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by Robin Pogrebin | June 4, 2020

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan had planned to announce the appointment of Aileen Hefferren as its new chief executive and director Tuesday. But the board decided to wait until Wednesday in deference to Blackout Tuesday, a social media action intended to show solidarity with the protests over the death of George Floyd.

The Children’s Museum is among a growing number of arts institutions from New York to Virginia to Colorado trying to navigate the sensitive, uncharted territory of making major appointments and initiating new cultural leaders in this difficult cultural moment.

And new appointees find themselves stepping into positions of leadership made much more complicated by questions like when and how to safely reopen, how to stem financial losses caused by the pandemic and how to respond to a country convulsed by unrest.

Often, the announcements have been drowned out by the drumbeat of news that has accompanied the coronavirus outbreak — namely layoffs and furloughs — and by the more recent demonstrations in scores of U.S. cities.

“They’re looking for people who are tested, with a level of competence and confidence that will inspire them to feel comfortable, as well as give the staff comfort that this person understands what they’re up against,” said Sarah James, who specializes in cultural executive searches at the firm Phillips Oppenheim. “Nobody really knows how to deal with this.”

Because Hefferren doesn’t take the position until Sept. 15, the Children’s Museum might have waited even longer, but it was eager to get things moving in light of pressing matters like seeking public approval for its new home in a former church on Central Park West, the need to reconceive its interactive exhibitions with coronavirus considerations in mind, and the economic losses resulting from months of lockdown.

“We certainly expect her to lead and take charge of reimagining what our institution can and should be,” said Matt Messinger, a co-chairman of the museum’s board.

Over the past three months, Timothy Rodgers became the new director of the Phoenix Art Museum in Arizona, Kathleen Bartels was named the next executive director of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Toronto, and Nicola Lees was appointed director of the Aspen Art Museum in Colorado.

Other new hires include Jaynelle Hazard, director of the Greater Reston Arts Center in Reston, Virginia; Amanda Lahikainen at the Ogunquit Museum of American Art in Maine; and Matthew Clarke at the Design Trust for Public Space in Manhattan. Becca Hoffman is the new managing director of three art fairs — in Aspen, Chicago and Palm Springs, California.

“It’s a very unique time to accept a new role,” Hoffman said. “It’s been a challenge.”

While institutions might be expected to suspend hiring, some have accelerated or even initiated searches, given the current need for strong leadership. But candidates want to make sure that the boards doing the hiring aren’t looking for business as usual. “They don’t want to just come in and stabilize, because nobody believes in going back,” James said of candidates. “Everybody believes you’re going to die as an institution or you’re going to go forward as something better.”

Executives’ job descriptions are changing under their feet, requiring skills in handling not only a global health crisis but also issues of racial equity. Hefferren’s background would seem to make her well equipped to lead the Children’s Museum, given that she comes from Prep for Prep, a nonprofit organization that offers promising New York City students of color access to a private school education.

She said she hoped to bring that experience to her new position and, for example, expand the museum’s outreach to families in homeless shelters, affordable-housing residents and incarcerated parents. “It’s definitely a challenging time for our country and for New York,” Hefferren said, “but it also just makes the need for the Children’s Museum that much more apparent.”

The museum continues to move forward with its ambitious renovation of a former church that it bought for $45 million; the matter goes before the Landmarks Preservation Commission next month. Because its typically hands-on installations have yet to be designed, the museum will be able to make adjustments in light of social-distancing considerations.

Hoffman, the former director of the Outsider Art Fair and now the manager of Intersect Aspen (formerly Art Aspen), the Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design Fair in Chicago, and Art Palm Springs, has started her position at a time when the future of art fairs seems to hang in the balance with the current bans on large gatherings.

Many in the art market predict that the proliferation of art fairs over the past few years will shake out, leaving only the strongest standing, and that the pivot to online formats may force galleries to reassess whether the steep cost associated with a fair (including travel, shipping and insurance) is worth it.

But Hoffman remains optimistic. “I don’t think that they will ever go away,” she said, “but I believe there will be more of a regional focus moving forward and you will need to have a proper digital presentation. You need to have the connectivity for people who aren’t going to recover from this as quickly as others.”

The obstacles, she said, include trying to network in places like Aspen — where her first (now virtual) fair is coming up, on July 22 — without being able to meet face to face. “It’s kind of like, ‘Please introduce me to this person, please introduce me to that person,’” Hoffman said. “It’s a big hurdle to ingratiate yourself in a community when it’s on the phone or on Zoom.”

Hazard was selected to run the Greater Reston Arts Center just as the pandemic was descending. “The interview process was completely on Zoom. I still haven’t met my staff or my board of directors,” she said. “I’m focusing on what I have control over — my mind, my schedule, my well-being — rather than what I don’t have control over: the virus, the justice system.”

She has instead taken steps such as bringing the museum’s exhibitions online and rewriting its diversity statement. “We have to constantly think about how to impact our communities and stand behind them,” Hazard said, “to confront hate, to use compassion, to use empathy.”

Rodgers in Phoenix has been thinking about how to be helpful to local galleries that are struggling — perhaps displaying (without selling) their artists’ work on the walls of the museum’s restaurant. “The museum exists within a larger community and ecology of art,” he said. “How is it that we can sustain and grow back what it is that we’re losing during this?”

To be sure, the moment has also been challenging personally. Bartels had to start her Toronto job while living in an Airbnb dwelling and has yet to be able to look for permanent housing. And none of these promotions is getting the usual laudatory attention. But appointees say acknowledgment is an afterthought; there is too much work to be done. “It’s a chance to be a leader and to lead on an issue we all care about, the importance of public space,” said Clarke of the Design Trust for Public Space. “We need to lean into that.”

Above all, newly appointed cultural leaders say, they realize that the world has limited bandwidth right now, not to mention more urgent concerns.

“At the end of the day, I want everybody to be safe,” Hoffman said. “I don’t need to do my own celebration. I just want us to get to a place where we can all come out and actually feel comfortable seeing one another.”

© 2020 The New York Times Company

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan announced today the appointment of Aileen Hefferren as its new Chief Executive Officer and Director. Currently the Chief Executive of Prep for Prep, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the academic, personal, and professional advancement of underserved New York City students , Hefferren has committed her career to creating equity and access in education across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic divides. A passionate advocate for the city’s children, she brings nearly three decades of experience engaging youth and their families with educational opportunities and resources to support their ongoing development. Hefferren will assume her new role at CMOM on September 15, 2020.

Since its founding in 1973, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been a steward of early childhood development, helping the city’s youngest citizens grow into life-long learners. The Museum’s researchbased program creates immersive and inspiring opportunities for children to engage the arts, world cultures, health and safety, the environment, and civic life. In a city where 30% of children live at or below the poverty line, CMOM works with partners from throughout the city to provide accessible learning activities for underserved populations. Over the past few months, CMOM has dramatically expanded its series of remotely accessible educational activities and resources for children and parents alike, providing critical support and enhanced opportunities to learn, connect, and thrive in this new environment.

Hefferren joins the Museum at a pivotal moment, as it prepares for the creation of a new, expanded home. After 40 years in its original location, CMOM’s move to 361 Central Park West enables the institution to meet the increased demands for its programming and services, while reimagining the role of a children’s museum. Working alongside CMOM’s Board and its executive leadership team, Hefferren will lead the Museum through this transformational period and solidify CMOM’s role as an international leader in immersive and imaginative experiential learning.

“Aileen is an inspirational leader who has spent her career as a champion for New York City’s youth. Her experience and achievements align perfectly with the our own vision and values as an organization,” said Matthew Messinger, Co-Chair of CMOM’s Board of Directors. Added Board CoChair Shannon Bauer Aronson, “Throughout our history, we have been committed to curating formative experiences for all children that educate as they inspire. Under Aileen’s leadership, CMOM will be able to extend the reach and impact of its program in new and meaningful ways.”

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a vital educational resource and community hub, with a holistic mission that cultivates inquiry and imagination in our youngest learners and offers critical support for their families,” said Hefferren. “I’ve spent 25 years of my career helping students achieve success. In collaboration with CMOM’s dedicated board and staff, I am looking forward to extending my work to the early childhood years, which are critically important to the success of our next generation.”

Hefferren has served as the Chief Executive of Prep for Prep since 2002, having previously held positions as its Director of Development and Director of Operations. During her 25 years at Prep for Prep, she dramatically expanded the organization’s reach and bolstered its reputation as a leader in the field supporting the academic, personal, and professional growth of students of color. Hefferren built and strengthened partnerships with 70 independent schools throughout New York City, leveraged $35 million annually in financial aid to support its students, and helped expand Prep for Prep’s engagement with its 700 middle and high school students, 600 undergraduates, and growing population of over 3,000 college graduates. Hefferren also oversaw development of important new programs to ensure students’ stability and success, including spearheading the addition of vital new resources to support emotional and psychological health, visual arts opportunities, and STEM initiatives. She expanded PREP 9, the organization’s boarding school program, and launched Smart Connections, allowing Prep for Prep to share its expertise with over 200 organizations around the world. In addition to her work at Prep for Prep, Hefferren served as a Director of Individual Gifts at New York University and as a consultant in nonprofit administration and fundraising. “Aileen’s passion and professional portfolio are unparalleled. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for CMOM, which has grown tremendously since our early days as a neighborhood organization. Together with the Board, Aileen will continue to advance our profile as an institution of international stature—one that nurtures and inspires the next generation of creative global citizens,” said Laurie Tisch, CMOM’s Founding Board Chair.

Hefferren received her bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and chairs its Diversity Committee. Her appointment as CMOM’s CEO and Director followed a comprehensive national search overseen by a committee appointed by the Museum’s Board.

As many cultural institutions are dealing with layoffs and furloughs, some are appointing new leaders who face a whole new set of challenges.

By Robin Pogrebin | June 3 2020

Read the entire article on nytimes.com »

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan had planned to announce the appointment of Aileen Hefferren as its new chief executive and director on Tuesday. But the board decided to wait till Wednesday in deference to Blackout Tuesday, a social media action intended to show solidarity with the protests over the death of George Floyd.

The Children’s Museum is among a growing number of arts institutions from New York to Virginia to Colorado trying to navigate the sensitive, uncharted territory of making major appointments and initiating new cultural leaders in this difficult cultural moment.”

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NEW YORK – June 3, 2020 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) announced today the appointment of Aileen Hefferren as its new Chief Executive Officer and Director. Currently the Chief Executive of Prep for Prep, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting the academic, personal, and professional advancement of underserved New York City students, Hefferren has committed her career to creating equity and access in education across racial, cultural, and socioeconomic divides. A passionate advocate for the city’s children, she brings nearly three decades of experience engaging youth and their families with educational opportunities and resources to support their ongoing development. Hefferren will assume her new role at CMOM on September 15, 2020.

Since its founding in 1973, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been a steward of early childhood development, helping the city’s youngest citizens grow into life-long learners. The Museum’s researchbased program creates immersive and inspiring opportunities for children to engage the arts, world cultures, health and safety, the environment, and civic life. In a city where 30% of children live at or below the poverty line, CMOM works with partners from throughout the city to provide accessible learning activities for underserved populations. Over the past few months, CMOM has dramatically expanded its series of remotely accessible educational activities and resources for children and parents alike, providing critical support and enhanced opportunities to learn, connect, and thrive in this new environment.

Hefferren joins the Museum at a pivotal moment, as it prepares for the creation of a new, expanded home. After 40 years in its original location, CMOM’s move to 361 Central Park West enables the institution to meet the increased demands for its programming and services, while reimagining the role of a children’s museum. Working alongside CMOM’s Board and its executive leadership team, Hefferren will lead the Museum through this transformational period and solidify CMOM’s role as an international leader in immersive and imaginative experiential learning.

“Aileen is an inspirational leader who has spent her career as a champion for New York City’s youth. Her experience and achievements align perfectly with the our own vision and values as an organization,” said Matthew Messinger, Co-Chair of CMOM’s Board of Directors. Added Board Co-Chair Shannon Bauer Aronson, “Throughout our history, we have been committed to curating formative experiences for all children that educate as they inspire. Under Aileen’s leadership, CMOM will be able to extend the reach and impact of its program in new and meaningful ways.”

