vision
Our Vision For The Future Of Play
HANDS-ON EXHIBITS + INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS + COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS
Beginning on our 6th Birthday in Summer 2025, the Cayton Children’s Museum will enter a new stage of growth.
Our vision is to vastly expand our service and impact to a much broader audience, both in age range & annual visitation and participation, through one-of-a-kind interactive exhibits, innovative programs, and outreach.
Hands-On Exhibits
Cayton Children’s Museum is reimagining its physical footprint to deliver transformative, playbased learning through fresh, dynamic, and rotating exhibitions.
With critical upgrades to our beloved core exhibits and the launch of a new Special Exhibitions Wing, we will present original traveling exhibits and immersive experiences that spark creativity, inquiry, and joy—at home in Santa Monica and across the country.
WHERE PLAY TAKES SHAPE
We believe that a space can tell a story—and in the coming year, we plan to craft new environments that speak to children’s boundless potential.
Our vision includes introducing fresh exhibit formats that respond to evolving interests, offer more inclusive experiences, and reflect the vibrant diversity of the families we serve. With each installation, we’ll create opportunities not just to play, but to see, feel, and explore the world in new and meaningful ways.
With your support, these investments will redefine how our spaces come to life— expanding the ways children learn, explore, and grow in a museum where play truly takes shape.
To deepen engagement and elevate the Cayton experience, we’re proposing a multi-pronged investment in new and refreshed exhibit offerings that will expand our reach, revitalize our core, and carry our mission far beyond our museum walls.
Special Exhibitions Wing
We plan to launch a series of 2–3 rotating traveling exhibits each year, housed in a remodeled Special Exhibitions Wing designed to bring fresh energy and repeat visitation. These temporary installations will offer new content and interactive experiences that keep the museum dynamic for returning families and first-time guests alike.
Core Exhibit Upgrades
After nearly 700,000 visits since opening in 2019, our core exhibit spaces—spanning 22,000 square feet—are in need of essential repairs, enhancements, and technology upgrades. These updates will ensure our permanent offerings continue to deliver safe, stimulating, and inclusive play for the next generation of Cayton visitors.
Touring Exhibits
Looking outward, we aim to design new themed and sponsored traveling exhibits, original to the Cayton, that can be shared nationally with peer institutions. These mobile experiences will bring the Cayton’s unique approach to hands-on, values-based learning to children’s museums, libraries, and science centers across the country.
Interactive Programs
Designed to meet real educational needs while nurturing imagination, our programs will elevate the museum as a trusted learning hub and cultural destination for children and their grown-ups.
Through original theatre productions, maker workshops, artist residencies, and school collaborations, Cayton’s interactive programs will deepen engagement with families, students, and educators alike.
PLAY WITH PURPOSE
In the year ahead, we aim to introduce a robust lineup of innovative programs that invite children to dive deeper—into stories, materials, ideas, and collaboration.
From live performances and creative residencies, to drop-in experiences and field trips that align with real classroom learning, these initiatives will blur the line between education and inspiration. Designed with intention, each program will offer children and caregivers new ways to learn, engage, and grow together.
With your support, we can broaden our reach and deepen our impact—bringing purposeful play to more children and families through highquality programs across our communities.
To expand our educational impact and enrich the experiences we offer, we propose a series of innovative programs designed to engage children, families, educators, and caregivers through creativity, collaboration, and values-based learning.
Theatre Programming
We envision launching a slate of original children’s theatre productions inspired by beloved books and stories—bringing literature to life on stage and sparking imagination through live performance. These productions will serve as joyful entry points into language, empathy, and storytelling for young audiences.
School Partnerships
To deepen our educational relevance, we will develop and facilitate field trips for schools and camps in partnership with local districts and independent educators. These visits will be intentionally aligned with learning standards and designed to support classroom goals while providing enriching, outof-school experiences for students.
Creative Workshops
Through artist residencies, maker workshops, and creative “takeovers” of the Cayton’s Art Studio, we will offer children hands-on opportunities to experiment, build, and express themselves in ever-evolving ways. These experiences will nurture creativity, confidence, and collaboration while reflecting the voices of working artists in our community.
Visitor Programming
We also plan to expand our calendar of drop-in activities and signature weekend events—offering consistent, high-quality engagement for both members and first-time visitors. These programs will invite families into playful, themed experiences that evolve with the seasons and highlight diverse cultures, topics, and traditions.
Learning Institute
We will continue to build on the work of the Cayton Learning Institute—expanding offerings for educators, caregivers, and researchers supporting child development. Through teacher training, university partnerships, and parent workshops, we aim to strengthen our role as a hub for learning, leadership, and innovation in early childhood education.
