Bell Musuem: Cinematic Cosmos – A Planetarium Film Festival – St. Paul, MN

We are Minnesota’s official natural history museum, established by the legislature in 1872 and held in trust by the University of Minnesota. For over a century, the museum has preserved and interpreted our state’s rich natural history and served learners of all ages. Additionally, our scientific collections contain over one million specimens, representing every county in Minnesota and various locales around the globe.

Mission

As Minnesota’s state natural history museum, our mission is to ignite curiosity and wonder, explore our connections to nature and the universe, and create a better future for our evolving world.

Vision

We will energize a community that embraces the transformative nature of science.

Values

Education is a journey. We delight in the process of hands-on discovery and support lifelong learning at the intersection of the sciences, arts, and humanities.

Authenticity. We use interesting, relevant, and real science and objects to engage people’s curiosities about earth and the universe.

Diversity. We believe difference is a strength. We reflect and respect diversity.

Preservation. We seek to preserve knowledge and biological diversity for our future.

Connections. We value our visitors, partners, and the experiences we create together. Collaboration enriches our learning and extends our service.

Integrity. We strive for excellence in all that we do, guided by honesty, transparency, and professionalism.

Sustainability. We are principled in the way we take care of our people and the planet.

Diversity & Inclusion

We believe it is essential to create an environment that welcomes and empowers people from historically underrepresented​ ​​and marginalized communities to have equitable access to the museum’s resources as well as opportunities to transform our work.  We are committed to upholding the diversity, equity, and inclusion definitions and values set forth by the College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences and the University of Minnesota.

These values will be integrated in all aspects of the museum, including:

• Hiring, recruitment, retention, and advancement of staff and volunteers
• Selection and evaluation of program and exhibition content
• Providing meaningful opportunities to participate in planning and leadership

Read more about our commitment to diversity, equity, accessibility & inclusion on this page.

Facing Change

In 2019, the Bell Museum was selected as one of 51 museums to participate in the American Alliance of Museums Facing Change: Advancing Museum Board Diversity and Inclusion initiative. This three-year initiative is supported generously by $4 million in grant funding to AAM, which will provide a path forward for museums to build and maintain inclusive cultures and reflect the voices that diverse communities represent.

We will join nine other arts, science and culture institutions in the Twin Cities as part of Facing Change. Over the past year, the Bell Museum staff and board have participated in individual and group learning sessions that will impact how the museum operates now and into the future.

As we prepare for the museum’s 150th anniversary in 2022, we find it critical to take the time to ensure our foundation is truly grounded in the community we serve.

Smithsonian Affiliate

The Bell Museum is pleased to announce that it has been designated a Smithsonian Affiliate. Smithsonian Affiliations is a national outreach program that develops long-term collaborative partnerships with museums, educational, and cultural organizations to enrich communities with Smithsonian resources. The Bell Museum joins a network of more than 200 organizations in association with the Smithsonian in nearly all states, Puerto Rico, and Panama. More information is available at www.affiliations.si.edu.