'Reboot the suit' first of Smithsonian-Kickstarter ventures
One small step for the Smithsonian, one giant leap for space fans everywhere.
The Smithsonian Institution has surpassed its $500,000 funding goal after creating a Kickstarter project (
www.kickstarter.com/projects/smithsonian...l-armstrongs-spacesu
) for an exhibit that will feature the spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong when he became the first person to step on the moon, in 1969.
The project is the first time the Smithsonian has ventured into crowdfunding, and it is the first time that Kickstarter, which requires fundraisers to meet their targets or walk away empty-handed, has formed this kind of partnership with a museum. The two said they would work on three to four projects over the next 12 months, and Kickstarter will give advice and help The Smithsonian shape the projects.
While the Smithsonian receives federal funding, that money goes toward research, maintenance and keeping the collections safe. It has to raise private funds for new exhibits, which typically is done through private philanthropy.
The Smithsonian chose to partner with Kickstarter this time because of its community, said Yoonhyung Lee, director of digital philanthropy at the Smithsonian.
"Kickstarter has wonderful brand recognition and an amazing community that's very vested in what's happening on Kickstarter," Lee said.
