April 9, 2018

Edwin L. Wiegand Trust Grants Funds to Improve Museum of Natural History’s Fleischmann Auditorium

With a grant of $92,500 awarded by the Edwin L. Wiegand Trust, the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History is replacing and updating the audio visual equipment in Fleischmann Auditorium. The improvements include replacing the digital projector, upgrading the audio system, rack, and speakers, replacing the screen, and adding sound baffles to the ceiling. The project is currently underway and the new equipment will be operational for the Museum’s upcoming Mission Creek Gala on May 5, 2018.

Historically, the Fleischmann Auditorium has been the epicenter of Museum activity. Each year it hosts 15 to 20 lectures, along with numerous special events, dinners, and public gatherings. At least 15 times per year, the Auditorium is booked by community organizations, and it has become a popular venue for private events such as wedding receptions. The Auditorium also serves as the location for science-based traveling exhibits such as this summer’s National Geographic 50 Greatest Photographs opening May 26.

The Museum continues to pursue its Centennial Campaign, a $20 million endeavor to fund exhibit renovations and essential Museum infrastructure and site improvements. The Museum’s Centennial Campaign is allowing the Museum to upgrade its aging facilities in ways that will vastly improve the visitor experience.

For more information about the Museum’s Centennial Campaign, please visit http://campaign.sbnature.org/ or contact Luke Swetland, President and CEO, at 805-682-4711 ext. 102.

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