JANUARY 3, 2006
Zeum Announces “Every Animal Needs A Name” Fundraising Campaign

Public Is Invited To Name The Animals on the Zeum Carousel In Honor of 100th Anniversary

3 January 2006—San Francisco, CA: Zeum is embarking on a $250,000 “Every Animal Needs a Name Campaign” in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Zeum Carousel at Yerba Buena Gardens, which was built by legendary carousel designer Charles Looff in 1906. The public is invited to choose names for the animals on the Zeum Carousel. Financial proceeds will benefit Zeum’s arts, media and technology programs for youth and families throughout the Bay Area and beyond.

A San Francisco treasure for all generations with a rich and exciting history, the Zeum Carousel was hand-carved in 1906 by German immigrant and designer Charles I.D. Looff. Not installed until 1912 due to the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, the Carousel was a beloved fixture at San Francisco’s Playland-at-the-Beach amusement park for sixty years. When Playland closed in 1972, the carousel was put into storage, then moved to Long Beach until it was purchased and restored in 1998 by The San Francisco Redevelopment Agency.

Today, the Zeum Carousel marks the entrance to Zeum at Yerba Buena Gardens and is a symbol of both the past and the future. One of only 75 original Looff carousels left in the United States and the only one with an intact menagerie of animals, the Zeum Carousel features 65 jumping horses with real horsehair tails, galloping camels, rams, giraffes, and gilded chariots. Zeum has been entrusted with ensuring that the Carousel continues to ignite the imaginations of kids and adults from San Francisco and around the world.

“We are thrilled that the tradition of this San Francisco treasure will continue with new generations of visitors to Zeum and Yerba Buena Gardens, “ said native San Franciscan and Zeum CEO Adrienne Pon. “ I can remember riding the carousel as a little girl and hope that the Zeum Carousel continues to bring joy to all kids, big and small.”

The “Every Animal Needs a Name Campaign” invites individuals to select a carousel animal and give it a name—which will appear along with the individual’s own name on a brass nameplate—for a donation ranging from $500–$5,000. Proceeds from the campaign will not only support the legacy of the Zeum Carousel, but will also help Zeum to provide vital arts and technology resources for kids and families.

Zeum is a community-based, multimedia arts and technology museum with a mission to foster creativity and innovation in young people of all ages and backgrounds. Through hands-on programs in animation, sound and video production, live performance and visual arts, Zeum delivers a powerful learning experience that stimulates critical thinking, creative exploration, and expression. As a non-profit organization, Zeum depends on the support of individuals, foundations, corporations, and government agencies to fulfill its mission.

Campaign levels, photos of available animals and other information on how to participate in the “Every Animal Needs A Name Campaign,” can be accessed online at www.zeum.org/carousel, or by calling 415.820.3354. For additional information about Zeum and the Zeum Carousel, please visit www.zeum.org or call 415.820.3320.

Note to Press: Print-quality photos of the Zeum Carousel and Zeum are available upon request, and can also be downloaded from the “Press Room” section of the Zeum website at www.zeum.org.