by Marilee Jennings, Executive Director, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
I didn’t know!
When I think about the last two and half years, I wasn’t sure the Museum would survive being closed to the public for 393 days. When we reopened to very limited capacity in order to protect the health of our visitors and staff, I wasn’t sure we would survive the steep loss of revenue from ticket sales and museum programs, and the increased costs of expanded cleaning protocols, equipment needs, and revamping the museum experience to be COVID-safe.
But as the Executive Director, I knew one thing for sure. I knew that children needed a safe place to play, socialize, and find joy and meaning in the world through their own discovery and hands-on learning.
And, after two and a half years, with widespread community support, we’re still here and well on our way to returning to being the happy place you and your family have always loved! We’re stronger, more resilient, and more resolute in inspiring creativity, curiosity, and lifelong learning for all children in the community.
I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and of the programs we’ve restored.
✅ We reopened the LeRoy Neiman Art Studio so children can use their creativity and discover new ways to express themselves through art. We launched a new Artist-in-Residence program and little ones are now working side by side with professional artists. We know that today’s creator of that refrigerator masterpiece may be tomorrow’s artist or designer.
✅ We expanded our Cultural Celebration Series with in-person festivals after two seasons of virtual and hybrid events. We added a Juneteenth program and will be adding a pilot Nowruz celebration in 2023, ensuring that families from all backgrounds can explore the many cultures and traditions in Silicon Valley. We know that today’s children will be tomorrow’s global citizens.
✅ We relaunched our BioSITE program that provides high school and elementary students field-based environmental science education using the Guadalupe River, so they can learn about local watershed ecology and environmental stewardship. Today’s BioSITE participant could be tomorrow’s climate change scientist.
Our annual attendance took a dramatic dip in 2020-2021 to just 18.2% compared to pre-pandemic numbers. In 2021-2022 that moved up to 43.9% and we are currently at 61.4% compared to pre-pandemic attendance. This shows we are moving in the right direction and is a reassuring sign that families want us to be here for another 32 years as a safe and welcoming educational place for their children’s growth and development. We also continue to serve the community outside the purple walls. Through our preschool and community partnerships, we facilitated art programs, and provided 650 kits to children from disadvantaged communities. We know that given exposure to art, humanities, and interactive STEM activities, poverty doesn’t have to limit a child’s potential.
I know now!
I’ve never been more confident of the Museum’s future and our ability to meet the ever changing needs of families and children. Support from so many people and organizations is helping us build our capacity, restore programs, and show up for families and children every day. With its playful color and iconic architecture, the Purple Museum has always been a place of joy, happiness, and incredible discoveries where families and young children come together to learn, grow, and share cultural experiences. It truly is a place where your kids can be kids.
I can’t think of a more important role in our world today.
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