TICKET ADMISSION PRICES Find timed entries on each museum's website. Reservations are strongly recommended during busy summer months. You may also buy tickets at the door. Admission
> Arizona Museum of Natural History is $7 for children ages 3-12 and $13 for ages 13 and up; museum members are free.
> i.d.e.a. Museum, admission is $9 for ages 1 and up. Members and babies 11 months and younger are free.
> Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum is free, but reservations are recommended.
============================================================================ Three exciting new exhibitions are opening in Downtown Mesa on July 1.
1 Travel back in time to ancient Arizona to walk with dinosaurs and then go behind the scenes to develop a deeper understanding of our past at the Arizona Museum of Natural History (AZMNH).
2 Next, explore the world of robotics through art and hands-on activities at the i.d.e.a. Museum.
3 Finally, stop by the Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum and check out Angel Cabrales' reimagined SciFi-inspired parallel universe in The Uncolonized: A Vision in the Parallel exhibition.
ALL THREE - AZMNH, i.d.e.a. and Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum - WILL BE OPEN DURING THE 4th OF JULY 4 HOLIDAY Saturday, Sunday and Monday????
"Families throughout the Valley are seeking fun ways to engage and inspire their children this summer, and our museums offer a great, indoor adventure for children of all ages, and a special respite from the sizzling Arizona heat," said Cindy Ornstein, Director of Arts and Culture for the City of Mesa.
"The visually stunning and educational exhibitions at our city museums will provide the community another reason to get out of the house and escape the heat through our cool experiences."
AZMNH presents 75,000,000 BC, walking visitors through southern Arizona and northern Sonora 75 million years ago. Learn about the giant volcanoes that shaped the economy of our state and the dinosaurs that lived in their shadow.
Additionally, Ologies!: The Science of Anthropology and Paleontology is the museum's first bilingual exhibition.
Visitors will learn more about the museum's anthropology and paleontology research departments to discover the kinds of objects in each collection, how objects become part of the collection, and how objects help scientists study the past.
At the i.d.e.a. Museum, the Robo Art exhibitions lets kids of all ages explore the design, engineering and technology of robots. Enjoy building a 3D bot, playing coding games, and learning about a variety of robots, the history of robotics and more!
Also, several hands-on activities and experiences have returned, including the jungle-themed Black Light Room, cozy Zen Den and the Magnetic Wall, featuring balls and chutes.
Plus, the HUB Gallery has added a Puppet Theater, storybook floor game and new art activity, featuring fairytale characters.
More times to explore & create! Both museums also are extending business hours this summer to provide families more opportunities to stay cool, be inspired and experience fun learning. > Beginning July 1, AZMNH, located at 53 N. Macdonald, will be open
10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. on Sunday.
See dinosaurs that roar and so much more. Take a stroll through time from the birth of Earth through the age of the dinosaurs, visit a village of the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People and try your hand at gold panning. > The i.d.e.a. Museum - 150 W. Pepper Place - returns to operating 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday.
Enjoy creative experiences that support early learning, nurture creative thinking, and engage families in quality time together throughout the museum.
Check out ArtVille - a colorful town featuring imaginative play activities aimed at little ones 4 and younger (socks required).
> While visiting Downtown Mesa, families also are encouraged to visit a third Mesa gem:
Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, located at 1 E. Main St.
Business hours are 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 12 p.m. - 5 p.m. Sunday.
Explore works by sculptor and mixed media artist Angel Cabrales, known for his provocative social commentaries on the Latin-American experience.
Also on exhibition are:
Passage, a collaborative site-specific installation of 7,000+ unfired clay beads symbolizing lives lost on the US-Mexico border
The Myth of the Incomplete Self (El mito del yo incompleto); and
Nice to know there is a foundation to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots.
We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit www.kf.org. :
The 26 newsrooms were selected from an applicant pool of 176 news organizations. Led by News Revenue Hub, an expert panel of industry experts evaluated each application on a basis of application strength, grant utilization, and industry impact. For more on the Hub’s process, see this blog post.