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a vital educational resource and community hub, with a holistic mission that cultivates inquiry and imagination in our youngest learners and offers critical support for their families,” said Hefferren. “I’ve spent 25 years of my career helping students achieve success. In collaboration with CMOM’s dedicated board and staff, I am looking forward to extending my work to the early childhood years, which are critically important to the success of our next generation.”

Hefferren has served as the Chief Executive of Prep for Prep since 2002, having previously held positions as its Director of Development and Director of Operations. During her 25 years at Prep for Prep, she dramatically expanded the organization’s reach and bolstered its reputation as a leader in the field supporting the academic, personal, and professional growth of students of color. Hefferren built and strengthened partnerships with 70 independent schools throughout New York City, leveraged $35 million annually in financial aid to support its students, and helped expand Prep for Prep’s engagement with its 700 middle and high school students, 600 undergraduates, and growing population of over 3,000 college graduates. Hefferren also oversaw development of important new programs to ensure students’ stability and success, including spearheading the addition of vital new resources to support emotional and psychological health, visual arts opportunities, and STEM initiatives. She expanded PREP 9, the organization’s boarding school program, and launched Smart Connections, allowing Prep for Prep to share its expertise with over 200 organizations around the world. In addition to her work at Prep for Prep, Hefferren served as a Director of Individual Gifts at New York University and as a consultant in nonprofit administration and fundraising.

“Aileen’s passion and professional portfolio are unparalleled. Her appointment marks an exciting new chapter for CMOM, which has grown tremendously since our early days as a neighborhood organization. Together with the Board, Aileen will continue to advance our profile as an institution of international stature—one that nurtures and inspires the next generation of creative global citizens,” said Laurie Tisch, CMOM’s Founding Board Chair.

Hefferren received her bachelor’s degree from Kenyon College, where she serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees and chairs its Diversity Committee. Her appointment as CMOM’s
CEO and Director followed a comprehensive national search overseen by a committee appointed by the Museum’s Board.

###

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Established in 1973, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a vital destination and resource for New York City children and their families, dedicated to cultivating life-long learners across backgrounds and boroughs. A steward of early childhood education and development, CMOM offers imaginative and enriching exhibitions and programs that support, challenge, and inspire. Beyond the Museum walls, CMOM mounts outreach programs in 60 sites across the city, equips colleagues via professional development training programs, and shares its award-winning content through traveling exhibitions and online offerings.

To meet growing public demand and ensure that this child-centered, interactive resource is available for future generations, the Museum is planning a move to an expanded home. The restoration and revitalization of 361 Central Park West, originally designed in 1903 by Carrère and Hastings, will include state-of-the art exhibition and programmatic spaces and activations for the new CMOM experience. For more information about CMOM, visit www.cmom.org

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Valuable Advice and Tips from Experts to Help Parents and Caregivers of Young Children

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By Vonnie Murad | May 27, 2020

To help meet the many challenges that parents and caregivers of young children are facing amid the pandemic, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has launched Parenting in Place, a new online resource providing research, expert tips, and insights to address key topics and questions related to parenting and that support them as they help their children grow and learn during the COVID-19 crisis. The debut follows the museum’s successful March launch of CMOM at Home, a series of fun, educational, and engaging daily digital activities for quarantined families.

Featuring a series of must-watch, short videos, CMOM Parenting in Place is designed to help parents and caregivers navigate the new normal of parenting as well as relax and give themselves time to recharge, rethink and reconnect. CMOM Parenting in Place will deliver trusted advice and tips from CMOM partner experts in child development, psychology, health, and more across a variety of topics including:

How to balance working from home and keeping young children engaged with less stress for parents
How much screen time is too much
Is there a good way to discuss COVID-19 with children that isn’t too scary
Am I doing the right thing for my children right now
How to handle your own emotions, anxieties and fears – giving yourself permission to feel
Simple ways to learn a new skill like journaling, meditating or even creating a calming home office space.

Photo courtesy of Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek

The first expert will be CMOM advisor Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, Professor of Psychology at Temple University and Senior Fellow at Brookings Institute. Upcoming CMOM partner experts will include Ellen Galinsky, Chief Science Officer, Bezos Family Foundation; and Dr. Tovah Klein, Director, Barnard Toddler Center for Child Development and Associate Professor of Psychology.

“Parenting in Place grew from CMOM at Home, which focuses on activities for children that families can do together at home. Parents of young children need support, too, and this program will help provide them with guidance and reassurances that they are doing their best for their children,” said Leslie Bushara, deputy director for education and exhibitions at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

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Do you have questions about how to be a good parent while sheltering at home? Parenting in Place from the Children’s Museum of Manhattan will help you find the answers. from how to balance working and homeschooling, to discussing how much screen time is too much screen time, to handle your own emotions, this resource will help you navigate these times. For adults.

BY: OLIVER STRAND

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“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is offering at-home resources for children, including worksheets and games.”

Anna Lane, Reviewed.com | Published 5:12 p.m. ET March 18, 2020 | Updated 5:16 p.m. ET April 24, 2020

View on usatoday.com »

With the coronavirus pandemic keeping everyone indoors, we’re going on weeks—if not months—of spending time at home with our kids. Whether your school is providing “distance learning” resources, or whether you’re venturing into homeschooling unassisted, you’re still going to have quite a few hours that need to be filled with activities. Thankfully, there are loads of resources available for kids and their parents, and many of them are absolutely free.

I’m still adjusting to having my two kids—ages 7 and 5—home all day while I work, but we’ve managed to find some pretty incredible online resources to keep everyone occupied. From printable worksheets to virtual museum tours, here are 18 of the free resources that we’ve discovered, used—and loved—over the last few weeks.

Preschool

1. Children’s Museum of Manhattan

My kids _love_ the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), so I’m not surprised to see that their virtual offerings are almost as awesome as visiting in person. The new CMOM at Home features daily activities for kids that are easy and fun to do at home. Each day of the week has a theme, like Magical Monday and Artsy Thursday, and activities of all different types are pegged to these themes. While many of the projects are designed for little kids to do alongside a parent, older kids may enjoy doing them independently.{{ ad_skip }}

Visit CMOM at Home

To view the rest of the article please visit usatoday.com

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Written by Anna Lane | Updated April 24, 2020

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.

With the coronavirus pandemic keeping everyone indoors, we’re going on weeks—if not months—of spending time at home with our kids. Whether your school is providing “distance learning” resources or you’re venturing into homeschooling unassisted, you still have quite a few hours that need to be filled with activities. Thankfully, there are loads of resources available for kids and their parents, and many of them are absolutely free.

I’m still adjusting to having my two kids—ages 7 and 5—home all day while I work, but we’ve managed to find some pretty incredible online resources to keep everyone occupied. From printable worksheets to virtual museum tours, here are 40 of the free resources that we’ve discovered, used—and loved—over the last few weeks.

Preschool

1. Children’s Museum of Manhattan
My kids love the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), so I’m not surprised to see that their virtual offerings are almost as awesome as visiting in person. The new CMOM at Home features daily activities for kids that are easy and fun to do at home. Each day of the week has a theme, like Magical Monday and Artsy Thursday, and activities of all different types are pegged to these themes. While many of the projects are designed for little kids to do alongside a parent, older kids may enjoy doing them independently.

Visit CMOM at Home

To see entire listing please visit reviewed.com

View on nypost.com »

By Barbara Hoffman  April 24, 2020 | 2:38pm

Spring won’t be denied. Birds are singing, flowers are blooming — and people are connecting, even when they’re physically apart. The city’s greatest institutions are carrying on as well, offering music, dance and hands-on activities to share in. Here are just a few ways to celebrate spring, virtually.

A lark in the park
Happily, the city’s parks remain open, and Brooklyn’s favorite backyard is no exception. While you can still explore on foot and bicycle the meadows, woodlands and waterways of Prospect Park (while keeping social distance), its carousel, Audubon Center and Lefferts Historic House are closed. Then again, you can experience even those without leaving home.

“We have a virtual program called ‘a kitchen garden’ at the Lefferts House, showing you how to make your own kitchen garden from vegetable scraps,” says Maria Carrasco, the park’s vice president of public programs. “We’ll teach you how to grow a scallion from a scrap, and how you can have a bunch of potatoes in 90 days from planting one of the potato’s eyes.”

You can download pictures of the park’s old-timey carousel and color in its horses and lions while listening to an audio clip of its organ musical, and save the birds by making stickers that will prevent them from crashing into windows. And for those wary of inadequate social distancing, there are even virtual tours of the park. Visit ProspectPark.org/virtual.

Cheery blossoms
Sakura Matsuri Cherry Blossom festival at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.Annie Wermiel/NY Post
The Brooklyn Botanic Garden is closed, but its spectacular cherry blossom display, that annual vibrant, pink heralding of spring, goes on. Take a virtual tour of the Cherry Esplanade or Cherry Walk from the comfort of your couch. Learn about the BBG’s 26 varieties in its cherry collection — including the Weeping Higan Cherry: Seeds for this one were brought here from Japan in 1862. Find it all at BBG.org/collections/cherries.

Met Opera gala, home edition
The men usually wear white ties and tails, and the women, gowns. Not this year. When the Met livestreams its spring gala today at 1 p.m., 40 of the opera world’s greatest singers will perform in comfy-er clothes from the comfort of their own homes. They include Bryn Terfel from Wales, Anna Netrebko from Vienna, Renée Fleming from Virginia and Lawrence Brownlee, from Niceville, Fla.

“I’ve done many galas before — the Richard Tucker, the Wiener Staatsoper — but never from my living room or my little office,” Brownlee tells The Post. “We’ll see what the Met wants and we’ll go from there.”

He’s thinking of wearing a sweater or maybe a jacket, “but I’m in Florida and it’s hot, so it won’t be a tux or even a tie.” At least the tenor knows what he’s singing: the aria “A Te, o Cara” from Bellini’s “I Puritani.” Not only is the melody beautiful, he says, but its message is just right for our times: that loving someone makes the turmoil in the world bearable. Visit MetOpera.org.

Pirouettes and practice
New York City Ballet’s spring season has gone digital and free, with six weeks of performances and podcasts offered six days a week, Monday through Saturday, through May 29. There’ll also be educational workshops including one for children ages 3 to 8, and another — a series of hourlong, ballet-inspired movement classes — led by NYCB’s Wendy Whelan from her barn in upstate New York’s Columbia County.

“I’m looking out the window at a woodpecker on my tree right now and thinking, I just want people to feel good!” the company’s associate artistic director tells The Post of her “Wednesday with Wendy” classes. “I want it to be easy and fun and have people feel 2 inches taller and calmer when they’re finished. Including me!”

Expect some holistic, yoga-like movement accompanied by Whelan’s playlist, which includes a lot of Lady Gaga and a little Coldplay, performed by frequent ballet accompanist Nate Fifield on piano.

Although the program is mostly geared to adults, kids may want to join in, too. “As an almost 53-year-old former ballerina, I feel I have a spectrum of experience,” Whelan says. “[The class] might challenge some and be too easy for others, but it’s really about sharing the joy of dancing.” NYCBallet.com/digitalspring.

Rock around the Rock

Rockefeller Center tends to go all out in the spring, with flowers and shrubs blooming down the length of its plaza, from Fifth Avenue to the skating rink, and family-friendly activities everywhere you look. For now, the action’s moving onto your home screens. This weekend, tune into “Spring Sunday” for free music, live performances, puppet shows and more starting at 11 a.m.

Among the highlights are two art workshops, one of which will show you how to make flour-based play dough that, when combined with food coloring and some ordinary household staples, will turn into all kinds of funny creatures. There’ll also be a DIY crafting workshop led by Paper Source on creating prints with homemade cardboard stamps. And the Shop at NBC Studios invites families to paint their own NBC Peacock using the colors of the rainbow. Details at RockefellerCenter.com, Instagram @rockefellercenter, and Facebook @rockefellercenternyc.

Ice, ice baby!
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has always been a hands-on kind of place, and this spring is no different. Except, of course, your hands won’t leave the house.

During this time of isolation, says CMOM’s Leslie Bushara, “We pivoted quickly to bring families what they expect from us — storytelling and science projects that are very simple and fun, with educational development behind it. We also wanted to make sure these resources were things they had at home — we didn’t want them to run around getting fancy!”

One of this spring’s projects is painting with ice cubes and food coloring. “It’s mixing colors and art with science, plus it’s kind of wacky and silly,” Bushara says. “It takes families a little out of the ordinary.”

