San Jose Childrens Discovery Museum

CHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE INSPIRES CREATIVITY, CURIOSITY AND LIFELONG LEARNING.

EXHIBITSCHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE HAS SERVED OVER 9.7 MILLION ADULTS AND CHILDREN SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS IN THE SPRING OF 1990. AFTER CLOSING TO THE PUBLIC ON MARCH 5, 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, WHEN EARLY SIGNS IN EARLY FALL INDICATED THAT THE SPREAD OF THE VIRUS WAS WANING, THE MUSEUM WAS ALLOWED TO OPEN ITS OUTDOOR PLAY SPACE, BILL'S BACKYARD, AT 25% OF CAPACITY. THE MUSEUM OPENED IN LATE SEPTEMBER FOR MEMBERS ONLY FOR TWO 2 -HOUR PLAY SESSIONS ON FRIDAY - SUNDAY. [SEE SCH O]IN OCTOBER, CDM OPENED TO THE PUBLIC, WITH ADVANCE RESERVATIONS AND MASKS FOR ANYONE 2 YEARS AND OLDER REQUIRED. EXHIBITS IN THE OUTDOOR SPACE WERE RECONFIGURED TO PROVIDE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND CONTINUAL SANITIZATION BY STAFF. IN EARLY DECEMBER 2020, WHEN THE PANDEMIC SPIKED, THE MUSEUM WAS AGAIN MANDATED TO CLOSE BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AND REMAINED CLOSED UNTIL MID-FEBRUARY, WHEN IT WAS PERMITTED TO REOPEN THE OUTDOOR SPACE. IN EARLY APRIL 2021, THE MUSEUM WAS PERMITTED TO OPEN THE INTERIOR EXHIBIT SPACES, WITH MODIFICATIONS FOR SOCIAL DISTANCING AND THE REMOVAL OR ALTERATION OF MANY OF THE HIGHLY TACTILE EXHIBITS. OPERATIONS FOR THE MUSEUM CONTINUED AT 25% OF CAPACITY FOLLOWING THE FALL SCHEDULE OF TWO PLAY SESSIONS THREE DAYS PER WEEK. IN MID-JUNE, CDM MOVED TO A 5 DAYS PER WEEK SCHEDULE AND TO THREE 2-HOUR PLAY SESSIONS AND INCREASED ATTENDANCE TO 50% OF CAPACITY. OVER THE FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM PROVIDED A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR FAMILIES TO RETURN TO PUBLIC ACTIVITIES TO JUST OVER 62,000 VISITORS. NO GROUP VISITS OCCURRED DURING THE YEAR AS MOST SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED.WITH 30 YEARS OF OPERATION, THE MUSEUM AND ITS STAFF STRIVE TO ENHANCE THE VISITOR EXPERIENCE IN ITS 28,000 SQUARE FEET OF INDOOR EXHIBITION SPACE WITH 13 DEDICATED GALLERIES, EACH HOUSING 8-10 INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS THAT ADDRESS THE DISTINCTIVE NEED FOR CHILDREN TO LEARN THROUGH CONCRETE INTERACTIONS, AND AN ADJACENT OUTDOOR EXHIBIT SPACE, BILL'S BACKYARD, WHICH ESSENTIALLY DOUBLED THE MUSEUM'S EXHIBIT SPACE. SIMILAR TO MOST CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS AND MANY SCIENCE CENTERS, CDM'S EXHIBITS ARE HIGHLY TACTILE AND ENCOURAGE TOUCHING, EXPLORING, MANIPULATING AND EXPERIMENTING, WHILE CUTTING ACROSS THE DISCIPLINES OF ART, SCIENCE AND THE HUMANITIES. THESE ARE THE VERY ACTIVITIES THAT WERE DETERMINED TO BE MAJOR CONCERN FACTORS IN THE SPREAD OF THE CORONAVIRUS AND, THEREFORE, PROHIBITED BY THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, BASED ON RECOMMENDATIONS FROM CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION ("CDC").DURING THE PERIOD OF MANDATED CLOSURE, THE MUSEUM'S STAFF DEVELOPED PLANS TO REOPEN SAFELY TO THE PUBLIC. RECOGNIZING THAT YOUNG CHILDREN ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR COVID-19 VACCINATIONS, THE MUSEUM CHOSE TO FOLLOW GUIDELINES ESTABLISHED FOR SCHOOLS AND REQUIRE ALL VISITORS, VACCINATED OR NOT, TO WEAR MASKS INSIDE AND OUTSIDE