Community Connections
With a new mobile vehicle fleet and deeper community partnerships, the Cayton will bring the Power of Play into neighborhoods across Santa Monica and broader Los Angeles.
From festivals and schools to pop-ups and playgrounds, we will reach children and families where they are—removing barriers to access, strengthening local connections, and expanding our impact far beyond museum walls.
TOGETHER THROUGH PLAY
Connection happens when families feel seen, included, and invited in—and through our expanded community outreach, we intend to meet more families where they are.
With mobile exhibits and on-the-go programming, we’ll bring the Cayton experience into neighborhoods across Santa Monica and broader Los Angeles, collaborating with schools, local partners, and public spaces to create joyful moments of discovery and connection— right in the heart of each community.
With your support, we can create more opportunities for families to come together through play—fostering connection, curiosity, and belonging across the communities we serve.
To bring the Cayton experience beyond our walls and into the heart of Santa Monica and broader Los Angeles communities, we propose a mobile initiative and expanded partnership strategy designed to eliminate barriers and foster deeper, place-based engagement.
Outreach Fleet
We plan to launch a branded mini-fleet of three vehicles equipped to deliver portable exhibits and hands-on programming to diverse community settings. These mobile activations will allow us to appear at festivals, farmers markets, and public events throughout the year—bringing joyful, valuesbased play to families in welcoming, everyday environments. The same fleet will also support in-school programming, with facilitated workshops tailored to classrooms, cafeterias, and playgrounds—offering children meaningful learning experiences where they already live and learn.
Pop-Up Events
In addition, we will collaborate with mission-aligned organizations across Los Angeles to co-create pop-up exhibits and shared programs. These temporary activations will allow the Cayton to partner deeply with trusted community institutions— expanding our reach, amplifying collective impact, and ensuring that every family has a chance to experience the power of play, right in their own neighborhood.
IMPACT.
Impact at the Cayton isn’t just measured in attendance—it’s measured in access, relevance, and transformation. As we look ahead, we’re focused on deepening our educational value, broadening who we serve, and strengthening our role in the community.
The following goals represent the impact we’re working toward—driven by our mission, shaped by our families, and guided by a bold new vision for what a children’s museum can be.
A VISION WITH NEW LEADERSHIP
This bold vision for impact is being realized under the leadership of the Cayton’s new CEO, Thomas Sullivan, who joined the museum following a six-month national search. Thomas brings over two decades of experience in museum leadership, exhibit development, and early childhood education. From rebuilding the Westchester Children’s Museum post-pandemic to leading teams at DuPage Children’s Museum and designing learning experiences for institutions like the Liberty Science Center and the American Museum of Natural History, Thomas has dedicated his career to advancing playful, purposeful learning. With a Master’s in Museum Education from Bank Street College and teaching credentials from the Erikson Institute, Thomas combines hands-on expertise with a deep academic foundation. Now a Santa Monica resident with his wife and two children, Thomas is guiding the Cayton into its next chapter—rooted in access, innovation, and a belief in the academic and intellectual power of play.
Thomas Sullivan CEO
424-416-8387 tsullivan@caytonmuseum.org
Increased Age Range
The Cayton is expanding its reach to serve children from the very beginning of life through early adolescence. By designing programs and experiences that support infants, toddlers, and tweens, we will provide families with a continuous, developmentally appropriate space for growth, learning, and connection from prenatal stages through middle school.
Expanded Community Awareness
Through increased partnerships with school districts, city and county agencies, and fellow nonprofits, the Cayton will strengthen its presence as a civic partner and cultural resource. These efforts will not only amplify our visibility but help us stay responsive to the evolving needs of Los Angeles families and communities.
Elevated Experiences for Members and Visitors
We are investing in hands-on, immersive exhibits and dynamic visitor programming that can’t be found anywhere else in the region. By creating innovative, everevolving experiences, we will invite repeat visits, deepen engagement, and reaffirm the Cayton’s reputation as a oneof-a-kind learning environment.
Access for All
We are committed to eliminating barriers that prevent families from fully engaging with the Cayton. Whether addressing physical or cognitive needs, financial constraints, or language and cultural gaps, our goal is to create an inclusive museum where every family feels welcomed, represented, and supported.
Deeper Educational Content and Credibility
We are deepening the educational value of every exhibit and program to ensure families see the Cayton as a trusted resource for early childhood and elementary learning. Through alignment with academic standards, thoughtful program design, and a commitment to joyful, research-informed play, we will build credibility with both educators and caregivers alike.