Another museum staple, Storytime Saturdays, has also moved onto your home screen. Bushara suggests families start by making a “surprise storytime” box: Find an empty shoebox and fill it with small items, such as toys, household objects and photos. Then take turns picking out an object and telling a story about it. “You never know what you’ll get,” Bushara says of the results. “It builds vocabulary and it’s a fun way to bond.” Find all that and more at CMOM.org.

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How Children’s Museums are Fostering Imagination, Learning, and Creativity at Home

Physical museum buildings may be temporarily closed, but that doesn’t mean that learning, imagination, and discovery are on hold.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), for example, recognizes that healthy habits begin at home and that families play a crucial role in forming children’s healthy habits. The museum also understands that getting kids to eat nutritious food and get enough sleep and exercise are some of the struggles facing parents.

That’s why in 2009, with assistance from a National Leadership Grant from IMLS, the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum was designed to help children ages 2 to 5 years old living in New York’s low-income communities learn about nutrition and physical activity. Focus on this age group grew out of the CMOM and National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition)® program’s recognition of the importance of early childhood health education.

During this unprecedented time, while the museum is closed and families are spending more time at home together, CMOM is expanding their action-packed EatPlayGrow™ curriculum to provide daily free online resources and activities that families can do together.

The lesson plans in the program include fun art projects, games, songs, and physical activities that teach kids and their parents how to eat healthy and stay active. Families can find the materials online as part of the museum’s new CMOM at Home initiative or via daily emails. All activities and information are based on the latest medical and behavioral research and are linked to most important elements of a child’s day.

By working, eating, and actively playing side by side, families can model, replicate, and extend the health activities found in the EatPlayGrow™ curriculum. Kids and caregivers can play dance charades with CMOM partner Elisa Monte Dance Company, discover the magic of lava lamps with materials from around the house, bake traditional Irish soda bread and see a fizzy chemical reaction, and so much more.

When the social distancing restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic subside, CMOM plans to bring EatPlayGrow™ installations and resources to families living in eight homeless shelters across Harlem, Brooklyn, and the Bronx with funding from a 2019 Museums for America grant. These installations will help establish health and learning hubs for children ages 0 to 3 in these shelters and communities.

Another of the many institutions providing exciting educational offerings to help keep kids busy during this time of social distancing is the DISCOVERY Children’s Museum in Las Vegas—and you don’t have to live in Nevada to “visit” DISCOVERY.

Knowing that families are looking for fun and educational activities to do at home with their children, the museum team developed a new online program, At Home DISCOVERIES.

The program features a carefully curated list of resources—both original and outside content—meant to help parents find ways to keep their kids learning. Resources include science demonstrations, story time, and DIY activity sheets that often include items parents and families already have at home. The museum team is continuing to add and update resources daily and ensure that there is a multitude of activities and videos, including art projects, DIY science experiments, tutorials, and more.

At the end of March, their Storytime series featured Nate Schmidt reading Curious George to kids. Schmidt, a defenseman for the National Hockey League’s Vegas Golden Knights, was the first special guest in a lineup the museum is planning for their channel this month.

Additional outside activities include Mo Willems’ Daily Doodles for all the art lovers out there, weekly science demonstrations by Science Mom, CBS News’ Steve Hartman’s ”Kindness 101,” Facebook Live series, ASL resources for kids, and resources in Spanish.

In just one month, these institutions have developed incredible ways to stay connected to their members, visitors, and children across the community—just two examples of museums across the country that are opening their virtual doors to all, demonstrating creativity, generosity, and resilience in the face of uncertainty.

Got something else to share? Drop us a line with other creative museum resources at [email protected].

Read on Timeout.com »

New Yorkers are resilient, but this new stay-at-home lifestyle is enough to make even the toughest urbanites go a little bonkers…especially when kids are in the picture.

Apartments might start to feel smaller and smaller now that the little ones are home 24/7, but there’s good news for parents who are starting to break a sweat: We might not be able to have physical access to our favorite family attractions and kids’ museums right now, but Google Arts & Culture lets curious kiddos gain access to their favorite destinations with a click of a mouse.

An afternoon or night at the museum (see what we did there) is possible, even amid these strange times. Google: City moms and dads thank you. Happy museum-hopping!

Children’s Museum of Manhattan
This NYC favorite now offers CMOM from Home, a lineup of online programming that features a new video, game, sing-a-long or online activity every day!

WNYC news editor Jennifer Vanasco talks about what to do at home this weekend. 

Listen Online at wnyc.org »

Read the article on ilovetheupperwestside.com »

by Mike Mishkin

In an effort to continue its mission of growing and developing our youngest citizens and to bring the museum to children and families during the coronavirus pandemic, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has debuted “CMOM at Home,” a series of fun, educational and engaging activities for kids and families to enjoy together at home.

“CMOM at Home” is part of the museum’s extensive offering of online resources available for families practicing social distancing. CMOM is among the institutions worldwide temporarily closed because of the coronavirus.

From slime-making, dance parties and being transported to Japan with a recipe for sushi, to making animal puppets from recycled materials around the house, creating a bedtime routine and storytimes, “CMOM at Home” is sure to delight. Each day of the week will feature a different theme:

Magical Monday is a day for math, science and technology, which helps children develop logical, critical thinking and problem solving skills and also allows them to explore their world and discover magical new things.

Move & Groove Tuesday is a day for kids to get up and get the wiggles out. Physical activity in early childhood is not only associated with better physical health but is also important for the development of children’s brains and social skills.

Our World Wednesday is a day for parents to explore the world with their children. By exposing kids to different cultures at a young age, it broadens their perspectives, helps them appreciate others and sparks their curiosity about who they and others are in the world.

Artsy Thursday is a day for kids to find their inner creativity. In today’s world, it’s easy to resort to technology in order to keep children entertained and occupied. While technology is useful, it shouldn’t come at the expense of children playing and making things with their own hands so they can express themselves in a creative way.

Feel Good Friday is a day to shape health and wellness in kids, which if learned at an early age, can be beneficial for so many reasons. Physical and emotional health not only helps children maintain a healthy life, but a healthy mind as well. And studies have shown that healthy students learn better overall.

Storytime Saturday is a day for parents to cuddle up with a book and read to their children. Looking at books and reading together is a great way to introduce kids to letters, words and stories. Even without written words, looking at picture books and talking together build vocabulary and storytelling skills.

Surprise Sunday is a day for just that, a surprise activity for children and families.

For more information about “CMOM at Home,” and to receive the activities email, visit cmom.org/learn/cmom-at-home.

Read the article and watch the video on cbsnews.com»

Lights are out at theaters and museums around the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. But arts organizations are finding ways to stay connected, even with the youngest art lovers.

“It’s really nice; it’s really, really a godsend,” said New Yorker Erica Mata. Now she and her eight-year-old son, Eric, look forward to daily visits to Lincoln Center … the website, that is. Lincoln Center at Home offers free children’s classes, with each day covering a different topic.

“One day it’s puppetry, and then it’s songwriting, and dance,” said Mata. “That was more like a hip hop dance. I have never been able to afford hip hop class, but we had it today, and he was like, ‘Yay!'”

Lincoln Center isn’t alone. From Tate’s website, where kids can learn to make cutouts like Matisse, to the Museum of Modern Art’s kid-friendly audio tours, arts resources are populating the Internet for homebound children.

It’s all music to the ears of Henry Timms, president of Lincoln Center. “We are all feeling anxious right now,” he said. “We are all feeling fearful. We are stuck behind walls often with kids in particular. We have a generation of kids who this is going to be part of their childhood, this story, this coronavirus period. The more we can do to provide moments of joy and connection to them, to protect them from the coronavirus – not just the virus but the anxiety around the virus – if Lincoln Center can play a small role in that, I think we will be tremendously proud to do so.”

And as Mata can attest, it’s not so bad for parents, either.

“Sunday Morning” producer Sara Kugel asked, “Your son gets to learn and explore the arts, and mom gets an hour to herself?”

“Yes! I’m trying to catch up,” Mata replied. “Even if we are staying in the same kitchen, I can see that he’s safe. It’s really peace of mind.”

More arts resources for kids

Lincoln Center Pop-Up Classroom on Facebook Live
A daily dose of creativity from some of world’s best artists and educators to help families with children explore a variety of art forms.  Every weekday at 2:00 pm ET.  (Check schedule here.)

#ColorOurCollections
Who need coloring books when you have “Color Our Collections”? Dozens of museums and libraries across the U.S. and Canada are making available downloadable PDF pages of etchings, prints, line drawings and other works from their collections (such as the sun from a 1554 book, “L’arte del navegar”).

Tate Kids
Free art games and activities, quizzes, and lessons about famous artists, from Degas and Dali to Hockney and Warhol.

MoMA Kids
Audio tours for kids.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan: “CMOM at Home”
Daily videos, sing-a-longs and games from the educator at New York’s Children’s Museum of Manhattan.  They even offer a recipe for magical surprise slime.

“Lunch Doodles” with Mo Willems
Children’s book author-illustrator Mo Willems, a Kennedy Center Education Artist-in-Residence, invites you into his studio each day to explore ways of writing and making art together. Kennedy Center@Home also offers free videos of live and on-demand performances, with new releases daily.

The Louvre: “Learning About Art”
The Parisian museum’s website features interactive activities include: “A Closer Look,” allowing students to magnify works of art; “The Elements of Art,” which explores topics such as composition and perspective; and “Tales of the Museum,” a playful exploration of the Louvre’s history. 

Boca Raton Museum of Art
Follow the Florida museum via #BocaMuseumatHome for updates on their free online activities – online art lessons and activities for all ages – on Facebook and Instagram.

Frist Art Museum: FristKids
Nashville’s Frist Art Museum’s website offers FristKids, with interactive activities and videos. 

Speed Art Museum: “Speed Online”
The Louisville museum’s “Art Sparks” offers instructional videos and ideas for younger kids, such as creating abstract paintings and geometric prints. 

Walters Art Museum
The Baltimore museum offers a virtual classroom with lessons plans for a variety of art topics.

National Gallery of Art
The NGA Kids Art Zone app for iPad contains interactive activities inspired by works in the collection of the National Gallery of Art, plus a sketchbook for freehand drawing, and a personal exhibition space.

Story produced by Sara Kugel and Roman Feeser. 

See also: 

• Virtual museum-going: A guide for socially-distanced art lovers (“Sunday Morning”)
• Performing arts online: Bringing theater to socially-distancing audiences (“Sunday Morning”)
• David Edelstein on movies in the time of pandemic (“Sunday Morning”)
• Daniel Feinberg: Time to catch up on TV (“Sunday Morning”)
• Ron Charles: Recommended books (“Sunday Morning”)

Read article at Adobomagazine.com

NEW YORK, NY – NYC & Company, the official destination marketing organization for the five boroughs of New York City—in partnership with, Department of Cultural Affairs and Mayor’s Office for Media and Entertainment—is highlighting ways to experience the City’s iconic cultural scene virtually, for those who may be seeking an escape in light of the current global Covid-19 situation. The resource for this information, nycgo.com/virtualnyc, will be updated on a regular basis during this time.

“During this unprecedented time, New York City’s world-class tourism community is offering a wide-ranging virtual taste of the destination’s renowned cultural experiences. We encourage New Yorkers and would-be travelers alike to show support and embrace escapism through the currently available, online offerings of the City’s attractions, museums, performing arts venues and beyond,” said NYC & Company President and CEO Fred Dixon.

“New York City is home to the world’s most talented, committed, and diverse arts and entertainment community who continue to find ways to inspire us even in the most difficult times,” said Anne del Castillo, Commissioner of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment. “We’re proud to connect everyone to the best the creative capital has to offer and bring all of us together, even when we’re apart.”

“New York City is home to one of the greatest cultural communities on earth, and this community’s response to the unprecedented challenges we’re facing has been exactly what we need,” said Acting Commissioner of Cultural Affairs Kathleen Hughes. “From streamed opera performances to arts education courses for youth, our city’s cultural community has moved their remarkable programming into the virtual realm, and continues to serve residents and engage audiences.”

From educational programs to critically-acclaimed independent films; soaring orchestral arrangements to inspired choreography; innovative theater to engaging visual arts; and digitized museum exhibitions to virtual neighborhood tours, there’s something for everyone interested in experiencing NYC from the comfort of their home. Examples include:

Educational Programming:

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The museum is sharing “CMOM at Home,” interactive STEM activities for kids and families to enjoy through videos, sing-a-longs, games and more. Activities will be tweeted from @cmomNYCor parents can sign up here.

