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EdVenture outlines five-year plan, new Dino exhibit and Riverwalk-facing expansion
Summary
EdVenture CEO Andy Marcart presented a five-year plan that expands the museum’s age range, proposes a 4,000-square-foot indoor–outdoor environmental exhibit (the "Dyno gallery"), and flagged structural work needed before the museum can program its 15,000-square-foot terrace overlooking the canal.
Andy Marcart, chief executive officer of EdVenture, briefed the Columbia City Council on the museum’s five-year plan and an accompanying capital and program agenda that would expand exhibits, increase outreach and add a new indoor–outdoor gallery focused on reuse and the circular economy.
“This document…is gonna be our north star,” Marcart said of the five-year plan, which the museum developed with staff, visitors and board input. The plan aims to expand the museum’s target age range to include preteens and to provide new hands-on experiences such as an enlarged makerspace and aviation-themed content tied to workforce-development goals.
Marcart said the museum is pursuing a 4,000-square-foot expansion called the Dyno gallery, budgeted at $4 million, and that fundraising had reached about $3.5 million with lead support from Richland County and the EPA. The exhibit would use recycled materials, interpret environmental themes and include indoor and outdoor components; Marcart said the goal is to open the exhibit in roughly one year if fundraising and construction proceed.
Marcart flagged the museum’s 15,000-square-foot terrace that overlooks the canal as underutilized because of structural issues: a roof beneath the terrace leaks and existing pavers are supported by plastic inserts that could fail under heavy equipment. He said the terrace needs reinforcement and likely a structural redesign before it can host regular programmed outdoor events.
Security upgrades, a reconfigured front entry and new group-entry logistics for field trips were described as ongoing investments; Marcart said some security funding came from state sources. He also noted plans to revive outreach programs paused during COVID, expand content production and consider partnerships with other cultural attractions and the city’s riverfront planning process.
Council members asked about visitation and revenue: Marcart said EdVenture serves about 77,000 visitors annually, roughly 60% local, and that admission-related revenue is about $2,000,000. He said the museum seeks to be a partner in riverfront and connectivity planning and will coordinate programming and design input with city staff.