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ANNOUNCEMENTS
AZCIR one of 26 newsrooms to receive technology grant
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation announced today that AZCIR was selected as one of 26 newsrooms to receive funding for technology improvements in online publishing.
AZCIR will use the one-time grant to improve its website, AZCIR.org, for readers, subscribers and donors, as well as newsrooms that publish the Center's reporting. AZCIR also will work to better leverage technology so the organization can be more effective at cultivating and expanding its member and donor base.
We're honored to receive this support, and humbled to share the announcement with such a diverse group of newsrooms: Among those selected for Knight Foundation funding, 42% are nonprofit organizations and 42% are led by or serve communities of color. You can read more about the program below.
Shortcomings at the federal, state and school level make securing a 504 plan easier for students with disabilities who attend Arizona schools that are wealthier and whiter. The disparity gives an advantage to families that can spend time and money advocating on their children’s behalf, while potentially limiting equal access to education for low-income students of color. READ THE FULL STORY >>
Hundreds of Arizona’s public schools failed to report accurate civil rights data to the U.S. Department of Education for the 2017-2018 school year, a violation that can result in a loss of federal funding. Experts said the inaccurate data, which includes “504 plans” for students with disabilities, puts into question the process used to determine whether students' rights are being violated, and deprives parents, policy makers and researchers of critical information about the support students receive. READ THE FULL STORY >>
AZCIR analyzed federal and state education data to identify statewide trends in the use of 504 plans, a protection that comes from a federal law designed to help students with disabilities. The analysis tracked the disability plans across schools with different socioeconomic and racial makeups, and uncovered inequalities in access that favor Arizona’s wealthiest and whitest traditional public school students. READ THE FULL STORY >>
We're particularly grateful for this grant because it allows our organization to improve how we interact with you, our readers and supporters.
Thanks, as always, for following our work.
Brandon Quester Executive Director and Editor Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting
Knight Foundation announces new support to help newsrooms strengthen digital platforms
Twenty-six newsrooms will receive $20,000 grants to deploy the publishing solution of their choice, in second year of Knight initiative
MIAMI — June 30, 2021 — The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced the second set of recipients from its $2 million, three-year initiative to strengthen digital publishing solutions in newsrooms.
This year, 26 newsrooms will receive $20,000 one-time grants to adopt, manage or upgrade the digital publishing solution of their choice. Knight support will help these newsrooms utilize tools that prioritize and enhance audience and business development, editorial content production, revenue streams and modes for membership and audience engagement.
“This year, we’ve seen the power newsrooms can have when they have the right digital tools,” said Paul Cheung, Knight Foundation director for journalism and technology innovation. “We’re proud to support these news organizations and their efforts to level up their work, reach more subscribers and continue to build informed and engaged communities.”
As in the first year of the initiative, the 26 selected newsrooms include a mix of nonprofit news organizations, small commercial community newspapers and new digital upstarts. Of the selected newsrooms, 42% are nonprofit organizations; 42% are led by or serve communities of color; and 61% are committed to delivering local journalism
Selected newsrooms may use Knight funding to employ new digital tools by changing their content management systems, making upgrades to their existing publishing systems, or hiring support to maximize the use of the systems they have in place.
Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Phoenix, Ariz. (Newspack) The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is an independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. AZCIR will use Knight support to optimize the website user experiences for readers, subscribers and donors, and partner newsrooms, as well as cultivating and expanding their members and donors.
Black Voice News, Riverside, Calif. (Newspack) The 49-year-old Black Voice News shines a light on systemic inequities and disparities through solutions-oriented, data-driven journalism empowering informed action in California. Black Voice News will use Knight support to optimize its Newspack content integration and user experience.
Borderless Magazine, Chicago (WordPress) Borderless Magazine is a women- and BIPOC-run nonprofit news outlet reimagining immigration journalism with a lens on justice. The newsroom will use Knight support to make its website more accessible to its Spanish and Arabic-speaking audiences, grow membership and build a donor base.