Read entire article at adobomagazine.com

Read on amny.com »

by Alex Mitchell

Who says you can’t make staying at home fun for the family?

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan launched an online, interactive series of fun, educational and engaging activities for kids and families to do together at home as the museum’s in-person activities have been temporarily halted due to COVID-19.

Called CMOM at Home, the museum is going to bring daily, digital programming of various subjects straight to your computer.

It’s going to consist of slime-making, dance parties and being transported to Japan with a recipe for sushi all the way to making animal puppets from recycled materials around the house and creating a bedtime routine with plenty of storytimes as well.

It starts off with Magical Monday, which is dedicated to math, science, and technology.

Magical Monday intends to help kids “develop logical, critical thinking and problem-solving skills and also allows them to explore their world and discover magical new things.”

Then there’s Move & Groove Tuesday, that’s “for kids to get up and get the wiggles out.”

The physical activity program is not only associated with better physical health for early childhood but is also important for the development of children’s brains and social skills, the museum says.

Our World Wednesday is an opportunity for parents to explore the globe with their children.

According to the museum, exposing kids to different cultures at a young age broadens their perspectives and it helps them appreciate others while sparking curiosity about who they and others are in the world.

Artsy Thursday is meant for kids to find their inner creativity.

That program is meant to be a break from technology and be something much more fun and hands-on.

“While technology is useful, it shouldn’t come at the expense of children playing and making things with their own hands so they can express themselves in a creative way,” the museum stated.

Feel Good Friday is meant for the health and wellness of kids.

Physical and emotional health not only helps children maintain a healthy life but a healthy mind as well.

Storytime Saturday presents a day for parents to cuddle up with a book and read to their children.

Looking at books and reading together with children is a great way to introduce kids to letters, words, and stories.

“Even without written words, looking at picture books and talking together build vocabulary and storytelling skills,” the museum recommends.

Surprise Sunday is just that, a surprise activity day for children and families.

Looking on the bright side and making the best of circumstances is something important for the whole family during these times.

View video on NY1.com »

BY ROGER CLARK | MANHATTAN

A head first slide down from a two-story treehouse is not a bad way for these kids to spend a winter day indoors playing and learning.

“This is an awesome place and this is really fun,” said Aaron Chemtob, Museum Visitor.

It’s the new exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan called Super-powered Metropolis, Early Learning City. It takes up the entire lower level of this popular destination for families. The guides for kids and parents through this comic book inspired version of the city is three pigeons named Zip, Zap and Zoom.

“When you see them they are like the little Clark Kents, ooh, what superpowers are in them?” said Lizzy Martin, Director of Exhibits, Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

Really, they have learning superpowers, called Executive Function, self-control, working memory, and mental flexibility core learning skills for children ages zero to six.

“If those skills are developing at such an early age, it’s kind of like how cool, if you give them those skills early on, by 0-5, then they can control their learning from there on,” said Martin.

There’s a definite New York feel to the exhibit, a train table is a map of the city. There’s music, a whimsical wind blowing fountain. Mom Ally Chemtob visited with her three children.

“Something interactive that’s fun for them, educational, hands on, I learned something too, it’s fun,” said Ally Chemtob, Parent.

“What is the best thing you did since you have been here? I saw you driving before,” Roger asked.

“The truck,” said Sienna Chemtob, Museum Visitor.

Museum Director of Exhibitions and Curator Lizzy Martin says Super-powered Metropolis was designed with a diverse team of brain scientists, early learning specialists and illustrators. It’s a bit of an experiment for them here.

“It’s definitely early brain research. And bringing that to children and families in a fun way is something we wanted to try,” said Martin.

If you’re ready to come and hang out with Zip, Zap and Zoom, the museum is located on West 83rd Street between Broadway and Amsterdam. To find out more, just head to CMOM.org.

PUBLISHED 12:22 PM ET FEB. 21, 2020

Read article on mommynearest.com »

by Catherine Schmitt

Little Manhattanites can really get down to their roots at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s newest exhibition Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City—an exhibit designed for kids growing up in New York City. The experience, open now, is a series of adventures that takes kids ages birth to six on a journey through a comic-book inspired New York City alongside three pigeon friends Zip, Zap and Zoom. Not only will kids recognize familiar city settings along the way (from a pint-sized subway train system to miniature taxis!), but they’ll develop their mental flexibility, working memory and self-control, too.

“The exhibit is a really cool way to look at New York as a place to learn together,” says Leslie Bushara, deputy director of education and guest services at CMOM. “We’ve taken the latest brain research to incorporate important foundational skills that kids need to learn into a really fun exhibit.”

The 1,500-square-foot exhibit boasts a two-story treehouse where kids can peek through a telescope and look at a map of the exhibit; a multi-level Supercharged NYC Train Table that mimics the subway system; a Musical Subway Car where kiddos can make music of their own; a Superpowered Phone Booth where kids can make very important phone calls; and a Whimsical Wind Blowing Fountain that blows out colorful scarves. At the exhibit’s baby-only area (a learning hub inspired by Grand Central Station!), little ones ages zero to two can climb on a train, pop a squat in a reading nook and even hail a miniature yellow cab. 

“We want families to remember that they are surrounded by learning moments when they’re exploring the city,” says Ellen Bari, senior exhibit developer at the museum. “New York is one of the most exciting cities in the world, and as adults, we know that—it’s important to remind kids of that!”

The fun doesn’t stop there! While you’re visiting the museum, be sure to stop by the newly-opened Inside Art exhibit for daily art programs and the opportunity to interact with real art by real artists.

Read on ilovetheupperwestside.com »

by Sara Lewin Lebwohl

The comic book inspired exhibit, Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City, is now open at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. The exhibit highlights the executive functions of child development including self-control, working memory, and mental flexibility.

The pigeon characters Zip (self-control champion), Zap (working memory master), and Zoom (mental flexibility guru), each embody a superpower executive function and can be used as tools when kids are trying to remember and practice their developing skills.

The Superpowered Metropolis exhibit is designed to make you feel right at home on the streets of NYC. The tagline is “building the brainpower of the city one child at a time.” Lizzie Martin, the exhibits curator, gave us a full tour of each of the exiting parts of the exhibit.

“The idea is that our city can be an early learning city. The whole exhibit is designed for families to feel that like, wow, we can superpower our children!” said Lizzie.

That’s where the pigeons come in. Team Z are there to navigate the way and highlight all the important skills for kids. Lizzie explained that they used a comic book style approach to help children develop cognitive, emotional and social skills.

The program encourages kids to think outside the box while problem solving. The pigeon Zoom, is in charge of mental flexibility, and has goggles that extend to see the world upside down and inside out.

I asked how they came up with such a creative idea to address the important issues of child development.

“We had many different consultants. We had brain researchers; we had partners from Barnard and Columbia University, to NYU executive function researchers. They helped to inform which areas we should focus on.  We also worked with Marvel comic executives. We really were trying to pull all the genius [minds] in New York.”

The physical lay out of the space is so much fun for kids. The museum worked with a 3D designer who was able to make everything from a train table to a cave. There is a high-flying fountain where kids can run around and grab flying scarves to practice self and body control.

Music is another important part of the exhibit. There is a subway-inspired area that is filled with musical instruments. Lizzie explained that music helps express emotions. The subway in NYC is full of sounds, and this part of the exhibit serves as a wonderful symbolic way for kids to tie their enjoyment in with new skills they are learning about.

On top of the tree house is the headquarters area. The pigeon, Zoom is there to help navigate the way with a map. Under the tree house, is an area for kids to explore and learn about animals that live in NYC.

Next up is the Baby Central Station. This space was crated as a separate environment for younger children so they can feel space, specifically for ages 0-2. There is a “comic stand” inside where babies can climb all around. “And then you have a quiet space to encourage the brain to take it all in and kind of pause. This space is like a little New York City for them,” said Lizzie.

For parents who are curious about how to help develop these important skills in their kids, I highly recommend checking out the Superpowered Metropolis Exhibit at CMOM. On my way out I spoke with Emily Munro, CMOM’s Communications Specialist and Grants Associate said, “I just think that it’s a really great exhibit, and that there’s really something for everybody.”

There are a number of exiting events coming up at CMOM which you can find here: https://cmom.org/events/

Read article at amny.com »

by Beth Dedman

Dozens of children climb in, on and around the brightly-colored comic book version of New York City. The kids may not realize that while they are having fun, they are also exercising the executive functions of their developing minds. 

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan opened their latest exhibit Feb. 14, which is designed to encourage children to practice self-control, mental flexibility and working memory.

The 1,500 square foot exhibit, Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City™, features the adventures of Zip, Zap and Zoom, three pigeons who encourage children to train the “superpowers” of their minds by carrying out missions in a comic book-inspired New York City. The missions include navigating the subway system, making music with found instruments, exploring the pigeons’ headquarters and learning through experimentation.

“In the Early Learning City, grown-ups and kids can hit the road together and learn. We want them to feel empowered to help these kids’ brains and EMF skills are like superpowers for the brain,” said Lizzy Martin, director of exhibition development and museum planning. 

Martin has overseen the development of the exhibit for the past couple of years, beginning the project because of a study that showed that executive function skills spike in children between ages 0-5, Martin said. 

Martin wanted pigeons to be a main component of the exhibit because children see pigeons everywhere, which would help the kids remember the learning exercises they experienced at the museum everywhere they go in the city. With help from the Bezos Family Foundation and their early learning program, Vroom, they were able to bring Martin’s vision to life.

The museum consulted artists and illustrators from Marvel comics for the design of the super-pigeons and their NYC world, Martin said. 

The exhibit includes the Treehouse Headquarters of the pigeons, a Supercharged NYC Train Table, Musical Subway Car, Whimsical Wind Blowing Fountain, Superpowered Phone Booth, Baby Central Station and the Pigeon Mobile, all of which encourage the kids in hands-on exercises that work their brain. 

The only digital component of the exhibit is the three computers with digital Brain Building Games designed by NYU’s CREATE Lab. 

“Executive functions are not about making a child an executive, it’s about giving them control over themselves,” Martin said. 

All of the missions and signs in the Early Learning City are translated in both English and Spanish. 

“This is a wonderful thing for the children, especially when it’s cold outside,” said Joan Worrell, a nanny for two little boys. “We love the whimsical fountain. I’ve never seen anything like that before and it’s a wonderful experience. We come here all the time, so when they said they were opening something new down here- this is just awesome.”

Children can also utilize the museum’s maker spaces to create the costume elements of each pigeon as a tangible reminder of the lessons they learned at the museum, Martin said. 

Darsana Sabar is a member of the CMOM and brings her three kids to the museum a lot when they are not in school. 

“I love all of the new sensory stuff they have: the smells, and the sounds and the baby area. It’s nice that it’s here because museums don’t always have baby spaces,” Sabar said. “It’s very imaginative. I don’t know where these super hero pigeons came from but my kid loves it. It’s also very New York City-themed and fun, which seems kind of silly because we’re in New York City but my kids love it.”

Elements of the exhibit will be incorporated in homeless shelters around the city so that kids experiencing homelessness can also expand the capacity of their executive functions, said Leslie Bushara, Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Deputy Director of Education and Exhibitions. They will also be invited to special events where they can come to the main exhibit in the museum. 

The museum is visited annually by 350,000 people with some 50,000 people enjoying free or reduced admission.

“CMOM’s founding mission is to serve as a valued resource for all families and community partners. Superpowered Metropolis is the latest of the Museum’s immersive, imaginative exhibits which are deeply anchored in research and playful experiences,” Bushara said.

The museum also recently unveiled the Inside Art exhibit, which allows children to touch and immerse themselves in real art pieces while also providing artists a creative space to develop their artwork and answer questions about their process. 

The center of the exhibit is a creative community art space where children and parents can create their own artwork. 

“There are these small moments that make up the fabric of childhood,” Bushara said. “Parents and kids have these moments here and we get to have a part in that. Our goal is to help the parents get inspired and excited to parent. It’s like experiencing ordinary things with your child but then seeing how special they are and having those moments together.”

Photos by the author

Read this article on mommypoppins.com »

By Jody Mercier

Big things are happening at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. The museum we already love for so many reasons has opened two new exhibits in the past six weeks, including the just-introduced Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City, which debuted over the weekend.

