The colorful Crayola IDEAworks®: The Creativity Exhibition, an immersive and interactive experience that will challenge guests with activities that hone problem-solving skills and empower their own unique creativity, makes its world premiere at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia on Saturday, February 13, 2021.
“Crayola IDEAworks aims to inspire guests of all ages to expand their creative thinking skills and sharpen their unique talents through a multitude of exciting and imaginative activities,” said Larry Dubinski, President and CEO of The Franklin Institute. “We are absolutely thrilled to debut this world premiere exhibition and provide our guests the opportunity to experience the next level of iconic Crayola ingenuity right here at The Franklin Institute.”
Crayopolis. Images courtesy The Franklin Institute.
Produced by Agency808 in collaboration with Crayola and The Franklin Institute, the 17,000 square-foot state-of-the-art experience takes innovation and imagination to new levels across the museum exhibition landscape.
Designed as a highly immersive and personalized adventure, guests practice design thinking skills in the IDEA Workshop and put them to the test in the dynamic Colorverse™. With more than 150 physical and digital inquiry-based experiences and challenges, guests track their progress on an RFID wristband and receive a customized summary of their creative strengths discovered on their journey.
IDEAWorkshop
“It’s taken over two years from concept to creation, and throughout that time we’ve pushed the boundaries on every industry norm with Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition,” shared Clayton Ferguson, Agency808 Principal and Executive Producer. “The experiences at Crayola IDEAworks will challenge the imagination, ingenuity, and critical-thinking skills of each and every guest in a way that has never taken place in a museum exhibition before. This is a truly unique event that folks from across the region will not want to miss.”
During the exhibition, guests will encounter three distinct areas:
IDEA Workshop
Upon exhibition entry, guests will have their creativity put to the test with challenges, questions, and puzzles that sharpen their existing skills. The exhibition’s name, Crayola IDEAworks, is derived from the acronym: I – Identify, D – Define, E – Explore, A – Assess, which outlines the design thinking process and is reflected in the IDEA Workshop’s four different sections—I, D, E, and A.
Colorverse
Once inside the Crayola Colorverse, guests will travel to the bustling City of Crayopolis, then to a thriving Mars Station, and finally, a curiosity-bending SeaBase to put their IDEA skills into action and test solutions to complex problems based on current scientific research and discovery. These include living on Mars, restoring a coral reef ecosystem, and building a sustainable neighborhood.
Grand Finale
Bidding farewell to the Colorverse, guests will reveal their customized creative strength summary that celebrates their creative strengths highlighted during their adventure.
“Everyone at Crayola is very excited to see this vision come to life! With Crayola’s headquarters in Easton, PA, there is great synergy in launching this exhibition at one of the country’s most-esteemed science museums, The Franklin Institute,” said Crayola VP of Business Development and Global Licensing, Warren Schorr. “We believe everyone is naturally creative, and we continue to look for new ways to ignite it. This exhibition awakens the spirit of innovation and invention that flows throughout the Crayola brand.”
Mars Station
The health and safety of all guests visiting Crayola IDEAworks is an utmost priority. The standard COVID- 19 protocols established by The Franklin Institute will be enforced during the exhibition run in Philadelphia. For more information about the health and safety precautions at The Franklin Institute, visit https://www.fi.edu/health-safety-information-2021.
The world premiere of Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition begins February 13, 2021, with a limited engagement at The Franklin Institute through July 18, 2021, before embarking on its inaugural multi-city tour. The Franklin Institute is proud to present Crayola IDEAworks in the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion and the Mandell Center. PECO, the premier corporate partner of The Franklin Institute, is the presenting sponsor of the exhibition, and Liberty Coca-Cola is the associate sponsor.
SeaBase
Hours and admission
Wednesday-Friday: 10:00am – 5:00pm Saturday-Sunday: 10:00am – 6:00pm
*Note: Special Hours Monday, February 15: 10:00am-5:00pm
Includes General Admission to The Franklin Institute Adults $35.00; Children (ages 3-11) $31.00
To purchase tickets for the world premiere of Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition, visit www.fi.edu/crayola-ideaworks. For more information about Crayola IDEAworks: The Creativity Exhibition, visit www.crayolaideaworks.com.
