MOHAI’s Bezos Center for Innovation in Seattle, US is seeking to help educate people about workforce principles and community mindsets in order to safeguard our future, according to the museum’s executive director Leonard Garfield.

The US$10m centre has been created to explore the progress of innovation over the past 100 years, through the use of exhibits, oral histories, programmes and interactive displays.

Part-funded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife MacKenzie Bezos, the museum has exhibits designed by Olson Kundig Architects and Pacific Studio.

“We set out to present the story of innovation and engage the community with that story, encouraging young people to discuss innovation, the tradition of innovation,” said Garfield in the Q2 2014 edition of Attractions Management magazine.

"To safeguard our own future, we want to prepare the workforce and community mindset.

"It’s not just about inspiring the next generation of entrepreneurs, we want young people to understand that innovation comes in all areas: not just research and development, but civic life and culture and other areas as well.”

To help implement this strategy the centre not only welcomes the public, but it also runs a range of community and educational programmes to encourage learning.

“All young visitors get an innovation pack, in a backpack, to help them engage with the centre,” added Garfield.

“We have also run classroom programmes, lectures and panel discussions and are identifying partnerships with Seattle companies.”

A full interview with Garfield is available to view in the latest edition of Attractions Management magazine.