The exhibit takes over the ground floor space, bringing to life a trio of super-hero inspired pigeons who are ready to lead the institution’s youngest visitors on an interactive, city-inspired journey meant to build early learning lessons and set them up for success in school and beyond.

Read on for an introduction to the new feathered friends, Zip, Zap, and Zoom and to learn more about this exhibit that’s big fun for little kids and their grownups.

Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City caters to kids ages 0-6, and its focus, backed by big-time science and research conducted at institutions like NYU, Columbia, and Harvard, introduces babies, toddlers, and preschoolers to three executive functioning skills. While CMOM’s not trying to get babies prepped for the boardroom, these crucial skills are developed early in life and help them soar as they grow.

Fun graphics dot the walls of the exhibit and are jam-packed with info about the research that bright Superpowered Metropolis to life.

Each skill—or superpower—is presented in an ultra kid-friendly way, by the exhibit’s main characters, a trio of pigeons. Zip teaches self-control and demonstrates an ability to take a “power pause” before jumping into action; Zap’s got a big-thinking brain and is a memory master who likes to sort information and follow directions; Zoom’s superpower is mental flexibility, illustrated by curiosity and expert problem-solving skills.

While the research and science behind these skills are presented in placards throughout the exhibition, what kids are most likely to see is a brightly colored space packed with comic book-style graphics and plenty of ways to romp and play.

Climb to the top of the treehouse, crawl through the slide, or curl up with a book in the cozy nest-inspired nook. There’s even a slide.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is a two-story treehouse with a slide, cave, and reading nook donated to the museum by the well-loved and now-closed City Treehouse play space in Chelsea. It’s the command center for Zip, Zap, and Zoom and an excellent hideout to spy all the fun below, especially if you take a peep through the periscope up top.

Little ones will love the instruments in the music room. There’s even a gong to strike.

Multiple play areas allow little ones plenty of ways to engage with the characters and New York City itself serves as the backdrop. You’ll see whimsical murals of familiar landmarks, and both a xylophone and train table modeled after the city’s subway map.

The Baby Central Station area is sheltered from the wild romping areas and offers plenty of safe places to crawl and climb for infants and toddlers.

Infants up to age 2 get their own soft play space in Baby Central Station, where the famous clock seemingly beckons them to work on their crawling and cruising skills as they conquer a soft-climber to reach it. The socks-only area is blocked off from the main exhibit, so little ones can safely explore. Its half-height walls make it easy for parents to supervise multiple kids in different areas of the exhibit.

The Whimsical Wind Blowing Fountain inspired plenty of smiles. 

A colorful series of pipes make up the Whimsical Wind Blowing Fountain, which encourages kids to build teamwork by shooting floating scarves into the air and then try to catch them. It was easily the biggest hit for my daughters when we explored the space. Though they’re older than the target audience, they still had plenty of fun.

Other highlights include the Pigeon Mobile, which gives kids an chance to take the wheel and maneuver through the city, as far as their imaginations take them, a trio of tablets with brain-building games developed at NYU’s CREATE Lab, and plenty of fun photo ops, including striking a power pose right next to your new Superpowered Metropolis friends.

Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City is now open at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. A visit to the exhibit is included in museum admission, which is $15 for all visitors over 1 year of age. While you’re there, be sure to check out the newly-opened Inside Art on the first floor as well as our other favorite exhibits.

Photos by the author

Read on mommypoppins.com »

By Jody Mercier

At CMOM, visitors ages 3-10 get an up-close view of larger-than-life contemporary art installations. Photo courtesy of CMOM

New Exhibits at CMOM – Upper West Side
Opening January 18 & February 14
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan debuts two new exhibitions in the next two months. The first, opening January 18, Inside Art takes over the first-floor gallery and gives visitors ages 3-10 an up-close view of larger-than-life contemporary art installations then provides the space and materials to inspire kids to create their masterpieces. Connect with the artists in residence in their on-site studios, too. In the forthcoming Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City, which opens February 14, visitors age 0-6 step inside a comic book-inspired educational city scene meant to build early childhood skills like self-control, memory, and mental flexibility through hands-on fun, including a two-story treehouse, a train table, and more. Guests under age 2 will enjoy the padded Baby Central Station, perfect for building early motor skills.

Read on achildgrows.com »

by Deirdre 

Power Pigeon Puppet Pals at Children’s Museum of Manhattan (UWS)
Monday-Sunday February 17th-23rd 10a-1p. Free with Museum admission. For all ages. Drop-in. Location: 1st Floor – Inside Art. Color and design a walking finger puppet of your favorite super powered pigeon, Zip, Zap or Zoom. Bring them along to help you make your way in the Super Power Metropolis! Take them home to continue learning above and beyond! See the website for all the midwinter recess events going on this week.

Article in print in the Arts section of the New York Times.

View as PDF»

Listen on Critical Mention »

View Instagram story on Superpowered Metropolis »

Read on mommypoppins.com »

By Drew Kristofik

Fri Feb 14, 2020 – Sun Feb 23, 2020
Various times
Age: 3-10
Price: Included with paid admission

Superpowered Metropolis: An Early Learning City is a hands-on, interactive, and colorfully, immersive exhibition where kids are the heroes! Step into a playful, comic book version of New York City where a lively team of pigeons, Zip, Zap, and Zoom, serve as your guides to fun and learning.

Gear up with Zip, Zap, and Zoom
Create, tinker and ideate your own super powered gadgets and gear!
Saturday – Sunday, February 15 – 23 | 2 – 5 pm | 1st Floor | Drop-in

Secret Pigeon Missions
The Z-Team™ and CMOM’s field agents are ready to plan city adventures.
Saturday – Sunday, February 15 – 23 | 3:30 – 4 pm | Lower Level | Drop-in

Puerto Rican Superheroine La Borinqueña!
Meet graphic novelist Edgardo Miranda-Rodriguez, creator of La Borinqueña, and learn what it takes to develop a comic book superhero.
Sunday, February 16 | 2 & 3 pm | Ages 5 & older | Sign-up*

Wonder Sparks Puppet Theater
Wonder Sparks Puppet Theater presents The Lion and the Mouse and other stories.
Monday, February 17 | 2 & 3 pm | All Ages | Drop-in

Drag Queen Story Hour—Harmonica Sunbeam
Meet celebrated queen Harmonica Sunbeam at Drag Queen Story Hour!
Wednesday, February 19 | 2 & 3 pm | All Ages | Drop-in

Superhero Colorist Jose Lopez
Meet Jose Lopez, a comic book colorist responsible for working with characters like Batman, Storm, Wolverine, and Spider-Man.
Thursday, February 20 | 2 & 3 pm | Ages 5 & older | Sign-up*

Meet the Author: John Sazaklis
John Sazaklis is a New York Times bestselling author of over 100 children’s books! He’s illustrated Spider-Man books, created toys for MAD magazine, and written for the animated series BEN 10.
Sunday, February 23 | 2 & 3 pm | ages 5 & older | Sign-up*

Spoons Across America: Farm to Book
Smell, taste, and talk about new and unfamiliar foods as you become super adventurous food explorers.
Saturday, February 22 | 2 & 3 pm | Ages 5 & older | Sign-up*

Plus:

• Climb to the top of a magical Two-story Treehouse Climber equipped with a map, telescope, periscope, and slide. Plan your adventures in this superhero headquarters!
• Navigate colorful tunnels, tracks, and waterways at the multi-level Supercharged NYC Train Table.
• Step in to create your own city sounds with one-of-a-kind instruments in the Musical Subway Car.
• Chase the floating scarves and changing seasonal items at the Whimsical Wind Blowing Fountain.
• Get a call from Zip, Zap, and Zoom in the Superhero Phone Booth, then grab your cape and head out on a Metropolis mission!
• Challenge your mind and body on a life-sized City Streets Game Board where patterns invite skipping, hopping, spinning and more.
• Enter Baby Grand Central, a specially designed area for early crawlers. A mini learning hub with climb-on trains, a starry sky, and sensory stations.
• Test your superpower brain skills with digital Brain Play Games designed by NYU’s Institute for Games and Learning
• Experience the sounds and smells of the city as you pretend to drive through the boroughs in the Pigeon Mobile.

Read on NYTimes.com »

Visitors to “Inside Art” can make their own work and collaborate with other artists. The show is just one of several activities available during school break.

By Laurel Graeber

On a recent visit to an exhibition, I broke what is usually a museum’s most immutable rule. I touched the art.

No shocked guards stopped me or shooed away the many smaller patrons who were doing the same. Granted, this was the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. But unlike many displays for the young, this one, “Inside Art,” features work by 11 adults whose résumés include the Jewish Museum, El Museo del Barrio and the Whitney.

The show lets visitors encounter art “not as a child sort of pretending to be an adult,” said Leslie Bushara, the museum’s deputy director of education and exhibitions, but “running around like a child.”

Run around they do. Joiri Minaya’s “Spandex Installation #6 (Labyrinth)” invites the curious into a vibrantly printed fabric maze. “Up & Around,” a cluster of large cylinders suspended vertically by the duo Yeju & Chat, beckons museumgoers to stand inside each tube and experience bursts of color and pattern. Adrienne Elise Tarver’s “Fera Septa” is a beguiling mesh canopy resembling tropical leaves.

The new exhibition expands on a museum tradition begun in 2002, when “Art Inside Out” featured the work of the artists Elizabeth Murray, Fred Wilson and William Wegman. Children played with models of that art but not the art itself. In 2018, “Art, Artists & You” allowed them to work with resident artists, but not to handle the pieces in the show.

“We knew this next exhibit needed to be something kids could physically engage with and aesthetically engage with,” said David Rios, the museum’s director of public programs and curator of “Inside Art.”

“I wanted to make a piece about empathy with nature,” said Ms. Nagle, whose installation includes a video of the groundhog’s habitat. (You even glimpse the furry critter.)

Tamara Kostianovsky contributed a hands-on version of one of her signature tree stump sculptures of recycled fabric. Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez did a graffiti mural in which kids can search for all seven variations of his name.

Only two works are under glass: Leah Tinari’s “Limitless,” a series of portraits of extraordinary American women, from Sojourner Truth to Abby Wambach, and Roberto Visani’s “Rainbow Assembly,” a sculpture of laser-cut acrylic that could injure little hands. (The show offers a cardboard version for visitors to assemble.)

The work gets “well loved,” Ms. Bushara said, which means that its creators have to live near enough to repair damage. But the museum also chose local artists so they could lead public programs. A multicultural group, they have been charged with forming a neighborhood within the museum, not just as demographers would define it, but as Mister Rogers would have, too.

That means “not just artwork you can crawl through,” Mr. Rios said, “but you’re making art in the same space, we’re having dialogue in the same space, and eventually we’ll start to have performances.” Borinquen Gallo’s “Be(e) Sanctuary,” an artificial hive built of plastic debris, is itself a neighborhood project, made with fellow Bronx residents.

Mr. Rios wanted children to be exposed to the participating artists’ philosophies and activism. For the exhibition labels, the artists “were challenged to write about their work as if they were explaining it to a 5-year-old,” he said. The museum added questions: “When have you felt left out?” “What do you find beautiful?”

The description of Damien Davis’s “Little Penny Collector,” a huge, seemingly abstract wooden jigsaw puzzle, does not tell all. The label does note that the work was inspired by a 5-year-old boy “who would walk around his neighborhood looking for pennies.” What it does not say is that the child is George Monroe, a survivor of the brutal 1921 massacre in Tulsa, Okla., where white mobs, some with aerial bombs, murdered hundreds of black residents. Visitors encounter the work as an innocuous-looking brain teaser whose cutouts evoke coins and an airplane.

But if “Inside Art” serves its purpose, the show will start children on an evolving journey. “Maybe 10 years later,” Mr. Davis said, “they’ll see other work of mine and be tempted to dig deeper.”

Inside Art
In an open-ended run at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 West 83rd Street; 212-721-1223, cmom.org.

