SAN JOSE CHILDRENS DISCOVERY MUSEUM
180 WOZ WAY, SAN JOSE, CA 95110 www.cdm.org

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

EXHIBITSCHILDREN'S DISCOVERY MUSEUM OF SAN JOSE HAS SERVED OVER 9.6 MILLION ADULTS AND CHILDREN SINCE OPENING ITS DOORS IN THE SPRING OF 1990. DURING THE FIRST HALF OF THE 2019-2020 FISCAL YEAR, THE MUSEUM PROVIDED ENGAGING LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO OVER 131,755 FAMILY AND 10,394 GROUP VISITORS BEFORE BEING FORCED TO CLOSE ITS DOORS TO THE PUBLIC ON MARCH 5, 2020 DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.[SEE SCH O]APPROACHING 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: BRIDGE TO NATURE, WHICH OPENED IN 2017 AND 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 CENTER OF DISEASE CONTROL. DURING THE PERIOD OF MANDATED CLOSURE, THE MUSEUM'S BOARD AND EXECUTIVE STAFF EXAMINED CDM'S OPERATING FEASIBILITY IN TERMS OF MISSION AND FINANCIAL LIQUIDITY. RESULTING FROM THIS REVIEW, THE MUSEUM SECURED SEVERAL FINANCING OPTIONS, INCLUDING THE PAYMENT PROTECTION PROGRAM UNDER THE FEDERAL CARES ACT (CORONAVIRUS AID, RELIEF, AND ECONOMIC SECURITY ACT,) AN ECONOMIC INJURY DISASTER LOAN THROUGH THE SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, AND A LINE OF CREDIT WITH A LOCAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTION IN ORDER TO SUSTAIN OPERATIONS THROUGH THE END OF THE FISCAL YEAR AND INTO THE NEXT 12 MONTHS.ONCE THE MUSEUM IS PERMITTED TO REOPEN TO THE PUBLIC, VISITORS WILL NOTICE CHANGES IN TERMS OF SANITIZATION OF THE FACILITY, EXHIBITS AND MANIPULATIVES, AS WELL AS VISITOR CAPACITY AND SOCIAL DISTANCING. THE MAJORITY OF EXHIBITS WILL CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON CHILDREN TO AGE 10 AND THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, WHILE THE WONDER CABINET WILL SERVE 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, USING, BUT NOT SHARING, COLORFUL PLASTIC BALLS TO STUDY HOW WATER RUSHES AND FLOWS IN WATERWAYS, OR EXPERIMENTING WITH SURFACE TENSION BY PLAYING WITH BUBBLES, 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.AS AN OUTDOOR SPACE, BILL'S BACKYARD WILL BE THE FIRST MUSEUM SPACE PERMITTED TO WELCOME VISITORS WITH OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNSTRUCTURED PLAY, AND WILL ENABLE MUSEUM STAFF TO ADAPT TO THE NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR OPERATING TO ENSURE PUBLIC SAFETY AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC. SIGNAGE IN 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.TRAVELING EXHIBIT PROJECTS UNDERTAKEN BY THE MUSEUM IN 2018-2019 INCLUDED THE CREATION OF A POTTER THE OTTER EXHIBIT, WITH FUNDING FROM FIRST 5 SANTA CLARA COUNTY, AND THE REFURBISHMENT OF HELLO FROM JAPAN!, AN EXHIBIT CREATED BY THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN AND ORIGINALLY TRAVELED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS. HELLO FROM JAPAN! WAS INSTALLED AT CDM THROUGH JANUARY, 2020, AND ILLUSTRATES A SOCIETY WHERE THE PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE AESTHETICS AND CUSTOMS HARMONIOUSLY COEXIST. HELLO FROM JAPAN! WAS SLATED TO BEGIN A 2-3-YEAR TOUR, BUT THIS TOUR HAS BEEN STALLED DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. THE POTTER THE OTTER EXHIBIT WAS COMPLETED DURING THE YEAR, AND OPENED AT CDM IN FEBRUARY, 2020. IT WAS SLATED TO START A FIVE-YEAR TOUR DURING THE SUMMER, WHICH WAS ALSO POSTPONED. THIS EXHIBIT WILL BE INSTALLED AT CDM, ONCE REOPENING IS ALLOWED, IN THE AREA THAT PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS FOOD SERVICE. GIVEN THE CURRENT HEALTH CONCERNS, IT WAS DECIDED NOT TO CONTINUE TO OFFER FOOD SERVICE AT CDM FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.DURING THE PRIOR FISCAL YEAR, CDM RECEIVED FUNDING FROM ZOOM TO DEVELOP A 600 SQUARE FOOT EDUCATIONAL AND INTERACTIVE PLAY SPACE FOR VERY YOUNG CHILDREN IN TERMINAL B OF THE MINETA SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. HENSEL PHELPS CONSTRUCTION WILL SERVE AS THE GENERAL CONTRACTOR ON A PRO BONO BASIS FOR THE PROJECT, WHICH WAS SLATED TO OPEN IN DECEMBER, 2020. THE SPACE IS DESIGNED TO ENGAGE YOUNGSTERS IN THINKING ABOUT THE CREATURES AND OBJECTS THAT FLY, WHILE EXPERIMENTING WITH THE ROLE THAT AIR, WIND, WINGS AND DESIGN PLAY IN FLIGHT.

EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMSTHE MUSEUM PROVIDES ON-SITE AND OUTREACH PROGRAMS WHICH COMPLEMENT ITS EXHIBITS AND SUPPORT VISITOR INTERACTIONS AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2019-2020, THE MUSEUM PROVIDED TARGETED PROGRAMS FOR OVER 24,707 PARTICIPANTS. THE ON-SITE ART STUDIO IN THE WONDER CABINET AND THE LEROY NEIMAN ART STUDIO ARE EXAMPLES OF THE MUSEUM'S COMMITMENT TO VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES, WHILE THE LEE AND DIANE BRANDENBURG THEATRE AND CADENCE AMPHITHEATRE OFFER PERFORMING ARTS EXPERIENCES. [SEE SCH O]THE MUSEUM EMPLOYS 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. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE MUSEUM INVITES THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN VARIOUS CULTURAL FESTIVALS, WHICH REPRESENT THE REGION'S ETHNIC COMPOSITION. THESE EVENTS INCLUDE WEEKEND EVENTS, SUCH AS DIWALI, DIA DE LOS TRES REYES MAGOS, LUNAR NEW YEAR, CHILDREN OF THE DRAGON, AND SINGLE DAY OR EVENING EVENTS, SUCH AS DIA DE LOS MUERTOS, THE LANTERN FESTIVAL, LUNADAS FAMILIARES AND MENORAHS AND MIRACLES: A HANUKKAH CELEBRATION.WITH ITS CLOSURE IN MARCH, 2020, THE MUSEUM SOUGHT WAYS TO CONTINUE ITS IMPACT IN THE COMMUNITY AND TO PROVIDE PROGRAMS FOR ITS MEMBERS. MUSEUM PROGRAMMING PIVOTED FROM THE DIRECT, HANDS-ON INTERACTIONS TO A VIRTUAL PLATFORM, THE VIRTUAL PURPLE MUSEUM (VPM). PROGRAMS WERE DELIVERED VIA FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE VIDEOS AND FOCUSED ON THE DISCIPLINES OF ARTS AND SCIENCE. PROGRAMS STRUCTURED TO APPEAL TO VERY YOUNG CHILDREN, SUCH AS STORY TIMES, WERE OFFERED IN ENGLISH, SPANISH AND VIETNAMESE. FOR SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN, PROGRAMS FOCUSED ON VISUAL ARTS, PHYSICAL SCIENCES INVESTIGATIONS AND EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT. VPM ALSO PROVIDED THE MEANS TO CELEBRATE OUR PROUD OF MY FAMILY ANNUAL EVENT THIS SUMMER, AND WILL SERVE TO CELEBRATE CDM'S CULTURAL FESTIVALS WITH THE PUBLIC UNTIL IT IS DEEMED SAFE TO GATHER AGAIN. CDM ALSO PIVOTED ITS ONGOING RELATIONSHIP WITH EDUCARE CALIFORNIA AT SILICON VALLEY BY REALLOCATING A PORTION OF ITS RESTRICTED ARTS FUNDING TO OFFER A BILINGUAL STORY TIME WORKSHOP FOR FAMILIES,PROVIDING 160 ACTIVITY KITS TO ACCOMPANY A ZOOM BROADCAST OF NOT A BOX ".NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANT FUNDING FROM THE IMLS IN SEPTEMBER, 2017, FUNDED CDM'S EXPANSION OF ITS CULTURAL COMPETENCE LEARNING INSTITUTE (CCLI) IN COLLABORATION WITH THE ASSOCIATION OF CHILDREN'S MUSEUMS AND THE ASSOCIATION OF SCIENCE-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. BUILDING ON THE CCLI INITIATIVE, CDM PARTNERED WITH THE EXPLORATORIUM TO OFFER CAMBIO, A PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE COMBINING CCLI AND THE EXPLORATORIUM'S GENIAL WORK TO SUPPORT INFORMAL SCIENCE PRACTITIONERS WORKING WITH LATINX AUDIENCES, AND RECEIVED A 5-YEAR FUNDING COMMITMENT FROM THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION.CDM CONTINUOUSLY STRIVES TO UNDERSTAND AND TO IMPROVE ITS SERVICE TO ITS VISITORS. LAST YEAR, CDM BECAME THE 27TH MUSEUM TO JOIN 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. THE MUSEUM WAS ALSO ACCEPTED AS A COHORT TO THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS' FACING CHANGE INITIATIVE, A NATIONAL YEAR-LONG BOARD DIVERSITY PROGRAM.PROUDLY, CDM WAS SELECTED BY THE AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF MUSEUMS' BOARD OF DIRECTORS TO RECEIVE THE AAM INSTITUTIONAL AWARD FOR DIVERSITY, EQUITY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND INCLUSION (DEAI) IN RECOGNITION OF YEARS OF SERVICE TO DEAI AND ADDRESSING HOW TO BECOME A SAFE, ENGAGING, AND EDUCATIONAL SPACE FOR ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. FROM TRILINGUAL SIGNAGE TO THE OPEN-DOOR POLICY, THE AWARD HONORS CDM AS A MODEL FOR THE GREATER MUSEUM FIELD, HELPING TO ADVANCE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION.

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.

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