Media Room Strategic Initiative Partnerships & Resource Development

Museum Joins “Museums for All” National Access Program

February 22, 2018

Now even more families from all backgrounds can visit the museum through Museums for All, a national access program that enables qualifying families to visit the museum for the low rate of $2 per person for up to four people. Families simply present one of the following: Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, Medi-Cal Benefits Identification Card (BIC) card, or a Women, Infants and Children Nutrition (WIC) folder. This national initiative represents a huge step in the goal of reaching more children and parents, especially those living in poverty, with the valuable educational resources of hands-on learning. Learn More

General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Thousands Celebrate 20th Anniversary of The Three Kings Event

The Mercury News
January 7, 2018

Twenty-one years ago the museum launched The Three Kings Celebration as a way to introduce the museum to the large Latino community. This success served as a model for helping the museum meet the changing needs and demographics of Bay Area families and children. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Immersive Mural Boldly Transforms Museum Entryway

El Observador
December 8, 2017

The museum's massive stucco-covered entry has been transformed into a pallet of brightly colored imagery and bold symbols inspired from community input. Acclaimed multi-media artist Jaque Fragua of Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico, and local curator Juan Carlos Araujo of Empire 7 Studios created the iconographic motifs based on design ideas submitted by 50 Rocketship Alma Academy 2nd – 5th-grade students, EY corporate volunteers, and museum staff. The project supports the museum’s strategic commitment, Creativity through the Arts, and is part of Community Pathways, the museum’s pilot program funded by San Jose’s Office of Cultural Affairs to activate the spaces outside the museum. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Early Childhood Development, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Immersive Mural Transforms Enormous Covered Entryway

November 30, 2017

Creativity is ignited every day inside the museum's purple walls. Now visitors' creative juices will be stoked as they approach the museum. Acclaimed multi-media artist Jaque Fragua of Jemez Pueblo, New Mexico is transforming the museum’s massive stucco covered-entry into a pallet of brightly colored imagery and bold symbols sparked from community input. The artist created the iconographic motifs based on design ideas submitted by 50 Rocketship Alma Academy 2nd – 5th grade students, EY corporate volunteers, and museum staff. Learn More

Community Service Learning, Creativity through the Arts, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Mural-cle of a Makeover

The Mercury News
November 30, 2017

Big, bold, and bright. That's the best way to describe the museum's new mural. Using only the simplest of materials - paint, brushes, and rollers, the mural artists Jaque Fragua and curator Juan Carlos Araujo have transformed the museum's plain, stucco entryway into a stunningly beautiful and welcoming space celebrating creativity and community-building. Learn More

Community Service Learning, Creativity through the Arts, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Nature NOW! Bill’s Backyard Opens Oct. 29

Red Tricycle
October 22, 2017

Go outside and play. This sentiment is often at odds with the valley's tech-heavy culture, especially in the Bay Area. To encourage kids to put down their devices and engage with the outdoors, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose recently doubled its exhibit space to add a new outdoor exhibit, Bill’s Backyard: Bridge to Nature, and it’s the tree house and dig pit of childhood dreams. Every detail was meticulously planned from the living roof on the junior ranger station to the life-sized bronze animals hidden throughout the exhibit. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Seventy-five Charming Third Graders Help Dedicate Bill’s Backyard

The Mercury News
October 20, 2017

The same kids who tossed seeds into a patch of dirt last November burst through a commemorative ribbon and helped dedicate the museum's new outdoor space, Bill's Backyard: Bridge to Nature, on Thursday. Mayor Sam Liccardo, Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, and representatives from the visionary donors including Open Space Authority Santa Clara County, the California Coastal Conservancy, FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, and Agilent Technologies were among many who were on-hand to mark the occasion and speak about the importance of this new outdoor learning environment to children and the entire region. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Low Tech High Thrills at the Purple Museum

South Bay Accent
October 15, 2017

Executive Director Marilee Jennings talks with South Bay Accent about everything from the early days of the museum to the latest and largest capital project since opening in 1990 - Bill's Backyard. San Jose's newest outdoor learning environment is primed for hours of exploration, discovery, and creativity for all ages, especially inquisitive youngsters. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, Environmental Stewardship, Exhibition Development, General Museum, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

El Día de los Tres Reyes Magos 20th Anniversary Celebration

January 5, 2018

Freddie, the camel, and Beverly, the mini-donkey, will be the star attraction in a ceremonial procession to kick off the 20th anniversary of the Three Kings weekend. The festivities will bring to life rich traditions and colorful customs of family, gift-giving, music and the arts, based on the Three Kings observances in many Spanish-speaking countries. Visitors can try their hand at papel picado, tortilla-making, sample Rosca De Reyes bread, and enjoy captivating music and dance performances. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Noon Year’s Eve Across the Time Zones: Our Version of the Ball Drop in Times Square

December 29, 2017

Celebrate the arrival of 2018 with the whole family by participating in the “countdown to noon across time zones” with family hugs, a noisy celebration, and the Museum’s version of the famous Ball Drop in Times Square with lots of confetti. At the ball drops, we give “shout outs” to different countries and what people in those countries might be doing at these times. Learn More

General Museum, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development

Museum is Living Laboratory for University Researcher

University of Santa Cruz News Center
September 1, 2017

How do children learn? Development psychologist Maureen Callahan's life work is understanding the various factors that shape how a child learns. Nearly 20 years ago the University of California at Santa Cruz and the museum formed a partnership to study how children and families engage in science learning. It's been a mutually beneficial relationship since day one. Learn More

Early Childhood Development, General Museum, Learning Research, Partnerships & Resource Development, Science Learning

Annual Weekend Celebrates Rainbow of Diversity and Inclusion

The Mercury News
August 27, 2017

Kids and parents braided friendship bracelets, learned what the colors of the rainbow flag represent, and participated in a lively crochet jam, led by social justice artist Ramekon O' Arwisters at this year's annual Proud of My Family event. As part of the museum's Inclusion and Cultural Competence initiative, the program is designed to build awareness and understanding among people of diverse ages, backgrounds, ethnicities, sexual orientations and family configurations. Learn More

Creativity through the Arts, Inclusion & Cultural Competence, Partnerships & Resource Development