The new donation campaign will support the opening of the Natural History Museum’s newest wing, the NHM Commons. (rendering of NHMLAC)

The Natural History Museums of Los Angeles County on Aug. 29 announced a new public fundraising campaign for the Natural History Museum’s new wing and community hub, NHM Commons, which opens on Nov. 17 to the general public. The Buzzworthy Benefactors campaign allows individual donors, with contributions starting at $2,500, to be recognized in a beautiful display featuring NHM’s iconic winged creatures – the honeybee, butterfly, dragonfly and ladybug – when NHM Commons opens in November.

“The Buzzworthy Benefactors campaign is a celebration of community, progress and access. By becoming an NHM Commons donor, participants will be honored with a custom-designed winged insect flying high on the wall adjacent to the Judith Perlstein Welcome Center for visitors to enjoy for years to come” said Katherine Kotcheff, NHM’s Campaign Director.

As a participant in this campaign, donors will be recognized as a part of this welcoming and inclusive community installation with a prized disc that will always be available for viewing anytime visitors enter the museum and will be a testament to the lasting contributions to science, education and culture. Donors may also choose to honor the legacy of their family, loved one or favorite organization.

The wall of Buzzworthy Benefactors will be covered in donors identified as green dragonflies, $2,500, blue honeybees, $5,000, silver ladybugs, $7,500 and gold butterflies, $10,000, bringing a colorful and remarkable feature to the community space.

The Buzzworthy Benefactors campaign offers the NHM community the opportunity to be a part of (natural) history-in-the-making and support the continuing efforts to open new doors for visitors and local communities. The donors will be featured prominently in a noticket-required space that will see hundreds of thousands of visitors each year and provide several free experiences before entering the main part of the museum.

The transformative $75 million NHM Commons expansion and renovation project, designed by Frederick Fisher and Partners, with landscape architecture by StudioMLA and new experiences designed by Studio Joseph, comprises approximately 75,000 square feet of renovated space and new construction. NHM’s new wing will include accessible outdoor spaces, and is designed with a transparent glass façade, enabling the public to see into the museum and visitors to view Exposition Park. Inside, the 400-seat multi-purpose Commons Theater, and additional spaces, will allow NHM to expand its community-centered, co-created programming and connect the public with science, nature, culture, heritage and community while providing opportunities for people to experience NHM, with or without a ticket.

For information, visit nhm.org/ commons.

The Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County is located at 900 Exposition Blvd.