Bronx Children’s Museum wanted to:
When Capalino connected with Bronx Children’s Museum (BCM) in 2016, it operated as a “Museum on the Go” in a school bus, providing innovative, inquiry-based educational programs and exhibits to Bronx residents. Traveling between schools, public housing like Mitchell Houses, events like the Hunts Point Fish Parade, and organizations like the Robert Magnum Learning Center, BCM was serving 15,000 people annually, but wanted to root itself to a permanent facility to serve more children, classrooms, and families.
Challenges Bronx Children’s Museum faced
BCM needed assistance securing a new location, fundraising significant capital from public and private sources, and establishing itself as one of the few cultural institutions in the Bronx geared toward young children and families with limited resources.
Capalino Assisted with
- Relationship building with elected and appointed officials from The New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and Department of Cultural Affairs, as well as the Bronx Borough President, the City Council Speaker, and Deputy Mayors for Operations, Housing and Economic Development and Strategic Policy Initiatives.
- Securing support from City Council Members for expense-related funding for ongoing programming
- Navigating the City’s Capital application and implementation processes
What we got done
Over four years working together, Capalino helped BCM raise $12.8M from city and state sources. We secured the permanent facility: the LEED-certified, historic, former Old Terminal Market Powerhouse building, centrally located near landmarks like Yankee Stadium and the Harlem River, as well as public transit stations for the MTA subway and Metro-North Railway. Thanks to the new 13,650 square-foot facility, BCM has increased from 15,000 to 75,000 annual visitors, who can enjoy exhibitions that bring together arts, culture, natural resources, and the richness of the Bronx.
