April 20, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Susan Trien, 585-410-6359, strien@museumofplay.org
Strong National Museum of Play® to
Host Major National Conference on Play April 26–28
Play is the highest form of research.—Albert Einstein
Play is vital to human health, learning, creativity, and development and is a reflection of culture and social mores. “Play Matters,” a major interdisciplinary scholarly conference on play, will be hosted by Strong National Museum of Play® in Rochester, New York, from Thursday, April 26 through Saturday, April 28, 2007. More than 125 scholars will gather to present a plethora of play-related research across such disciplines as psychology, health, child care, communications, anthropology, and education. The conference is cosponsored by the International Play Association (IPA) and The Association for the Study of Play (TASP).
Approximately 200 attendees from across the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, and Russia will attend lectures, symposia, and workshops on such topics as play environments, play and learning, cross-cultural play, food as play, play therapy, play and disabilities, playful teaching strategies, and play and the media, as well as many others. (For the full conference agenda: www.museumofplay.org/play/TASPprogram.html.)
According to G. Rollie Adams, president and CEO of Strong National Museum of Play®, “TASP, IPA, and Strong all seek to foster a greater understanding of the importance of play in learning and human development. The museum, with its newly expanded facilities (a recent $37 million expansion includes interactive exhibits, a live butterfly garden, and an expanded National Toy Hall of Fame®), national play-related collections, and plans to launch a new national journal of play scholarship, was deemed by the organizers as the perfect place to meet in 2007 to share the latest play research.”
“Strong is the ideal place for scholars to confer about play,” agrees Anne Marie Guilmete, president of TASP. “Our mission at TASP—to promote the study of play and support and cooperate with other organizations—is in perfect alignment with the museum’s.”
Among the presenters is Brian Sutton-Smith, widely regarded as the most prominent figure in modern play scholarship and author of 50 books and some 350 scholarly articles on play. Sutton-Smith will receive a lifetime achievement award for his work in the field from TASP and will be officially named Scholar in Residence at Strong National Museum of Play®. Sutton-Smith is donating to Strong his personal library of play books and research papers accumulated over a career of approximately 50 years, which will eventually be made accessible to play researchers.
Other prominent presenters are Dorothy G. and Jerome L. Singer, internationally recognized for their work in the field of child development and co-directors of the Yale University Family Television Research and Consultation Center; and Joe L. Frost, known world-wide for his work on early childhood and children’s play environments.
About the Conference Organizers:
IPA/USA is a member of IPA/International and is committed to ensuring the child’s right to play through advocacy, conferences, and publications. IPA/USA membership provides members with a newsletter, publications, and reduced rates at the conference. Website: http://www.ipausa.org/
TASP is a multidisciplinary organization whose purpose is to promote the study of play and includes the disciplines of biology, communication, cultural studies, education, folklore, history, kinesiology, musicology, occupational science, philosophy, psychology, recreation, and sociology. Website: www.csuchico.edu/kine/tasp/
Strong National Museum of Play® is the only museum in the world devoted to the study of play as it illuminates American culture. The museum is Home | Plan A Visit | Things to Do & See | About Us | School Programs | Just For Kids | About Play | Membership | Press Room | Contact | Employment | Join Our E-mail List © 2008 - Strong National Museum of Play ® - All Rights Reservedof the National Toy Hall of Fame® and world-renowned collections including the world’s largest collection of dolls, toys, and play-related objects. Strong’s new $37 million expansion features whimsical, award-winning architecture; hands-on exhibits for children and families; and Upstate New York’s only live indoor butterfly garden. Website: www.museumofplay.org
Strong National Museum of Play®, located in downtown Rochester, New York, is the only museum in the world devoted to the study of play as it illuminates American popular culture.
Hours:
Monday–Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.;
Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.; Sunday, 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m.
Admission Fees:
General Admission (does not include Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™):
Adults $9.00; Seniors $8.00; Children (2–17) $7.00; Children younger than two free; Strong members free.
Admission to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™:
General Admission fee plus $3.00 per person for members and nonmembers; Children younger than two free.
Due to limited capacity, entry to Dancing Wings Butterfly Garden™ is by timed tickets only. Advance purchase is recommended. Please call 585-263-2700 to purchase timed tickets.