WHILE AT THE MUSEUM. FACILITY UPGRADES TO REDUCE THE RISKS OF COVID-19 TRANSMISSION INCLUDED THE UPGRADING OF AIR FILTERS THROUGHOUT THE MUSEUM TO MERV 13, THE HIGHEST LEVEL COMPATIBLE WITH ITS HVAC SYSTEMS, AND PLUMBING UPGRADES, WHICH WILL REPLACE SINK FAUCETS AND TOILETS WITH TOUCHLESS MODELS AND CHANGE THE HYDRATION STATIONS TO BE BOTTLE-FILLING ONLY. THE MAJORITY OF CDM'S EXHIBITS WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN TO AGE 10 AND THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, WHILE THE WONDER CABINET SERVES THE NEEDS OF THE MUSEUM'S YOUNGEST VISITORS AS AN EARLY LEARNING ENVIRONMENT WITH EXHIBITS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT OF INFANTS, TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS. WHETHER CHILDREN ARE ROLEPLAYING A FIREFIGHTER ON THE AUTHENTIC FIRE ENGINE IN THE STREETS OF SAN JOSE EXHIBIT, OR USING, BUT NOT SHARING, COLORFUL PLASTIC BALLS TO STUDY HOW WATER RUSHES AND FLOWS IN WATERWAYS, THEY ARE ACTIVELY ENGAGED IN LEARNING, INSPIRED BY THEIR OWN CURIOSITY TO INVESTIGATE HOW THINGS WORK AND TO UNDERSTAND MORE ABOUT THE WORLD IN WHICH WE LIVE.EXHIBITS THAT FEATURED HIGHLY FACILITATED ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS SHARED ART PROJECTS, OR THOSE WITH MANY MANIPULATIVES, SUCH AS THE BALLS IN WATERWAYS, WERE RECONFIGURED TO LIMIT SHARING OPPORTUNITIES. CLEAN MANIPULATIVES WERE PROVIDED FOR ONE-TIME USE AND THEN DEPOSITED IN CONTAINERS TO BE SANITIZED BY THE STAFF BEFORE BEING HANDLED BY OTHER VISITORS. THE ART SPACE ACTIVITIES WERE REPLACED BY A SERIES OF DIGITAL ART PROJECTIONS, WHICH CHANGE BASED ON MOTIONS OF THE VISITORS AND ELIMINATE ANY DIRECT CONTACT. FOOD SERVICES, WHICH TEND TO GATHER VISITORS IN A MORE CONFINED SPACE, WERE NOT REACTIVATED AND NO DECISIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AS TO WHEN THESE SERVICES WILL RETURN.THE DETERMINATION BY HEALTH OFFICIALS THAT THE TRANSMISSION OF THE CORONAVIRUS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED IN OUTDOOR SPACES, ALLOWED BILL'S BACKYARD TO BE A SAFE AND WELCOMING OPPORTUNITY FOR UNSTRUCTURED PLAY. SIGNAGE IN THE ENGLISH, SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE FOCUSES VISITOR INTERACTIONS ON THE UNIQUENESS OF OUTDOOR PLAY, SUCH AS BUILD, ROLL, CLIMB, PLANT, AND OBSERVE TO NAME A FEW. TEN DIFFERENT LOCAL SPECIES OF ANIMALS AND INSECTS WERE CAST IN BRONZE AND PLACED APPROPRIATELY THROUGHOUT THE AREA TO ALLOW CHILDREN TO DISCOVER THEM IN THEIR NATURAL HABITAT. A 7,200 GALLON RAIN-HARVEST SYSTEM IS USED TO IRRIGATE THE NATIVE LANDSCAPE AND TO TEACH VISITORS ABOUT WATER CONSERVATION AT THE SAME TIME. BY BRINGING NATURE TO CHILDREN, CDM HOPES TO CREATE A SPARK SO THAT CHILDREN WILL THEN SEEK OUT OTHER OUTDOOR OPPORTUNITIES CLOSE TO THEIR HOME AND BECOME ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS AS THEY GROW UP.THE DECISION TO DELAY THE PROMOTION OF CDM'S TRAVELING EXHIBIT PROJECTS: POTTER THE OTTER EXHIBIT, FUNDED BY FIRST 5 SANTA CLARA COUNTY, AND THE REFURBISHED HELLO FROM JAPAN!, AN EXHIBIT CREATED BY THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN AND ORIGINALLY TRAVELED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS, CONTINUES DUE TO ECONOMIC CONDITIONS. THE POTTER THE OTTER EXHIBIT HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT CDM AND IS SLATED TO START ITS THREE-YEAR TOUR IN 2022-2023. CONCEPTUAL WORK HAS BEEN RE-LAUNCHED ON EXPLORATION PORTAL, LOCATED OUTSIDE ADJACENT TO BILL'S BACKYARD, WITH BRAD COX ARCHITECT INC. AND SCIENTIFIC ART STUDIO. THE SPACE WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON THE INTERSECTION OF MATH AND NATURE FOR ITS CONTENT, BUT HAS CHANGED BASED ON LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE PANDEMIC. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPACE WILL SHIFT FROM CREATING GATHERING SPACES TO PROVIDING MORE PLACES FOR FAMILIES TO INTERACT WITH EXHIBITS AND THE NATURAL WORLD. WHILE THE XU FAMILY CHARITABLE FOUNDATION REMAINS THE MAJOR SPONSOR FOR THIS SPACE, ADDITIONAL FUNDING HAS BEEN SOUGHT, WITH FIRST 5 SANTA CLARA COUNTY EXPRESSING ITS INTENT FOR SUPPORT. THE SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT WILL ALSO PROVIDE FUNDING THROUGH THE SAFE, CLEAN WATER AND NATURAL FLOOD PROTECTION PROGRAM (MEASURE B NOVEMBER 2012.)WITH SPONSORSHIP FROM CITIZENS EQUITY FIRST CREDIT UNION ("CEFCU"), THE MUSEUM WORKED WITH MINDSPLASH AND STEALTH CONSTRUCTION TO CREATE A NEW EXHIBIT, AMAZING AIRMAZE, WHICH OPENED IN SEPTEMBER 2021. THE NEW EXHIBIT SPANS TWO FLOORS AND FILLS THE FORMER BUBBLES EXHIBIT (WHICH HAS BEEN RELOCATED OUTSIDE IN BILL'S BACKYARD) WITH SCARVES AND YARN BALLS MOVING THROUGH PLEXIGLAS TUBES AND EMERGING FROM ONE OF SIX POSSIBLE EXITS. THIS PNEUMATIC AIR EXHIBIT INVITES VISITORS TO EXPERIMENT WITH THE TREMENDOUS POWER OF AIR MAKING PREDICTIONS, TESTING THEORIES AND SOLVING PROBLEMS.IN EARLY FALL OF 2022, CDM WILL OPEN A NEW EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE PLAY SPACE FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN AROUND THE THEME OF THINGS THAT FLY IN TERMINAL B AT THE MINETA SAN JOSE AIRPORT. THIS NEW OFFSITE PLAY SPACE WAS MADE POSSIBLE WITH EXHIBIT FUNDING FROM ZOOM VIDEO COMMUNICATIONS, A 5-YEAR DONATED LEASE OF 600 SQUARE FEET FROM THE CITY OF SAN JOSE AND OVER $400,000 IN PRO BONO CONSTRUCTION SUPPORT UNDER THE DIRECTION OF HENSEL PHELPS CONSTRUCTION.BUILDING UPON THE MUSEUM'S BOARD AND EXECUTIVE STAFF REVIEW OF CDM'S OPERATING FEASIBILITY IN TERMS OF MISSION AND FINANCIAL LIQUIDITY IN 2020, CONTINUED EFFORTS TO IDENTIFY AND SECURE GOVERNMENT FUNDING WERE SUCCESSFUL. THE FIRST PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM (PPP) FUNDING FROM THE SBA WAS FULLY FORGIVEN ON MAY 13, 2021 AND THE SECOND PPP FUNDING FROM THE SBA WAS FULLY FORGIVEN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2021 (SEE NOTE 20). ADDITIONAL FUNDING WAS RECEIVED THROUGH THE CITY OF SAN JOSE'S GREATER DOWNTOWN COVID-19 ASSISTANCE GRANT, THE CITY OF SAN JOSE CORONAVIRUS RELIEF GRANT AND FORMER COUNCILMEMBER LAN DIEP, AND THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA'S SMALL BUSINESS COVID-19 RELIEF GRANT PROGRAM.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSTHE MUSEUM PROVIDES ON-SITE AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHICH COMPLEMENT ITS EXHIBITS AND SUPPORT VISITOR INTERACTIONS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2020-2021, THE MUSEUM PROVIDED DIRECT VIRTUAL PROGRAMS FOR 1,251 PARTICIPANTS. CDM'S VIRTUAL PURPLE MUSEUM (VPM) PROGRAMMING TRANSITIONED TO FOCUS ON PRESCHOOL AGE CHILDREN SINCE OLDER CHILDREN HAVE RETURNED TO SCHOOL. THE WEEKLY BROADCASTS WERE FILMED AT CDM AND HIGHLIGHTED