8 More Things to Do During School Break
Celebrate Black History: Rooted in Plants at the New York Botanical Garden (through March 1). This African journey begins in the Bronx, where visitors to the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden can investigate the continent’s plants, practice a Nigerian dyeing technique and make a botanical journal like George Washington Carver’s. 718-817-8700, nybg.org

Father-Daughter West African Dance at the Joan Weill Center for Dance (Feb. 15, 5-6:30 p.m.). What better way to follow Valentine’s Day than by dancing with Dad? Imani Faye will lead this Ailey Extension workshop, open to girls 8 and older. 212-405-9000, aileyextension.com

Imagination Studio: Marble Runs and Crazy Mazes at the Staten Island Museum (Feb. 19-21, 1-3 p.m.). Children can find ingenious uses for marbles — and their minds — as they design and build intricate wooden structures in this drop-in program. 718-727-1135, statenislandmuseum.org

Junior Makers Staycation: Foraging, Fibers & Food at the Queens County Farm Museum (Feb. 19-21, noon-3 p.m.). You’ll never know you’re in New York City at this event, which introduces children to old-fashioned activities like churning butter and spinning wool. Sign up for one day or all three. 718-347-3276, queensfarm.org

Lunar New Year: Year of the Rat at the Prospect Park Zoo (February weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.). Discover one of the littlest rodents in Brooklyn: the Eurasian harvest mouse. This celebration also includes a scavenger hunt geared to Chinese zodiac animals. 718-399-7339, prospectparkzoo.com

“Superpowered Metropolis Early Learning City” at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (opens Feb. 14; the run is open-ended). Another new show, this is all about power to preschoolers, with learning exhibits that unfold in a comic-book-style environment. 212-721-1223, cmom.org

“A Tango-Dancing Cinderella/Cenicienta Tanguera” at Teatro SEA (Feb. 15 and 22 and March 1 and 7, 3 p.m.). Don’t expect any waltzing at that all-important ball. This bilingual production turns Cinderella into a spirited Latina. 212-529-1545, teatrosea.org

“Yeti, Set, Snow!” at the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater (through Feb. 23). The Abominable Snowman isn’t so abominable — in fact, he’s pretty sweet — in this salute to winter from the company’s marionettes. 212-639-1697, cityparksfoundation.org

Correction: Feb. 13, 2020
An earlier version of a picture caption with this article misstated the name of one of the artists. It is Yeju Choi, not Yeju Soi.

A version of this article appears in print on Feb. 14, 2020, Section C, Page 17 of the New York edition with the headline: Grown-Up Art, but It’s Still Playtime.

Read on mommynearest.com »

10. See one of our favorite new winter exhibits. Kids will love Under the Canopy at the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, Superpowered Metropolis at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Survival: The Exhibition at the New York Hall of Science. 

Read on Timeout.com »

Ahead of its move in 2023, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan will premiere a Gotham-inspired interactive exhibit this Valentine’s Day. “Superpowered Metropolis” introduces patrons to Zip, Zap and Zoom, our urban pigeon mascots who are here to help little ones with brain-boosting activities. As children wander through a scaled-down version of the city, they’ll tackle missions that ask them to solve problems, think before they act and examine things from fresh points of view. Ages 6 and under. 

Read on redtri.com »

by rtmimioconnor

Inside Art at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

This new exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan invites kids to explore larger-than-life art installations and giant sculptures by  11 contemporary visual artists. A sculpture allows children to move like a groundhog as they dwell in one of two burrows built to human scale; a spandex wall of tropical patterns invites kids to stretch, pull and punch their way through, and cylindrical sculpture encourages pint-sized visitors to crawl under and peek through a panorama of three-dimensional leaves. That’s just the tip of the art iceberg! The show includes pieces by Adrienne Elise Tarver, Borinquen Gallo, Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez, Damien Davis, Joiri Minaya, Julie Ann Nagle, Leah Tinari, Roberto Visani, Tamara Kostianovsky,  and Yeju & Chat, and features hands-on workshops and pop-up performances of dance, theater and music.

WNLV covers groundhog day in Inside Art, featuring the artwork “Slumber Underground: Interspecies Burrow” by Julie Anne Nagle and interviewing exhibit curator David Rios.

View on critical mention »

Read on mommypoppins.com »

by Jody Mercier

Superpowered Metropolis – Upper West Side

Opens Friday, February 14
After debuting the larger-than-life Inside Art in January, CMOM opens another new exhibition this month. Dedicated to visitors ages 0-6, Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City takes children inside a comic book-inspired educational city scene meant to build early childhood skills like self-control, memory, and mental flexibility through hands-on fun. A two-story treehouse (from the beloved, now closed, downtown tot spot City Treehouse) gets a makeover and finds a new home in the exhibit. There’s also a train table and more age-appropriate fun. Guests under age 2 enjoy the padded Baby Central Station, perfect for building early motor skills

Watch video on wfuv.org »

by Alexandra Parker

A new exhibit lifts the veil on contemporary art for kids and their parents. For WFUV’s Getting to The Art of It, Alex Parker reports…

Read on mommynearest.com »

2. Inside Art at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

When: Opens January 18, 2020

What to expect: The newest exhibit to open at CMOM lets guests become completely immersed in—and even make their own—contemporary art. Featuring the work of 10 critically-acclaimed artists, the exhibit is all about exploration and play, inviting kids and adults alike to walk around, crawl through, peek into and even help build new large scale installations, participating in everything from solving massive puzzles to burrowing through kid-sized groundhog dwellings. Best for children ages three to 10, this 3,000-square-foot exhibit will get brains working and pent-up energy burning.

Cost: $15, under 1 free

6. Superpowered Metropolis at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

When: Opens February 14, 2020

What to expect: It’s a big winter at CMOM: they’re also introducing Superpowered Metropolis for its youngest guests. Designed for kids ages newborn to six and their caregivers, the 1,500-square-foot exhibit—which opens on Valentine’s Day!—lets little ones become superheroes in a colorful, comic book version of New York City. All about building brain power, kids will have the chance to climb through a treehouse, make sounds in a musical subway car and even drive a “pigeon mobile” through the city, all with the help of Zip, Zap and Zoom, a team of pigeons who will guide you along your merry way.

Cost: $15, under 1 free

Article in print in Antiques & Arts Weekly

View as PDF » 

Read entire list on Timeout.com »

#2 – Children’s Museum of Manhattan –  “Looking for interactive art that welcomes curious minds—and grabby hands? Then head to “Inside Art,” the current show up at the CMOM, which lets your little ones climb in and over and all around the exhibits. It’s ideas like this that make the 40,000-square-foot so special. Learning about culture, history and science is a blast for kids ages six and under. CMOM also hosts classes and workshops—like Gross Biology for kids who love burps and germs—all designed with the latest child-development research in mind.” Read More

See event at upperwestside.macaronikid.com »

New Exhibit “Inside Art” at Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Jan 19, 2020 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM

Article in print in the New York Post

View as PDF »

Read article on ilovetheupperwestside.com »

by Sara Lewin Lebwohl

CMOM’s “Inside Art” Exhibit Open Now!

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has a wonderful new contemporary art exhibit called “Inside Art” – where kids can touch, play, and learn about a variety of topics. Walking into the bright 3,000-square-foot-space the first thing that caught my daughter Halle’s eye was a large installation that looked like a tree stump.

Upon closer inspection, the entire work was made of fabric. David Rios, CMOM’s Director of Public Programs and the exhibit’s curator, explained that the installation was made from recycled clothing. The artist, Tamara Kostianovsky, was inspired by her father, who loved gardening. When you look inside the tree trunk there is a little surprise! There is a video of a real tree, so that kids are inspired to understand the start of the recycling process.

An inviting wicker tunnel catches Halle’s eye. She looked around at the colorful tunnel and decided to crawl right in to check it out. Julie Ann Nagle created a human sized groundhog tunnel with all kinds of comfortable places to hang out inside. Rios explained that in order to make these tunnels, she used a scanner to get 3D renderings of real tunnels. She then crafted everything out of biodegradable materials.

One interesting find during Julie’s research was that there were all kinds of bacteria and other little creatures that were helping to keep the borough clean and healthy. Those are represented by the smaller pillows found throughout the installation.

Next up, Halle was enchanted by a colorful world created by Joiri Minaya.

This installation was built to represent different cultures and experiences. Also to address stereotypes associated with the Caribbean.

“A labyrinth is the idea. The goal is make your way through, but also to create your own path, represented by the soft and flexible walls,” said David.

Once Halle finally decided to come out of the maze, she took on another challenge. A massive tabletop puzzle created by Damien Davis. Emily Munro, CMOM’s Communications Specialist and Grants Associate, said that it took museum staff quite a bit of time to figure out how to set up the puzzle. While the puzzle is challenging, Halle had a great time touching all the different shapes and putting them together.

“We’ve got Dolly Parton, we’ve got Rosa Parks, we’ve got Gilda Radner!” Emily took Halle over to the portrait wall of famous American women throughout history.  Leah Tinari’s 30 portraits inspire viewers to remember the impact made by extraordinary women throughout the centuries. Halle loved them all, but was particularly taken by Dolly.

There is a lot more to see, and fun to be had. The artists are scheduled to visit the museum for explanations and programing. There are also opportunities for kids to make their own art in the studio. For more information please visit the official exhibit page here.

Read on Omaha.com»

You don’t have to travel far to explore the Muslim cultures of 52 countries.

A new exhibit at the Omaha Children’s Museum, called “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” opened Saturday.

The interactive exhibit, which runs through April 19, takes families on a field trip of experiences, from making tea with traditional spices to traveling through the Indian Ocean on a dhow (boat).

The touring exhibit was created by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. It’s being sponsored in Omaha by the Omaha Children’s Museum and the American Muslim Institute in Omaha.

The goal is for families to learn about Muslim communities not just in Omaha but from across the world.

Hesham Basma, a board member of the American Muslim Institute in Omaha, said the city is home to about 7,000 Muslims, and the exhibit is a way of introducing Muslim cultures and an understanding of the religion itself to people across the state.

Angela Reza teaches children about spices and tea at the “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far” exhibit on Saturday at the Omaha Children’s Museum in Omaha.

“We would like this message revealed through something like this,” Basma said.

Basma, who attended the opening day with his family, said several of the objects showcased are from local Muslim families who wanted to share more about their culture.

Lindy Hayer, executive director of the Children’s Museum, said the museum team is excited for the opening for the exhibit.

The Children’s Museum hosted an exhibit on the culture of China in 2018. Hayer said the community enjoyed that exhibit and asked for other similar exhibits, so she decided to bring in the new exhibit as a way for people to learn about Muslim communities.

“This is a unique way to introduce not just ‘a’ culture like China, but Muslim cultures, which are found all over the world,” Hayer said.

Hayer said she also wanted to bring the exhibit to Omaha because of the Omaha-based Tri-Faith Initiative, which is unique in the world.

The Tri-Faith Commons, near 132nd and Pacific Streets, consists of a church, mosque and temple.

“This is not happening in other parts of the world, where you have a Christian church, a Jewish synagogue and a Muslim mosque all co-located and collaboratively looking at things,” Hayer said. “Omaha set the standard for the collaboration, and we’re just excited to bring families in and start to have that conversation.”

Cory McGraw, a Bellevue resident, said the exhibit was neat because his two children were able to learn about and understand Muslim cultures. McGraw said he spent 11 years in the military living in Muslim countries, so the exhibit gave him the chance to talk to his children about his experiences.

“Now they can relate to some of the pictures that I have of the places I have been to,” McGraw said.

Nicole and Brett Hoogeveen from Omaha were also at the museum for the exhibit’s opening day. With their three children, the Hoogeveens scrolled through 3D images of mosques from around the world.

“They’ve really liked it, just seeing some of the different structures,” Nicole said.

Rahul Sualy, an Omaha resident, said he was visiting the museum with his two kids when he heard the exhibit’s opening announced.

“I heard them say the exhibit ‘America to Zanibar’ and I thought to myself, my dad is from Zanibar, I have to check this out,” Sualy said.

Sualy said his father and mother, who is from India, both immigrated to the U.S. and live in Omaha. Sualy said many people do not know about Zanibar, so it’s nice to see the island off the coast of east-central Africa get exposure.

He said he showed his two children Zanibar’s location on a map, and they found it interesting that their grandfather lived in a place with so many fishing boats.

“I was just proud that my kids got to see and understand where their grandpa is from and see that it’s a real place,” he said.

Sualy said his parents plan to attend the exhibit.

“The world is a big place and sometimes we forget that. Then we go to events like this and we realize how big it is,” Sualy said.

Read entire article with video on pix11.com »

Stacy-Ann Gooden | January 17, 2020

‘Inside Art’ at the Children’s Museum

MANHATTAN — There’s a new art installation called “Inside Art” at the Children’s Museum.

