The Buckminster Fuller Geoscope at Fort Worden
The BFI Geoscope Studio at Fort Worden — an immersive dome for seeing the whole planet at once
United Earth Networks and the Buckminster Fuller Institute will install the Geoscope Studio at Fort Worden Historical State Park: a 40-foot geodesic dome that UEN describes as the original prototype dome for the Sphere in Las Vegas. As a temporary structure, it will serve as an immersive production and presentation environment, a flagship destination for special events at the Fort, and a youth education lab for CoNGO Institute programs such as citizen journalism.
Project snapshot
At-a-glance facts for funder calls. Installation figures come from the UEN–BFI installation proposal; year-one operating costs are a working estimate.
- Project lead
- Marc Katsky, Strategic Director, UEN · [email] · [phone]
- Lead partner
- Buckminster Fuller Institute — Geoscope concept, content partner, fiscal sponsor for United Earth Networks, SPC
- The dome
- 40-foot, 3/4 geodesic dome · original prototype dome for the Sphere, Las Vegas (per UEN — document provenance)
- Location
- Fort Worden Historical State Park — site indoors or outdoors per State Parks permitting
- Installation
- $250,000 one-time (dome itself $40,000)
- Year-one operations
- $200,000 (estimate) · earned revenue target $90,000
- Committed to date
- In-kind: UEN production staff, HubCast distribution, BFI network and content
- Current gap
- $450,000
- Timeline
- 18–24 weeks from green light to public opening
- Uses
- Production · immersive presentations · special events · CoNGO Institute youth education lab
- Media partner
- HubCast Media / UEN Powered by HubCast — global broadcast and streaming
- Restrictions
- Temporary, portable, low-impact structure; requires written State Parks authorization before installation
The opportunity
Language ready to lift into a letter of inquiry or proposal narrative.
Need
People struggle to act on global problems they can't see. Buckminster Fuller proposed the Geoscope — a large sphere displaying the whole planet's data so anyone could grasp world problems at a glance and design solutions together. It has never had a permanent working home. Meanwhile Fort Worden has no signature venue that draws visitors year-round, and young people have few places to learn immersive media hands-on.
Our approach
Install the dome as a working studio, not a static exhibit. Producers and fellows create immersive Geoscope content inside it — planetary data, climate and ocean stories, art and music. UEN premieres that work to live audiences and streams it worldwide through HubCast. Between productions the dome hosts special events, and CoNGO Institute youth use it as a learning lab to report, produce and present immersive stories.
Who it serves
Young people in CoNGO Institute citizen-journalism and media programs; BFI's network of designers and systems thinkers; Design Science Retreat fellows; Jefferson County residents, schools and Fort Worden visitors; conference and event groups; and online audiences worldwide.
Why now
The dome exists, its installation proposal and State Parks permit request are drafted, and the cost and 18–24 week build path are known. The CoNGO Institute youth program, the Design Science Retreats and UEN Powered by HubCast all launch in 2027 — the Geoscope Studio gives each a flagship stage.
Four uses of the dome
A year-round schedule shared between production, presentation, events and education.
Production studio
360° projection, spatial audio and capture systems for creating Geoscope content: planetary data visualizations, immersive documentaries, and music and art pieces. Content is built for the dome and adapted for touring venues and online release.
Immersive presentation
Ticketed shows and talks for the public and schools; premieres of work by BFI fellows and UEN producers; live data briefings on climate, oceans and restoration.
Flagship special events
The signature venue for UEN and BFI gatherings — the Earth Repair Convergence gala, retreat symposia, concerts, launches such as “One Planet, One Network,” and private and corporate rentals.
CoNGO Institute youth lab
Citizen-journalism students learn immersive storytelling: reporting a local story, then producing and presenting it inside the dome. Sessions tie into the Youth Citizen Journalism Lab's seasonal intensives and summer residency.
| Use | Share of calendar | Typical activity |
|---|---|---|
| Production | ~35% | Content builds, fellow residencies, HubCast recordings |
| Presentation | ~25% | Public shows, school visits, premieres |
| Special events | ~20% | Galas, symposia, concerts, rentals |
| Youth education | ~20% | CoNGO Institute intensives and workshops |
Funding opportunities
A capital ask to install the dome, and an operating ask for its first year.
