington has had a planetarium for over 40 years, and it has inspired and educated children and adults in space and earth science for generations. We think it’s a pretty cool place.
What’s Happening to the Planetarium?
[UPDATE:] We are thrilled to announce that after a 15-month grassroots fundraising campaign and your astronomically generous donations, Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium saved the planetarium! Now that we have saved the planetarium, we are working with Arlington Public Schools to ensure that the $402,800 raised is used for new seating, a digital projector, digital full dome planetarium shows, and other planetarium theatre equipment.
In early 2010, Arlington Public Schools announced that it planned to close Arlington’s Planetarium. In response to the proposed closure, we created a petition that ignited a grassroots effort to save the planetarium. We formed Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and soon we were asked to raise $402,800 by June 30, 2011, for upgrades to the facility. We launched a social media campaign and began hosting community events at the planetarium, including benefit concerts and “Night at the Planetarium” events. To date, over 3,500 people, local businesses, and corporations have donated their time or money to keep the planetarium open.
How Can I Help?
[UPDATE:] Now that the planetarium has been saved from closure, we plan to continue hosting community events, such as our popular Sunday Science lecture series, Nights at the Planetarium, and more! We also plan to purchase new digital programming for community shows, sponsor planetarium training sessions for Arlington Public School (APS) teachers, and start a scholarship for APS students. Please consider making a tax deductible donation today to Friends of Arlington’s Planetarium, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, to support science education and outreach in the DC Metro area!
Come to our events, volunteer, join our Facebook fan page, follow us on Twitter, spread the word, buy a t-shirt or bumper sticker, become a member, make a pledge, or donate. Please contact us at contact@saveplanetarium.org for more info.
What’s Your Vision for the Planetarium?
Friends of the Planetarium will use funds raised towards the purchase of new seating, a digital projector, digital full dome planetarium shows, and related equipment. Our vision is to turn Arlington’s Planetarium into a science center that not only inspires and educates children and adults in astronomy but in a wide range of scientific disciplines.