Charlottesville Tomorrow, Charlottesville, Va. (WordPress) Charlottesville Tomorrow delivers in-depth reporting and analysis to improve local decision-making in the greater Charlottesville area. The newsroom will use Knight support to advance their digital publishing platform and grow their audience, with the specific focus of reaching Black and Spanish-speaking audiences.
The Community Voice, Wichita, Kan. (Newspack) The Community Voice is a 26-year-old Kansas-based, African-American multimedia publication located in Wichita and serving the state of Kansas and the Kansas City metro area. TCV is the state’s only African-American owned and targeted newspaper. The newsroom will use Knight support to launch a new website that will be user friendly, enhance their newsletter capabilities and their market reach.
The Devil Strip, Akron, Ohio (Custom CMS) The Devil Strip is a community news cooperative collectively owned and governed by its readers and workers. The Devil Strip will use Knight support to upgrade its site for a clean, user-friendly experience that advances opportunities for reader and member engagement and makes client services easier to access.
El Tímpano, Oakland, Calif. (Newspack) El Tímpano — Spanish for “eardrum”— informs, engages and amplifies the voices of Oakland’s Latino and Mayan immigrants. The newsroom will use Knight support to design and launch a new website that can help reach new audiences and donors.
Growing Community Media, Oak Park, Ill. (Newspack) Growing Community Media publishes independent, hyperlocal community journalism online and in print in 9 communities on the west side of Chicago and in its near suburbs, including Austin Weekly News, Wednesday Journal, Forest Park Review and Riverside Brookfield Landmark. These four publications will use Knight support to maintain their newly-launched websites, optimize advertising and develop a website for the nonprofit ownership organization.
Houston Defender Network, Houston, Tex. (Newspack) Founded in 1930, the Houston Defender is Houston’s leading Black information source, serving Harris, Ft. Bend and Brazoria counties. The newsroom will use Knight support to streamline the redesign of its website, create targeted audience channel pages, and launch and design newsletters associated with the new channels.
KGNU Community Radio, Boulder, Denver and Fort Collins, Co. (Custom) KGNU Radio is a community-powered radio station dedicated to amplifying community, culture, and music by airing diverse voices and perspectives. We prioritize building and maintaining a robust pipeline of volunteer producers to be part of the local media landscape. KGNU will use Knight support to design and launch a new website that advances user experience, grows the station’s digital acumen, and becomes a stream of revenue.
The Marjorie, Gainesville, Fla. (Newspack) The Marjorie is a nonprofit newsroom that promotes a greater understanding of issues related to the environment, social justice and women in Florida through storytelling and community building. The newsroom will use Knight support to integrate a newsletter publisher into its content management system, understand its existing audience and build new ways for audience engagement.
Maryland Matters, Takoma Park, Md. (WordPress) Maryland Matters is the premier site for news about Maryland government and politics. The newsroom will use Knight support to boost its user experience by upgrading its content management system.
The Mendocino Voice, Mendocino County, Calif. (WordPress) The Mendocino Voice is an independent online news outlet founded in 2016 to provide useful news for all of Mendocino County, Calif. The newsroom will use Knight support to build and launch a new website that advances a better user experience and builds member and client revenue.
Ojai Valley News, Ojai, Calif. (Custom) The Ojai Valley News has been the journal of record for California’s Ojai Valley since 1891. The newsroom will use Knight support to migrate its website to a new content management system and improve its community reach and reader experience.
Outlier Media, Detroit (WordPress) Outlier Media is a Detroit-based service journalism organization that identifies, reports, and delivers valuable information to empower residents to hold landlords, municipal government and elected officials accountable for longstanding problems. The newsroom will use Knight support to build a new website that showcases multimedia stories, increasing the value of Outlier’s investigative and accountability reporting. Outlier will also integrate its SMS text message reporting service into the new website.
Plainsman Herald, Springfield, Co. (Newspack) The Plainsman Herald, established in 1887, is a rural weekly newspaper serving Baca County, Colo. and surrounding areas. The newsroom will use Knight support to build and design a new website, building a better digital product that engages the local community.