BELOVED EXHIBITS AND SPACES, SUCH AS THE FIRE TRUCK AND GARDEN, IN COMBINATION WITH A STORY READING. [SEE SCH O]VPM ALSO PROVIDED CDM A MEANS TO CONTINUE SOME ITS MOST POPULAR PROGRAMS, SUCH AS THE NOON YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION, WHICH HAD OVER 2,000 UNIQUE VIEWERS ON YOU TUBE AND FACEBOOK. MORE THAN 150 PARTY KITS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO REGISTRANTS AND AN ADDITIONAL 50 KITS PROVIDED TO LOW- INCOME FAMILIES AT EDUCARE. THE KITS FEATURED CORNHUSK DOLL MAKING, BUBBLE BLOWING AND PARTY HAT CRAFTING INSTRUCTIONS AND SUPPLIES.CDM'S COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE A MEANS FOR THE LOCAL COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS CULTURAL FESTIVALS, WHICH REPRESENT THE REGION'S ETHNIC COMPOSITION, SUCH AS MID-AUTUMN FESTIVAL, DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, DIWALI, MENORAHS AND MIRACLES, DIA DE LOS TRES REYES MAGOS, LUNAR NEW YEAR, CHILDREN OF THE DRAGON, AND PROUD OF MY FAMILY, WAS EVIDENCED BY THE DECISION OF THE CITY'S OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS TO FUND THE MUSEUM'S CULTURAL FESTIVALS UNDER ITS PARADES GRANT PROGRAM WITH A PORTION OF ITS AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN ("ARP") FUNDING. THE OFFICE OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS ALSO ELECTED TO APPLY ARP FUNDS TO ENSURE THAT CDM'S ANNUAL ARTS GRANT REMAINED FULLY FUNDED.THE MUSEUM'S MISSION CONTINUES TO SUPPORT A THREE-PRONGED APPROACH TO THE ARTS: ENGAGEMENT WITH AND VIEWING THE WORK OF PROFESSIONAL ARTISTS; EXPLORING OTHER CHILDREN'S ART; AND CREATING INDIVIDUAL WORKS OF ART IN VARIOUS FORMATS. HOWEVER, THE PANDEMIC REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS AS TO HOW ARTS PROGRAMMING IS PRESENTED AT CDM. THE ON-SITE ART STUDIO IN THE WONDER CABINET AND THE LEROY NEIMAN ART STUDIO, EXAMPLES OF THE MUSEUM'S COMMITMENT TO VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, WERE MODIFIED TO REDUCE THE FACILITATED AND HIGH-TOUCH ACTIVITIES AS WELL AS THOSE WITH MANIPULATIVES OFFERED. THE LEE AND DIANE BRANDENBURG THEATRE AND CADENCE AMPHITHEATRE EVIDENCE CDM'S SUPPORT FOR PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES. WHILE PROGRAMMING IN THE BRANDENBURG THEATRE HAS CEASED DURING THE PANDEMIC, AND ALL PERFORMANCES HAVE BEEN MOVED OUTDOORS TO THE CADENCE AMPHITHEATRE, CDM HAS CONTINUED TO SEEK NEW COLLABORATIONS WITH LOCAL PERFORMING ARTS GROUPS. THIS YEAR CDM LAUNCHED A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NEW SAN JOSE BALLET TO INTRODUCE YOUNG MUSEUM VISITORS TO THE WORLD OF BALLET THROUGH A SERIES OF DANCE ALONGS WITH BALLET DANCE INSTRUCTORS FROM THE SCHOOL.ADDITIONAL NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT FUNDING FROM THE INSTITUTE OF MUSEUM AND LIBRARY SERVICES ("IMLS") IN SEPTEMBER 2021, WILL CONTINUE TO FUND THE ONGOING WORK OF CDM'S CULTURAL COMPETENCE LEARNING INSTITUTE ("CCLI") IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS AND THE ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY CENTERS TO WORK WITH 15-18 MUSEUMS FROM ACROSS MUSEUM SECTORS. THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF CCLI IS TO DEVELOP, TRACK, PROMOTE AND SUSTAIN ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE WITHIN INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS