Together We Thrive: The Community’s Role in the Amazeum’s Success

The Amazeum is more than a museum—it’s a learning organization powered by the people who bring it to life. Every hands-on experiment, every spark of curiosity, and every unforgettable moment happens because of the connections we’ve built with educators, makers, organizations, and families.

We don’t do this work alone. The Amazeum grows because of the people who believe in it. They bring their skills, creativity, and ideas to make it more than a museum. The Amazeum is built on the belief that learning happens everywhere—not just inside our walls. Our partnerships with local businesses, educators, and community organizations create hands-on learning experiences that extend into homes, classrooms, and communities across Northwest Arkansas.

That’s most visible in the events and programs that bring us together—like Tinkerfest, cultural celebrations, and community outreach initiatives that make learning more accessible.

A Place for Ideas to Spark

At Tinkerfest, partnerships aren’t just crucial—they’re the reason the event exists. Kids get their hands on tools they’ve never used before. They take things apart, build new creations, and test ideas they didn’t even know they had. Right next to them are the people making it possible—makers, volunteers, organizations, and educators.

“We’re really excited about being here because this is a chance to get out in front of the community and to interact with them—to tinker,” said James Hopper, Director of Outreach at the Alice Walton School of Medicine. “The Amazeum, at its core, is a place for people to learn. And that’s exactly what we believe in, too. Who knows what future projects might be born out of this?”

Those sparks don’t fade when the community events end. They carry into classrooms and homes, shaping how kids approach challenges.

For Kristen Denton, an educator from Moxi, the Wolf Museum of Exploration and Innovation, Tinkerfest is about more than just one day. “We all do our own work in our own contexts, but being able to see that work in different settings and collaborate is huge,” she said. At the event, she found herself in an unexpected partnership with the New York Hall of Science. “Their station was upcycling what we were taking apart at my station. Kids were literally carrying pieces from one space to the next, asking each other, ‘What can I do with this?’ It was incredible to watch that teamwork happen in real time.”

That’s what learning at the Amazeum looks like—collaborative, experiential, and driven by curiosity. It’s about working alongside each other to build something bigger together.

Beyond a Single Event: Growing Together

While Tinkerfest highlights hands-on learning, partnerships like the Amazeum’s Community Spotlight with Ra-Ve Cultural Foundation, Papa Rap, and DilSkillz bring the community together in a different way.

Papa Rap, a bilingual musician and educator, uses music to connect people. At the Amazeum, he led an interactive performance in English and Spanish, encouraging kids to celebrate their language and heritage. “Every child should have the opportunity to speak two languages,” he said. “When kids see me rapping in Spanish and English, they say, ‘Hey, I want to do that too!’” It isn't just about music. It is about representation.

For DilSkillz, the power of music goes beyond sound. “Music is a universal language. It doesn’t matter where you’re from—when you hear it, you feel it. And when kids see themselves in it, that’s when the real magic happens.”

The event was a reminder that learning is social, cultural, and deeply personal. It happens everywhere—not just in classrooms but in moments of shared creativity and connection. Families from different backgrounds shared a space where culture, creativity, and community all connected. True inclusion isn’t just about opening doors—it’s about creating spaces where people feel seen.

The Future We Build Together

The real impact of the Amazeum happens in the moments we don’t always see. A student visits and later decides to become an engineer. A family comes back week after week because the Amazeum feels like home. A maker shares their craft and sparks a passion in someone else.

“Museums like the Amazeum become a hub—a place where everyone comes together to try things, to learn, to share,” said Satbir M., an educator from the New York Hall of Science. “It’s not just a building. It’s a home for curiosity.”

The Amazeum is stronger because of the people who shape it. Partners, educators, makers, visitors—we all grow together.

And the best part? There’s always room for more.

When we work together, we make learning more accessible, more engaging, and more meaningful. And we’re just getting started.