Prison Journalism Project (Newspack) Prison Journalism Project is a national, independent, nonpartisan initiative that trains incarcerated writers in the tools of journalism and helps them reach an outside audience through partnerships with media organizations. The organization will use Knight support to build a new website, build multimedia content and reach new donors.
QCity Metro, Charlotte, NC (WordPress) Founded in 2008, QCity Metro provides news and information relevant to Black communities in Charlotte, NC. It was among the nation’s first digital-only platforms created to serve a local, Black audience. The newsroom will use Knight support to add a resource and lifestyle portal to its existing WordPress site, create a variety of directories, guides and interactive maps themed for Charlotte’s Black communities, and drive initial engagement and new streams of revenue.
The Rafu Shimpo, Los Angeles (Newspack) Established in 1903, The Rafu Shimpo is a bilingual Japanese-English language newspaper, and the longest running Japanese American daily newspaper in the United States. The newsroom will use Knight support for the launch of a new website that also allows readers to purchase print and digital subscriptions, make donations and sign-up for newsletters.
Southerly, Louisville, Ken. (Newspack) Southerly is an independent, nonprofit media organization that covers the intersection of ecology, justice, and culture in the American South. Through partnerships with local newsrooms across the region, they produce stories aimed at rural, BIPOC, and low-wealth audiences, and collaborate with non-journalism organizations to ensure information is accessible and useful. The organization will use Knight support to redesign and launch a new site that highlights membership and partnership opportunities and reaches new audiences.
Spotlight PA, Harrisburg, Pa. (Almanack) Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom dedicated to producing investigative journalism about the Pennsylvania state government and urgent statewide issues. The newsroom will use Knight support to streamline its content management system, advance the sharing and distribution of content, and increase its revenue streams.
The Sacramento Observer, Sacramento, Calif. (Newspack) Established in 1962, the Sacramento Observer Newspaper is the legacy Black newspaper in Sacramento, California. The newsroom will use Knight support to optimize its content management system and use of images and other digital assets across the platform.
Truthout, Sacramento, Calif. (WordPress) Truthout is a nonprofit news organization dedicated to providing independent reporting and commentary on a diverse range of social justice issues. The newsroom will use Knight support to improve its user experience, support its donor pipeline, analyze reader engagement and build revenue.
Voice of San Diego, San Diego, Calif. (WordPress) Voice of San Diego delivers ground-breaking investigative journalism for the San Diego region. The publication will use Knight support to rebuild its existing Salesforce plugin and increase reader conversions from its newsletter.
Washington City Paper, Washington DC (Newspack) Since 1981, Washington City Paper has served the growing community of Washington DC. The newspaper will use Knight support to streamline the workflow for building its print editions, improve its events listing tool and add in the capability to export content into a ready-to-print format.
Wisconsin Watch, Madison, Wisc. (Newspack) The nonpartisan, nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism increases the quality and quantity of investigative reporting in Wisconsin while training current and future investigative journalists. The newsroom will use Knight support to manage and take full advantage of the audience, donor growth, and enhanced user experience opportunities available with the Newspack content management system.
The selection of newsrooms was managed by News Revenue Hub, a nonprofit organization that works with over 70 publishers on building membership revenue, growing audiences and developing sustainable business practices. In addition to receiving funding, selected newsrooms will access training sessions, led by the Hub, on utilizing and leveraging business and audience development tools and strategies.
The 26 newsrooms were selected from an applicant pool of 176 news organizations. Led by News Revenue Hub, an expert panel of industry experts evaluated each application on a basis of application strength, grant utilization, and industry impact. For more on the Hub’s process, see this blog post.
Knight Foundation is a national foundation with strong local roots. We invest in journalism, in the arts, and in the success of cities where brothers John S. and James L. Knight once published newspapers. Our goal is to foster informed and engaged communities, which we believe are essential for a healthy democracy. For more, visit www.kf.org.
