PlayLab, a new hands-on learning and play space for children and families, will officially open on Saturday, May 16, at the Southwest Art Gallery and Science Center in Dickinson, North Dakota. Located beneath the gallery's main floor, the interactive space features 12 themed labs—including motion, discovery, building engineering, design, spark, construction, magnet, sensory, logic, space, and eco areas—each equipped with materials to foster creativity, motor skills, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Admission is $10 per child, and regular hours will be Saturdays from 10 a.m. to noon and Sundays from 1 to 3 p.m.
This opening matters because it addresses a demonstrated community need for accessible indoor educational play, as PlayLab welcomed over 300 children during a six-week trial period on weekends alone. By integrating art, science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on experimentation, the space supports early childhood development and family engagement in a rural area, highlighting the role of local art and science institutions in community enrichment beyond traditional exhibitions.