Not the cool place it once was, funding swallowed by layers of management
Pros
The exhibits and children's programs are inspiring - could look good on a resumé to have worked there.
Cons
You would think that given the Exploratorium's main product are cool exhibits they share with the world I was surprised to find after being there a short time that the Exploratorium suffers from a bloated and costly management system who aggressively gobbles up 90% of all the funding. Many of them are visibly working only about 30% of the time but getting full pay and benefits. We kept finding out that many of these positions were given to relatives of wealthy donors and board members. In addition they have board members and advisors from universities who spend a minimal amount of time contributing yet are paid up to 10 times the pay of the exhibit designers. If we brought up issues of poor treatment or lack of benefits we were made to feel as if we were lucky to have our jobs . Despite our degrees, portfolios and experience there was a general attitude that we were at the bottom of the food chain.