It combines creativity and science, while teaching kids about protecting our environment.

Pint size museum goers kids can explore, touch crawl, peak, and find fun surprises with each display. It’s all part of the museum’s effort to introduce kids to contemporary art while teaching them about our environment and the choices we make.

Tamara Kostianovsky is one eleven artists involved in the display.

“I was drawn to one tree that had a particular smell, that caught my attention as I was touring the sight. I found out it was called a rosewood tree because of the sent it had, she says.

Kostianovsky spent three months sewing a three dimensional collage using an old tree stump layered with recycled clothing, inspired by a rosewood tree in Argentina. Visitors can also look inside for a video that showcases the lifespan of a tree.

All of the artists featured have their own interpretation on art as well as ways to give back to our planet. The installation is also a true testament to the theory that it’s never too early to teach kids about the importance of giving back to our planet.

Read entire article with video on pix11.com »

Listen on Critical Mention » 

Watch on Critical Mention »

Read on news.artnet.com »

“Inside Art” at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan tosses the “don’t touch the art rule” out the window with this interactive exhibition featuring the work of 11 contemporary artists including Borinquen Gallo, Adrienne Elise Tarver, and Carlos Jesus Martinez Dominguez. Expect colorful, hands-on installations that kids ages three to 10 can climb on, clamber under, and explore to their heart’s content.

Location: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Tisch Building, 212 West 83rd Street
Price: $15 general admission
Time: Tuesday–Friday and Sunday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.–7 p.m.

—Sarah Cascone

Read as a pdf »

For Immediate Release

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF NEW SUPERPOWERED METROPOLIS: EARLY LEARNING CITY™ EXHIBIT

Innovative Interactive Exhibit Opening February 14, 2020 Aims to Build the Brainpower of New York City, One Child at a Time

NEW YORK – January 8, 2020 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) today announced the opening of Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City™, a new hands-on, interactive exhibit that invites visitors to step into a comic-book-inspired New York City where a dynamic trio of pigeons, Zip™, Zap™ and Zoom™, serve as guides to superpowered fun and learning. The highly immersive and playful exhibition helps to build the brainpower of NYC one child at a time and opens February 14 at CMOM (212 West 83^rd Street).

The 1,500 square-foot exhibit invites children from birth to 6 and their grown-ups to feel like heroes, building their superpowered early learning brain skills together. These skills, known as executive functions, include self-control, working memory, and mental flexibility. Children practice these learning “superpowers” with Zip, Zap, and Zoom, who guide families on a series of NYC adventures exploring the subways, parks, music, travel, treehouses, and more.

Visitors to Superpowered Metropolis can, among other things:

• Climb to the top of a magical two-story Treehouse Headquarters equipped with a map, telescope, periscope, and slide to plan your adventures
• Navigate colorful tunnels, tracks, and waterways at a multi-level Supercharged NYC Train Table
• Create original city sounds with one-of-a-kind instruments in the Musical Subway Car
• Chase the floating scarves at the Whimsical Wind Blowing Fountain
• Get a call from Zip, Zap, and Zoom at the Superpowered Phone Booth and head out on a Metropolis mission
• Enter Baby Central Station, a mini learning hub inspired by Grand Central Station and specially designed for birth to 2 year-olds with climb-on trains, a starry sky, and sensory stations
• Play three digital Brain Building Games designed by NYU’s CREATE Lab
• Explore the sounds and smells of NYC while driving in the Pigeon Mobile

The exhibit is designed to help children develop, enhance, and practice their executive function skills, which are critical for the early development of both cognitive and social capacities. Executive functions are essential for social-emotional well-being and academic success. Every child is born with the ability to strengthen these skills, and it is the daily interactions with adults that help the skills develop. The exhibit shares tips, games, and activities for the adults and children to play together at the Museum, at home, and around the city.

Stepping into the comic-book-inspired NYC world, families meet the team of Superpowered Pigeons™ that embody the learning superpowers:

• ZIP, Self-Control Champion – A calm coach who encourages ‘power pauses’ before acting, thinking things through, resisting distractions, following directions, and taking turns.
• ZAP, Working Memory Master – A witty thinker who juggles information in mind, and is always at the ready, remembering instructions, and skillfully organizing and sorting information.
• ZOOM, Mental Flexibility Guru – A curious inventor who sees things from multiple perspectives, switches gears easily and solves problems creatively.

“CMOM’s founding mission is to serve as a valued resource for all families and community partners. Superpowered Metropolis is the latest of the Museum’s immersive, imaginative exhibits which are deeply anchored in research and playful experiences,” said Leslie Bushara, Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Deputy Director of Education and Exhibitions. “Additionally, we are thrilled to extend the learning beyond the Museum walls through free science-backed resources through our partnership with Vroom.”

Added Lizzy Martin, Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Director of Exhibitions and the exhibit’s curator, “We designed Superpowered Metropolis with a diverse team of local and national brain scientists, early learning specialists, and creative illustrators and designers. We hope it will serve as a brain-training ground for families to learn strategies and activities for superpowering New York City’s youngest brains every day.”

A full range of complementary programs and workshops will launch both at CMOM and with Pre-K – 1^st-grade classes in all five boroughs and in libraries, shelters, and other community organizations citywide.

Support for Superpowered Metropolis: Early Learning City is provided by the Bezos Family Foundation and its early learning program, Vroom, which provides science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn everyday moments into Brain Building Moments®.

For more information about the exhibit and the Museum, visit www.cmom.org.

From:                Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Press Contacts:  Adam Miller [email protected], 212-843-8032

                          Shannon Spence [email protected], 212-843-9342

                          Emily Munro [email protected], 212-721-1223

By Kelly-Jane Cotter, Asbury Park Press

City sidewalks, busy sidewalks, dressed in holiday style…

New York shines during the holiday season. The city’s energy reaches new heights from Thanksgiving to New Year’s Eve.

But unless you’re a tourist on vacation, you can’t spend days sightseeing during the busy holiday season. So what to do with the free time you carved out of your schedule? And what best to show the kids?

Where to begin …

Children’s Museum Of Manhattan

The museum offers multi-cultural programming and exhibits throughout the season. You can trim a Christmas tree, make a felt gingerbread doll or a peppermint bath pod. Collaborate on a pinata for Las Posadas, a Latin American Christmas tradition that commemorates the journey of Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem. Design a dreidel for Hanukkah; create a Kuumba drum for Kwanzaa.

And everyone can get together for early New Year’s celebrations from Dec. 28 through 31, including a ball drop and dance party on New Year’s Eve.

Go: Children’s Museum Of Manhattan, Tisch Building, 212 W. 83rd St. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays, plus Sundays, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays. Cost: $15 for all ages, except $12 for seniors and free for babies under one year. Info: cmom.org.

read on 3decades3kids.net »

Netflix’s Green Eggs & Ham Hambulance Tour Coming to NYC!

Maybe it’s from being a teacher, maybe it’s from being a Mom, but somewhere along the way I became a huge Dr. Suess fan! So, I am completely excited to share that BIG NEWS! If you love Dr. Suess you are going to want to listen up! There is a Tour that features Green Eggs and Ham and it’s coming to New York City!!

Could you, would you? Try something new! The Hambulance Seussian food truck is coming to town next weekend and we are inviting local families to get their fix of green egg and ham sandwiches. The vehicle will be visiting NYC on 11/22 at Union Square Park and 11/23 at Children’s Museum of Manhattan to encourage families to try something new with fun GE&H recipes.

Read entire article on newyorkfamily.com »

Nothing hurts more than an unexpected rainy day when you were expecting sunshine. However, just because it’s raining doesn’t mean you and your toddler have to stay cooped up! New York is full of great activities that you and your toddlers can enjoy — even when the weather outside is a mess. There are so many options for rainy day activities for toddlers in New York City, from indoor playgrounds and play spaces, to museums and so much more!

Rainy Day Activities for Toddlers in New York City!

Children’s Museum of Manhattan
212 W 83rd St., New York, NY 10024

With the goal of promoting happy and healthy childhoods, this museum features experiences that involve the arts, sciences, and humanities. They have more than 80 classes, workshops, and performances that are free with admission to the Museum. All the events are based on research — guaranteed to fit in with the various ways that kids can learn and parents can support their children. Kids can attend puppet shows, storytimes, singalongs and so much more. Your toddler is sure to have a great time!

Read entire article on aam-us.org »

According to his nominator, David Rios, Director of Public Programs and Curator of Contemporary Art at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), “excels in building experiences and shaping content in ways that create engagement and dialogue between parent and child.” Through the programs he creates and the exhibitions he curates, David has created an environment that is welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to children and their families. Learn more about David’s unconventional path to museum education and how that has shaped his values and commitment to creating equity for diverse audiences.

—Veronica Alvarez, EdCom Leadership Awards Chair

Dear Museum Hiring Committee,

When considering a new hire, what do you look for? What takes priority? How does this inform your job descriptions? How does it inform how you review a resume? And, ultimately, how does it inform your hiring decisions?

How do you define expertise? For instance, for an entry-level position, how would you weigh Applicant A, who completed a graduate program straight through with an impressive GPA, against Applicant B, who, while completing their bachelor’s degree, earned an average GPA, but held jobs and internships garnering valuable and transferable experience? Your response might be, “well, it depends.” And that may be true, but dear hiring committee, I write to you today to advocate, just for a moment, that we consider Applicant B.

As I look across the museum landscape and see a predominantly white cohort of individuals and board members running our cultural institutions, I believe it comes down to this very distinction: Applicant A versus Applicant B. Of course there are other factors. But for brevity, and to meet the goal of learning about the 2019 American Alliance of Museums’ (AAM) Education Professional Network (EdCom) Award for Excellence in Practice winner, let’s focus on the story of Applicant B.

EdCom states that nominees of the Award for Excellence in Practice are “knowledgeable, demonstrate creativity, and succeed in stretching the boundaries defining the parameters of good practice.” But if I in fact do meet these standards as the 2019 awardee, it is not because of an academic program, or the act of thesis writing, or because I took a straight path to where I am now. In fact, through this article I hope not just to shed light on my supposedly uncommon career path, but to inspire a realization that there is not, nor should there be, one common path to a career in museums and museum education.

When I am asked to talk about my museum career path, I never know where to start. After presenting on conference panels or giving talks, I’m often approached by aspiring museum professionals asking for advice. How did I get here, and through what graduate program? Should they even go to graduate school? When this happens, I always feel like I’ve been caught in some farce, that “the jig is up.”

I didn’t study museum education. I didn’t attend a museum studies program. I didn’t get a master’s degree. I stand uneasy in front of these eager individuals. Sweat building, I often say, “I’m not the right person to answer that question.” But after I see the disappointment in their eyes, I leave them with, “stay open to possibility and opportunity.” Generic, I know, but it’s this very sentiment that informed some of my biggest decisions.

I never intended to be in museum work. It wasn’t something I dreamed of doing, or even knew was a possibility for me. In fact, if you were to predict where I’d end up when I was younger—a mixed-race, asthmatic, first-generation Puerto Rican kid from New York wrestling with reading and writing, and struggling with obesity and a growing awareness of his homosexuality—you’d be hard-pressed to imagine me in a leadership role at a museum.

But fast forward a few years, and with the help of those very limitations and struggles, I would develop a unique perspective. I’d acquire new skills and talents and meet people who would shape my path. Ultimately, I would go on to lead multiple careers in the arts: today I am a visual artist with an active studio practice and upcoming 2020 exhibitions, a museum professional overseeing the second iteration of a major exhibition, and an independent curator developing shows for 2021-2022.

This kid with reading and writing delays would go on to write and win grants from the Doris Duke Foundation, the Institute for Museum and Library Services, the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture, and the Ford Foundation. He would work on national media projects, touring exhibitions, and experimental program spaces.

But to get to all of this, I started in a very different place.

I attended school for visual arts at The Cooper Union in New York City. Tuition was covered but there were still significant financial requirements for attending, which meant taking out loans and taking on jobs while in school. Since I was the first in my family to pursue the arts in higher education, I looked for jobs that would teach me ways to finance a career in the field, which I was determined to do. I worked part-time at Wave Hill as a gallery attendant, at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan as an educator, at The Cooper Union Saturday Program as an administrative assistant, and at The Cooper Union Outreach Program as a teacher’s assistant (TA) and recruitment associate. Both of these latter programs, which I had the privilege of attending in high school, actively serve young people of color, preparing them and making them more competitive to enter the visual arts world. My experience in them, both as a student and later as an employee, inspired me to consider youth development work as a career path.

