WonderLab will be closed to the public Sunday, August 12 through Thursday, August 23, 2018 for annual spiff up, renovation, and construction. Administrative offices will be open weekdays 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

During this time keep up-to-date with WonderLab by tuning into original programing created by the museum. Seven videos featuring WonderLab’s unique hands-on science will be released on Facebook and the WonderLab Museum YouTube channel. Programing topics include: Science Outside with Wonders of Nature, STEM Sunday Engineering Challenge, Science Sprouts! and Meanwhile Behind the Scenes at WonderLab.

Behind the closed museum doors phase one construction will begin for Science Sprouts Place, a dedicated gallery area for scientists birth through age three and their caregivers. Major renovations will be made to the current bubble room, the future site of Science Sprouts Place.

The Science Sprouts Place exhibit area is scheduled to open late 2019 with original hands-on exhibits. Major funding for Science Sprouts Place provided by: Andrew Bacher, The Brabson Library and Education Foundation, Community Foundation of Bloomington and Monroe County, Duke Energy Foundation, Old National Bank Foundation, WonderLab Board of Directors, Ray and Marcie Tichenor Endowment Fund, and Royal on the Eastside/Subaru of America.

Renovation work during this time also includes transformation to the second floor, where the area formerly occupied by a hot air balloon exhibit will be made available for additional exhibit space.

The museum will reopen on Friday August 24th at 9 a.m. with regularly scheduled programming. Then on Saturday, August 25th celebrate at WonderLab After Dark: Art in Bloom, the premier 21-and-older event from 6-9 p.m.

For this unique After Dark celebration WonderLab is fusing the passions of art and science into a single, spectacular evening event. Visitors are invited to explore unique aspects of the Bloomington science and art scenes and celebrate the ways in which these creative industries intersect.

The full event line-up includes a variety of celebrated local artists and scientists with activities across the spectrum. Theater arts and make-up will be presented by the John Waldron Arts Center. Kinetic movement and dance will be explored through Couples Swing Dance Lessons taught by nationally renowned dance instructor, Mary Hoedeman Coniaris. Delve into the art of literature and discuss the written word with local, nationally known authors Scott Russell Sanders, Ian Woollen, and James Thom. Advance tickets for WonderLab After Dark: Art in Bloom can be purchased on-line at $15 for members, $18 for non-members. Day of event tickets can be purchased for $20 at the door. Ticket price includes museum admission, shows, activities and food.