The Museum of the Bible (MOTB), which draws hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to its Washington, D.C., location, has teamed up with Thomas Nelson Bibles, an imprint of Harper Collins Christian Publishing, on a one-year partnership that will highlight the publisher’s Bible products as part of 150 events to be held at the museum’s World Stage Theater.
"We are matching featured Bible projects based on what’s on stage," says Thomas Nelson Bibles marketing VP Nikki Getman. "For example, they have a variety of Christmas concerts coming up, so we’re promoting projects that are a good match for gifts, such as the beautiful Spurgeon and the Psalms or the Abide Bible. "
The MOTB's shop offers dozens of Bibles, along with such Bible-adjacent products as study guides, commentaries, and devotionals from several publishers and in a wide range of formats and bindings. But this is the first time it has had a partnership with a publisher, said the museum's chief revenue officer, Garrett Hinton.
The agreement with Thomas Nelson will enable new events and "help elevate the immersive experience during concerts, theater productions, and more," Hinton told PW. The agreement came about "through their shared goal of creating an immersing space where everyone can have an unforgettable encounter with the Bible."
In 2024, the World Stage Theater has hosted around 50,000 visitors, and the museum was #32 out of 600 in TripAdvisor's annual Travelers Choice Awards for this year, Hinton said.
The MOTB opened its $500-million-dollar building in 2017 two blocks from the U.S. Capitol, with the aim of offering an experiential tour of the Bible's history and its spiritual, social, and political impact. It began ramping up events in 2019, and now holds 150 theatrical programs, concerts, films, and lectures annually. Thomas Nelson is "aligned with our mission to let all people experience how the Bible can transform their lives,” said Hinton.
