Natural World Museum facts for kids
The Natural World Museum (NWM) was a special museum that used art to help people care about the environment. It was based in San Francisco, California. The museum wanted to inspire people to protect our planet. It showed how art could make a difference.
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Art for a Greener World
The Natural World Museum worked with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Together, they put on art shows every year for World Environment Day. These shows were part of a project called "Art for the Environment." The museum created unique art programs. These programs explored important environmental topics. Some topics included making cities greener, stopping desertification (when land turns into desert), and understanding global climate change. The art shows featured both new and famous artists. They were held in amazing places around the world. One famous place was the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.
Inspiring Environmental Art
The NWM was important for helping new environmental art get made. For example, in 2007, they asked artist Alfio Bonnano to create a special outdoor artwork. It was for the World Environment Day exhibit called Envisioning Change: Melting Ice / A Hot Topic. Bonnano created a piece called "Ark." It showed a boat balanced high in the treetops. This artwork was a symbol. It reminded people about the serious effects of global warming.
Books and Ideas
In 2007, the NWM also published a book. It was called Art in Action: Nature, Creativity, and Our Collective Future. The book had a special introduction by Achim Steiner. He was the head of the United Nations Environment Programme. The book featured artworks by many famous artists. These included Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Joseph Beuys, Ed Burtynsky, Ken Rinaldo, and Cai Guo-Qiang.
Learning for the Future
The NWM had many educational programs. One program was called Planet Art. Hundreds of children and young people from all over the world took part. The goal was to teach them about the environment. This helped them become future protectors of our Earth. The museum also held talks and big international meetings. These events brought together people from art, science, and environmental fields. Famous speakers included Al Gore, Ernest Callenbach, Hunter Lovins, Joanna Macy, Daryl Hannah, and Wangari Maathai. Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004.
The Museum's Journey
Mia Hanak was the person who started the Natural World Museum. She was its first leader from 2001 to 2008. In May 2009, the Natural World Museum officially closed. It is no longer an active museum.
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