R&L Consulting, LLC Museum and Non-Profit Consulting 97 Hemlock St. Arden, NC 28704 p. 828.684.3366 www.randlconsulting.com MEDIA ALERT CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SEPTEMBER 2013 ALAN J. LIPSKY - 828-684-3366 / [email protected] R&L CONSULTING CLIENT DISCOVERY CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OPENS NEW $50 MILLION FACILITY IN LAS VEGAS R&L Consulting is pleased to announce that one of its clients, the Discovery Children’s Museum, recently opened its new 58,000 square-foot building in Las Vegas, NV. The Museum houses nine themed exhibition halls featuring 26,000 square feet of new interactive exhibits that engage visitors with the arts, sciences and humanities. Exhibits were designed and developed for children from birth through 12 years old and their families. R&L Consulting worked with Museum staff and five exhibition design teams over a two-year period to shape and develop the content and design of more than 100 new interactive components. R&L Consulting was involved from the creation of conceptual plans, to detailed design development, through the final installation of the exhibitions at the new facility. “The relationship was seamless between R&L Consulting and the Museum; I felt like A.J. was a member of our staff. She demonstrated time and time again that she was just as invested in the successful completion of this project as I was. She worked tirelessly, always there, doing whatever it took to make these nine exhibit galleries a reality. “Our expectations were high – we did not want the cookie-cutter exhibit experience, we wanted to push the envelope. A.J. understood this and worked side by side with me to make sure that our expectations were realized. She used her numerous years of museum experience and had all of the qualities we needed. A.J. is detail-oriented, collaboration-minded, patient, has a superb work ethic and the ability to think outside the box. She handled our project with expertise, integrity and professionalism.” Tifferney White, Deputy Director, Discovery Children’s Museum R&L Consulting provided key services in support of the project, including:  Development of exhibit design requirements,  Conducting content research and securing external content advisors,  Establishing guidelines for the development of all label copy,  Reviewing and editing exhibition text,  Writing teacher preparation materials for all exhibition areas,  Development of staff training materials,  Conducting on-site exhibits training for Museum staff,  Researching and developing public programs, writing program materials and training staff onsite. Throughout the process, R&L Consulting worked to ensure that exhibitions and programs:  Advanced the mission, vision and core values of the Museum  Aligned with the Museum’s Audience and Interpretive Plan,  Met the developmental needs of target age groups, and  Addressed new Common Core State Standards, Next Generation Science Standards and 21st Century Skills. Discovery Children’s Museum opened to the public on March 9, 2013, and has welcomed more than 230,000 visitors during its first six months of operation. More information about the Museum can be found at www.discoverykidslv.org. R&L Consulting, LLC is a consulting firm that specializes in working with museums. Its principals, A.J. Rhodes & Alan Lipsky, have over 57 years of combined experience working with museums and non-profit organizations. With a roster of nationally acclaimed clients, R&L Consulting provides specialized services in grant writing, education and exhibition projects, interpretive planning and strategic planning. For more information about R&L Consulting and services offered, visit www.randlconsulting.com. To arrange a free consultation, contact Alan Lipsky at 828-684-3366 or [email protected]. ****** WHO WE ARE: A.J. Rhodes has worked with museums for 26 years and was most recently the Director of Education and Public Programs at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana. Previously she served as the Director of Education at both the Lied Discovery Children's Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Albuquerque Children's Museum in New Mexico. A.J. also has worked at the Delaware Art Museum, New Castle Historical Society, and the Albuquerque Museum of Art and History, among others. A.J. holds a B.A. with Honors in Art History from Swarthmore College and a M.A. in Art History and Museum Studies from the University of Delaware. She received professional certification as a “Certified Interpretive Planner” from the National Association for Interpretation, and has been a grant review panelist for the National Endowment for the Humanities. Alan J. Lipsky is a museum and fundraising professional with 31 years of experience. He was the Development Director at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls, Montana, the Director of Development at the Lied Discovery Children’s Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, the Grants Officer at the Museum of Jewish Heritage-A Living Memorial to the Holocaust, and Executive Director of the Wyckoff House Museum, both in New York City. He also has served as Director of Development for Aid for AIDS of Nevada, and worked as a consultant to several New York, Las Vegas and Montana cultural and non-profit organizations. Alan has been active as both a board member and volunteer of several cultural organizations. He holds a B.A. Cum Laude in American History from Brooklyn College. -30-