Explora is partner of Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign (SEE) and member of Ecsite, European network of Science Centres and Museums .
Explora is committed in several Euro-projects as a valid partner. Explora collaborates on: writing financing proposals, developing international operating networks, managing financed projects.
Children’s Museum Social Co-operative is a Non-profitable organization and is ISO certified according to the EN ISO 9001:2008, for the coordination of educational and recreative activities for children aged 3 to 12 years.
The project
The Explora project was born in 1994 from the collaboration between Associazione Museo dei Bambini (later Museo dei Bambini scarl onlus and Museo dei Bambini Società Cooperativa Sociale onlus), CNR Psychology Institute (Francesco Tonucci, Silvia Caravita and Vito Consoli) and Comune di Roma.
According to AYM it takes 5 to 10 years to build a permanent structure like Explora, either financed by state-owned companies and Institutions like in Vienna or by privately-owned companies like in England, Israel, Mexico and USA.
An extensive fund-raising initiative among Italy’s major privately-owned and state-owned companies was instrumental in completing Explora facilities, managed by Museo dei Bambini SCS Onlus, that strongly believed in the project with a projection to the future and to ambitious objectives. The renovation and requalification works were carried out during 2 years. The pavilion was built and the urban degraded area was re-qualified. A series of interventions were also carried out in order to strengthen the surrounding wall (realized by Comune di Roma U.P.C.S.)
Area and requalification
Explora is 300 m from Piazza del Popolo and is located in the 2nd Municipality of Rome, in the City Area of the former Atac Tramway Warehouse in Via Flaminia 80. The area was granted to Museo dei Bambini by the City of Rome (protocol agreement 23/5/97 signed by Comune di Roma and Atac). The Municipality approved the final project on September 23rd 1997, first formal agreement approved by competent agencies on November 12th 1997. The area was granted through the act n° 102517 September 14th 2000 by Comune di Roma III Dept.
On December 3rd 1997 Lazio Region approved the variations of the Town Planning scheme due to the change in the use classifications of the former Atac warehouse. The refurbishment and requalification works started on November 1st 1998. A second formal agreement by competent agencies was needed due to changes to the project and it was approved on December 21st 2000.
The former warehouse (total area 10.000 mq) consisted of several buildings dating between 1870 and 1920. Some of them are interesting examples of industrial architecture.
With the renovation of buildings an urban re-qualification has been carried out transforming a degraded area into a valuable international permanent benchmark for families and children. The cast iron structure and its 26 supporting columns were completely recovered. They are protected by glass walls and a skylight roof. The latter, along with a cutting-edge photovoltaic system, produces the energy that powers Explora.
Solar energy: photovoltaic systems
The first 15 kW photovoltaic system was built on the pavilion roof as part of the European Community “Thermie” program. It shows children how sun produces energy. Kids are stimulated to learn more on clean energies and on sustainable development.
The second 18kW photovoltaic system was installed in 2007 thanks to Conto Energia by GSE. This system coupled with the first one has a total output of 40.000 KWh.
Rent and area grant
The land grant states that until 2010 the rent fare is covered through the area requalification that was carried out by the cooperative. From June 7th 2010 Comune di Roma receive the amount of € 27.753,88 per year, with a reduction of 20% since Museo dei Bambini is a non-profit company.
Phase 2
The enlargement of the Children’s Museum includes the refurbishment of the remaining 1,700 mq and 1,600 mq of open areas. The requalification projects include the use of renewable energies for a 1,000 mq new pavilion, dedicated to: temporary exhibitions (mainly on Science), a 150 seats auditorium, rooms for workshops and training courses. Opening expected in 2011.
Fund raising and sponsors
The Explora project was funded by both privately-owned and state-owned companies which activated a bench-marking project with other companies, creating networks with European Institutions and financing supporters. The first step of the Explora project was the engineer and architecture project for the recovery and requalification of the area.
Explora had a cost of 3,700,000.00 € and was started up as a social project financing, one of the first ones with the support of Comune di Roma: thanks to this project an urban requalification of the degraded area, historically known as Borghetto Flaminio, was carried out and the innovative structure was recovered to become a point of reference for children and families.
Bar and restaurant
Building A (where offices, ticket office, shop, café and restaurant are located): Explora signed an agreement with an external company that covered the costs of the renovation of this building (about € 800,000.00) obtaining in return the management of bar and restaurant. The cooperative receives a royalty of 5% of sales VAT excluded, minimum guaranteed € 20,000.00 per year + VAT.
Explora activities
- 4 visit tours per day, Tuesday to Sunday;
- Week end workshops: creative ateliers, craft and educational studios during visit tours (activity included in the ticket cost);
- School visits with thematic workshops for Primary and Secondary School (6 to 12 years);
- Thematic tours for Nurseries and playgroups;
- Kitchen Studio workshop on food education in the new building next to the museum hall;
- Training courses for teachers on Monday, within the initiative I Lunedì degli Insegnanti/Teachers’ Monday. The Children’s Museum of Rome is an accredited and qualified institution of the Miur - Ufficio Scolastico Regionale del Lazio - and its courses are valid as official refresher courses;
- Explora ad hoc, training course for educators and other operators of the field;
- Seminars, conferences and press conferences, books presentations and special events. Admission free;
- Events hosted by Explora in the pavilion for important institutions and companies (Polish Embassy, Turkish Embassy, Bologna Antoniano, BNL, British Council, C.I.A.I., European Commission, Comune di Roma, Inail, Istat, Polish Institute of Italian Culture, Istituto San Paolo, Lottomatica, Nissan, Rai, Renault, Unicef, Unilever, WWF and Fondo Aureo); the cooperative takes care of the catering service;
- Shop and book shop were opened on July 1st 2002. They are specialized in: science games, educationals, books for all ages:
- Talking books: animated readings in the bookshop;
- Birthday/Night parties with specific entertainment services according to the age of guests. Snack or lunch/dinner at the Museum restaurant;
- Fund raising and partners: 50,000.00 to 100,000.00 year agreements, according to promoted and scheduled events;
- Summer/Winter/Spring camps during school holidays;
- Play group, an opportunity to make new friends;
- Organization and coordination of Giochi d’Estate entertaining and cultural initiative in 5 parks and villas of Rome, with the support of Comune di Roma- XVI Dept.–Assessorato alle Politiche di Promozione dell’Infanzia e della Famiglia. From July 28th to August 9th 2003;
- Secretariat for the Piccoli Condomini contest, for Comune di Roma in collaboration with ADCI. September-December 2005;
- Explora is committed in several Euro-projects as a valid partner, managing financed projects;
- Temporary interactive exhibitions;
- Photo exhibitions.
Learn more on Explora in numbers.
Updated Feb 2012