AND FIELD-WIDE IN ORDER TO BUILD MUSEUMS' CAPACITY TO ENGAGE WITH ISSUES OF INCLUSION AND CULTURAL COMPETENCE. CDM AND ITS PARTNERS BELIEVE THAT CCLI'S PEER-DRIVEN APPROACH TO DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION RESPONDS TO THE NEED VOICED BY THE BROADER MUSEUM FIELD AND CAN HELP TO SHIFT DECADES OF CONVERSATION ABOUT DIVERSITY TO TANGIBLE ACTIONS THAT WILL EMPOWER MUSEUMS TO PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY, INCLUSIVE EXPERIENCES THAT REFLECT AND RESPOND TO THE NEEDS OF THEIR ENTIRE COMMUNITY. CDM ENTERED INTO YEAR 2 OF A 5-YEAR PROGRAM WITH THE EXPLORATORIUM, LEVERAGING CDM'S DECADE- LONG CCLI PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION WITH THE EXPLORATORIUM'S WORK TO REACH LATINX AUDIENCES, TO LAUNCH CAMBIO, A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR INFORMAL SCIENCE PRACTITIONERS WORKING WITH LATINX AUDIENCES, WITH FUNDING FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.WITH A PLANNING GRANT FROM IMLS, CDM HAS RETAINED CONSULTANT, MARYAM ESKANDARI, MIIM DESIGNS, TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITY OF CREATING A TRAVELING EXHIBIT (AND POSSIBLE PERMANENT EXHIBIT AT CDM) CELEBRATING THE NOWRUZ FESTIVAL. NOWRUZ MEANS NEW DAY AND CELEBRATES THE FIRST DAY OF SPRING. THIS SECULAR HOLIDAY IS CELEBRATED BY BOTH MUSLIM AND NON-MUSLIM PEOPLE WITH ORIGINS IN THE FORMER LANDS OF PERSIA. THIS GRANT WILL BE USED TO DEVELOP A FUNDRAISING PLAN AND TO CONVENE COMMUNITY ADVISORY GROUPS TO EXPLORE THE COMMONALITIES AND DIFFERENCES IN NOWRUZ CELEBRATIONS AMONG PEOPLE FROM DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.CDM CONTINUOUSLY STRIVES TO UNDERSTAND AND TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICE TO ITS VISITORS. IN 2019, CDM JOINED THE COLLABORATION FOR ONGOING VISITOR ENGAGEMENT SURVEYS ("COVES") LED BY THE MUSEUM OF SCIENCE, BOSTON. PARTICIPATION IN THIS COLLABORATIVE ENABLES CDM TO SURVEY ITS VISITORS SYSTEMATICALLY ABOUT THEIR MUSEUM EXPERIENCE, AND TO GARNER DEMOGRAPHIC INFORMATION ABOUT ITS VISITORS. DURING THE PANDEMIC, THE COVES VISITOR SURVEY WAS MODIFIED TO SOLICIT VISITOR FEEDBACK ON SAFETY AND SANITATION ISSUES UPON REOPENING. THE INFORMATION GLEANED FROM THESE SURVEYS WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN PROGRAM AND FACILITY MODIFICATIONS AS CDM GRADUALLY REOPENED ITS INTERIOR SPACES.THE MUSEUM'S BOARD'S FACING CHANGE TASK FORCE COMPLETED YEAR 2 OF THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS' FACING CHANGE INITIATIVE, WORKING WITH OTHER BAY AREA MUSEUMS INVOLVED IN THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE. THE FOCUS OF CDM'S TASK FORCE WAS TWO-FOLD: CREATE A PIPELINE OF BOARD CANDIDATES REPRESENTING ETHNIC DIVERSITY AND WORKING IN A FIELD FOCUSED ON CHILDREN'S HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT, OR REPRESENTING THE SOCIAL AND CULTURAL NORMS OF CDM'S AUDIENCE; AND DEVELOP WAYS TO ENGAGE BOARD MEMBERS MORE BROADLY WITH MUSEUM STAFF IN ORDER TO ENGENDER TRUST AND TO DEMYSTIFY THE BOARD.

RETAIL SERVICESTHE MUSEUM CLOSED THE RETAIL SPACE IN DECEMBER 2018 DUE TO IMPACTS OF THE RISE OF MAJOR ONLINE RETAILERS. THE STORE IS STILL AN ACTIVE PROJECT AS THERE IS A SMALL INVENTORY BALANCE THAT REMAINS. DURING THE YEAR, THERE WAS ALSO SMALL PROJECTS SUCH AS PINSCREEN SALES, GEAR TABLE SALES, MOBILE APPS, ETC.