Sponsorship tiers
| Tier | Amount | Recognition & benefits | Slots | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geoscope naming partner | $150,000 | Naming credit on the dome for its time at Fort Worden, credit on every premiere and broadcast, private premiere for guests | 1 | Open |
| Youth lab sponsor | $40,000 | Named CoNGO Institute youth lab in the dome; credit on student work | 1 | Open |
| Studio technology partner | $40,000 or in-kind | Named supplier of projection, audio or streaming systems; case-study content made in the dome | 2 | In conversation |
| Premiere season sponsor | $25,000 | Presenting credit on a season of public shows and premieres | 4 | Open |
| Community partner | $5,000 | Program listing, dome visit for staff or members, newsletter recognition | Unlimited | Open |
| In-kind | Valued at $30,000–$75,000 | Construction and electrical labor, A/V equipment, design and engineering | — | Ongoing |
Grant targets & pipeline
| Funder type / target | Program fit | Request | Deadline | Stage | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arts & technology / immersive media funders | Dome as a new-media production and premiere venue | $100,000 | [Cycle TBD] | Prospect research | GMA |
| Informal STEM & science-education funders | Geoscope as a public learning tool for global systems literacy | $60,000 | [Rolling] | Eligibility check | GMA |
| Youth media & journalism funders | CoNGO Institute youth lab in the dome | $40,000 | [LOI-based] | Prospect research | GMA |
| Washington State arts & cultural facilities funds | Capital support for a cultural venue on state park land | $50,000 | [Cycle TBD] | Eligibility check | GMA |
| Regional community foundations & tourism funds | Visitor draw and local economic benefit at Fort Worden | $25,000 | Anytime | Cultivation | UEN |
Crowdfunding
Goal: $40,000 — “Raise the Dome” · Window: [timed to permit approval]
Funds the dome itself. Tiers at $25 (digital founders' list), $100 (opening-night ticket), $500 (name on a strut plaque), $2,500 (private dome session for 10).
Major & recurring gifts
Named youth scholarships in the lab, a multi-year content fund, and monthly “Spaceship Earth crew” sustainers at $25/mo. Stewardship: premiere invitations and early access to new shows.
Earned revenue
Ticketed shows and talks, school field-trip fees, studio rental for productions and broadcasts, private and corporate events, and licensing Geoscope content to touring venues. Year-one target: $90,000.
Budget & use of funds
Two components, $450,000 total.
Installation — $250,000 one-time
Year-one operations — $200,000 (estimate)
Year-one operations are offset by a $90,000 earned-revenue target, leaving about $110,000 to raise for operations. In-kind contributions from UEN, BFI and HubCast are additional.
Committed
$0 cash. In-kind production, media distribution and BFI support in place.
Pending
State Parks authorization for the temporary dome — the prerequisite for capital asks.
Gap to close
$450,000. If funded in stages: installation first ($250,000), then operations.
Impact metrics
Year-one targets after opening.
Measurement method
Ticket and attendance data, booking hours by use, youth enrollment and skills assessments with the CoNGO Institute, content produced and its online reach through HubCast, audience surveys on systems understanding, and earned revenue against target. Data owner: [name].
Reporting cadence
An opening report, a quarterly sponsor dashboard, and an annual impact and financial report with a reel of work made in the dome.
Document library
Link each item to the live file in the UEN shared drive.
Fundraising package
Contacts & next steps
Named owners for every ask, plus what has to happen before this brief goes to funders.
Project lead
Marc Katsky · Strategic Director, United Earth Networks
Fort Worden, Port Townsend, WA
[email] · [phone]
Buckminster Fuller Institute
[Name] · [Title]
[email] · [phone]
Role: Geoscope content, fiscal sponsor
Grant Management Associates
[Consultant name]
[email] · [phone]
Scope: capital and program grants, reporting
- Document the dome's history as the prototype for the Sphere — photos, dates, letters — and check how the Sphere name may be used publicly.
- Secure written State Parks authorization and choose the site.
- Confirm the operating budget and revenue target with BFI and HubCast.
- Agree the youth lab schedule with the CoNGO Institute and add safeguarding for dome sessions.
- Retire or update the earlier combined BFI Residencies & Geoscope brief so figures aren't double-counted.