San Diego’s Comic-Con Museum still sits empty in Balboa Park. But the museum’s team is in the crowded halls of Comic-Con this week seeking the public’s input on what should go into the space.
Each day of the convention, museum staff and volunteers are crowdsourcing ideas by asking convention goers a question and collecting their answers on sticky notes. Friday’s question: What comic-themed food and drink should the museum offer?
Attendees suggested Powerpuff Girls cheese puffs and Peeta’s cheese buns from The Hunger Games. Pete Cataldo wrote down Jiffy Pop popcorn.
“Just because it’s nostalgic and very good,” he said.
Cataldo said he hopes the museum captures his nostalgia for old comic books and the conventions he brought his kids to.
“I’m looking very, very forward to it, because it’s going to keep (the convention) here, keep at least some roots here if for some reason they have to leave,” he said.
The museum is also seeking feedback on exhibits and educational programs. Director of Public Programs Keegan Chetwynd said he and his colleagues plan to bring together area teachers to brainstorm how the museum can serve schools.
“We’re very interested the idea that we might use pop culture to engage young people in creative pursuits,” Chetwynd said. “We know that there’s a skills gap in this world that is addressed by creativity.”
The museum needs to raise $25 million and is hoping to open in late 2020 or early 2021. It’s already signing up members to help with the cost.
“One of the really interesting things that we keep seeing on (sticky notes), independent of what the question of the day is, is note saying, ‘Thank you for doing this,’” Chetwynd said. “It still gives me chills, because it makes you feel good about what you’re doing for the community.”