This led me to my first full-time job with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan as their Manager of Community Outreach and Internships. There I ran internships for high school, college, and graduate school students—leading professional development in program design, inquiry-based learning, and teaching through the arts. I also co-developed and facilitated professional development workshops for nurse practitioners, librarians, and teachers. Through all this, the most vital work was with youth, particularly in supporting and mentoring young people of color in the arts, museums, education, or wherever their lives led them. My own professional development was supported by the Career Internship Network (CIN) and a fellowship in the Youth Development Leadership Program of the Youth Development Institute, part of the Fund for the City of New York. This led me to explore more youth-development-focused positions in the field, and to ultimately leave the Children’s Museum to explore more art and design-specific institutions with a youth focus.

I was offered a position at the Smithsonian Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum as their Manager of Youth Programs. In this role, I developed design-based experiences and professional development opportunities for New York City teens, which included taking them to visit design studios and introducing them to professionals in fashion, digital media, and architecture. I’d then invite these same designers to lead workshops at the museum and place our participants as high school interns at their studios. I also oversaw the museum’s annual Teen Design Fairs in Washington, DC, and New York City. It was at the Cooper-Hewitt where I began to stress the need to partner with designers and arts professionals who reflected the diversity of my students and audiences. I made a commitment to showcasing a wide breadth of Black, Latino, and Asian designers.

I continued these efforts when I rejoined the Children’s Museum of Manhattan in my current role, as the Director of Public Programs and Curator of Contemporary Art. My team and I develop programming that provides children with a sense of the possible—a chance to see themselves in our guest artists, presenters, and performers, as well as in the content of our workshops and programs. Like in my work at the Cooper-Hewitt, I make a concerted effort to feature artists, designers, chefs, and all kinds of creatives who reflect our audiences’ demographics, and who run the gamut from emerging to established. In the programs I develop it is critical to me to feature content, art forms, and narratives that represent and explore underrepresented voices. Ultimately, my goal is to make room for different stories—ones that differ from the typical narratives we hear. These different stories must rise to the surface if we are going to see our communities reflected in museums and cultural institutions.

But as I began my letter to you, dear hiring committee, this isn’t just about holding a platform for showcasing diversity. Institutions must be driven and guided by diverse voices in administration and leadership as well. Fortunately, many museums are making an effort to address the impact of structural racism, but it is more entrenched than people realize. I’m reminded of Lonnie G. Bunch III, the newly appointed 14th Secretary of the Smithsonian, and his article “Flies in the Buttermilk: Museums, Diversity, and the Will to Change” where he recounts being mistaken for an elevator operator by a white visitor who upon realizing her error exclaimed “I just assumed….” Black, Latino, and other people of color in this field still face unconscious bias, tokenism, and blatant racism. So, in addition to reevaluating recruitment and hiring practices as Bunch lays out for us, our future museum professionals of color need the support of their mentors, peers, colleges, and universities to best prepare them to overcome these external barriers, as well as internal ones.

If it weren’t for the people I met along the way, who not only challenged me but put their trust in me, I might not have the career I have today. These individuals made educated decisions, perhaps took risks, and quantified the value of what I brought to the table. Whether I was applying for a job, a promotion, or a professional program, they weren’t distracted by my lack of a master’s degrees, or by my GPAs and (sometimes unrelated) areas of study. They were only ever concerned with my experience, my drive, and my ability to keep learning.

In her TED talk, “Why the best hire might not have the perfect resume,” human resources expert Regina Hartley shares that “getting into and graduating from an elite university takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice. But if your whole life has been engineered toward success, how will you handle the tough times?” Working toward a degree takes hard work and commitment, which should not be overlooked or underrated. However, I ask you to consider those who put in the same hard work into their education but with added purpose, possibly while balancing multiple part-time jobs, helping run a family business, or raising a child.

If the professionals, institutions, and programs who offered me opportunities had relied on limited and cliched parameters, like my education, they would have missed out. So dear museum hiring committee, your colleagues, and your boards: if you want innovation, evolution, and a sustainable future for your institutions, don’t miss out. Take the time to learn Applicant B’s story.

At this year’s AAM conference where I received EdCom’s Award for Excellence in Practice, I was elated to hear about the launch of Facing Change, AAM’s national museum board diversity and inclusion initiative. However, I was disappointed to hear these efforts introduced alongside statements like “we need to be patient and take our time.” On a practical level, I understand the need for a steady, deliberate approach to transforming museum cultures, but it’s 2019. These issues have been with us for years. Bunch asks, “What is it that makes progress in this area so incremental and so glacial?” Further, he shares his anxiety on the continued challenges, assumptions, and resistance around this issue, “[I’m] worried because after more than 20 years in this field, I am still hearing some of the same debates and conversations.”

And while we are seeing some improvements, as noted in recent reports from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and Americans for the Arts, there is still a long way to go. As Madeleine Grynsztejn, director of the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago and the current president of the Association of Art Museum Directors, noted in an interview in Artsy, “There’s a lot of work still to be done . . . there’s been very little change with regards to race and ethnicity in the highest museum leadership positions in the most fiscally large museums.”

Museum hiring practices can and must be adjusted today. I urge you, dear museum hiring committee, to take the time to get to know the whole story. The Applicant Bs of the world provide a different, more nuanced story. Seek them out, and abstain from the stories you always accept, the stories we keep hearing, and that are constant influences on our museums and cultural institutions. Seize the opportunity to present perspectives, cultures, and narratives we haven’t heard. It’s 2019. We are all tired of the same old story.

Read on digets.bps.org.uk »

By Emma Young

While some of us crumble in the face of adversity, and struggle to recover, others quickly bounce back from even serious trauma. Psychological resilience is undeniably important in all kinds of areas of life, so understanding what underpins it, and how to train it – particularly in children — is of intense interest to psychologists.

1. Watch your language

According to Carol Dweck of growth mindset fame, to drive success in our children we should “praise the effort that led to the outcome or learning progress; tie the praise to it,” as opposed to praising effort more broadly, or achievement alone. Research led by Victoria Sisk and published in Psychological Science last year did challenge the idea that encouraging children to have a growth mindset (to believe that effort affects attributes like intelligence) increases academic achievement. However, there are certainly studies finding that focusing on a child’s actions, rather than who they “are”, helps them to withstand setbacks. As Emily Foster-Hanson and her fellow researchers at New York University note in a study also published last year, in Child Development: “Setbacks and difficulties are common features of children’s experience throughout development and into adulthood,” so it’s important to examine the effects of category labelling — like “being smart” or “being a helper”.

The team’s study of four- and five-year-old visitors to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan found that setbacks were more detrimental to a child labelled “a helper” than a child asked “to help”. Children asked “to help” with tasks in which they were set up to fail (by being asked to put away a toy truck that fell apart as soon as they picked it up, for example) were more likely to go on to volunteer to help with other demanding situations. In contrast, the “helper” kids tended to avoid these and opt instead for low-effort tasks with a high chance of success, like putting away some crayons. Perhaps these kids were taking advantage of a quick, virtually-guaranteed way to restore a little of their dented “helper” image — one they weren’t about to risk even further by going for a challenging task. So, if you do want your kids to weather inevitable setbacks, resist asking them to “be” anything, like “my helper”.

2. Engage in “strength-based parenting”

“Strength-based parenting” entails deliberately identifying and cultivating positive states, processes and qualities in a child, explains Lea Waters at the University of Melbourne, Australia. “This style of parenting adds a ‘positive filter’ to the way a child reacts to stress. It also limits the likelihood of children using avoidance or aggressive coping responses,” she says.

In 2015, Waters and her colleagues published a preliminary study in the journal Psychology that explored strength-based coping in a group of Australian primary school-age children. The team presented the kids with a few theoretical stressful scenarios — falling out with a friend over turns on a swing, and being the only one in class who hadn’t done a homework project that was due in the next day — and asked them to describe how they would respond. The children who came up with “positive” responses (like taking deep breaths to help them to cope with the homework challenge, and reminding themselves of happy times with the friend, or “using their kindness” and deciding to let the other child have more turns on the swing), and who indicated that their parents were aware of their strengths, and encouraged them to use them, also experienced less stress themselves.

In 2017, Waters and her team reported that training in strength-based parenting could help parents, too. Parents who were taught how to identify and cultivate strengths in themselves and their children went on to feel more positively about their children and reported greater confidence in their ability to raise them successfully. Then in 2019, the team reported a link between strength-based coping and enhanced academic perseverance in adolescents. This work suggests that a “strength-based” approach may help with resilience to setbacks at school.

To try a strength-based approach with a child, the team recommends consciously identifying and fostering their abilities, talents and skills, and encouraging them to use them when faced with difficulties.

3. Don’t shield them from stress

Dennis Charney, a biological psychiatrist at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mt Sinai, New York, has studied all kinds of people who’ve been through traumatic experiences — from being a prisoner of war to suffering assault, or natural disaster — and identified factors that explain why some people bounce back, while others don’t. (His 2012 book, Resilience, jointly-authored with Steven Southwick at Yale University, explains the findings in full. There’s also a podcast based on the book.)

Being the kind of person who embraces tough challenges, rather than trying to avoid them, emerged as a key factor. To develop this, Charney recommends giving kids challenges that they can just about manage, and once they have achieved them, raising the bar a little each time. With his own five kids, he’d take them on long hikes, for instance, and get them just a little lost. During one of these trips, he recalls, one of his daughters told him that “out of her soul, she despised me”. (Now an adult, she willingly goes off hiking herself). Exposing kids to controlled stressful experiences allows them to develop a “psychological toolkit” of coping methods to draw upon in adulthood too, Charney maintains.

4. Teach self-regulation skills

Explicitly teaching kids ways to regulate their responses to adversity builds resilience, helping them to do well in school and in life. This is the message from a 2017 study, published in Frontiers in Psychology, of 365 Spanish children and young adults, aged 15-21, all of whom struggled academically.

In research conducted for her 2014 PhD thesis, Raquel Artuch-Garde at the International University of La Rioja found that self-regulation and resilience are key factors that can determine academic success or failure. For the more recent study, she and her colleagues gave the participants a resilience scale (which asked about their perceptions of support and their ability to tolerate negative situations) and a self-regulation questionnaire (which explored their ability to make and stick to goals and to persevere at a task). They found a clear relationship between scores on both. Participants who were better able to learn from mistakes — which was considered to be a crucial aspect of self-regulation — had a greater tolerance for negative situations; in other words, they demonstrated greater resilience.

Self-regulation involves analysing and setting specific task-related goals, monitoring and evaluating your performance, managing your emotions throughout, and learning from whatever went wrong. The recent study suggests that teaching children these kinds of skills could help with resilience, too. “The research shows the relationship between two essential non-cognitive skills: resilience and self-regulation, that are equally or even more important than cognitive aspects in the educational process of students at risk of social exclusion,” Artuch-Garde says.

5. Focus on “quantity time” and group activities

In 1998, Iceland launched a national initiative with the aim of slashing alcohol and drug use among teens. But the way the programme was set up meant that it did not only this, but much more.

Through funded sport, art and music classes, teenagers were given alternative ways to feel good. Among new measures targeted at adults, parents were encouraged to spend more time with their kids (not just limited “quality time”) and to talk more to their children about their lives.

National questionnaires showed a huge adoption of both these strategies between 1997 and 2012 — and during the same period, Iceland went from having some of the worst statistics for teen alcohol and drug use in Europe to having the best. “This is the most remarkably intense and profound study of stress in the lives of teenagers that I have ever seen,” commented US-based consultant Harvey Milkman, in 2017. “I’m just so impressed by how well it is working.”

Towns and municipalities in many other countries have now adopted the model, and in 2019, Chile announced that it would roll out its own version of the Icelandic programme nationally.

The Icelandic initiative was not set up to “train resilience”, but in bringing families closer together and increasing access to sport and cultural activities, it is producing physically and psychologically healthier teenagers — kids who find it easier to resist drugs, and who should be better equipped to cope with challenges in their lives.

It couldn’t have happened, however, without the full backing of the government, local mayors, other public officials and schools. In other communities that are adopting the model, and that are seeing the benefits, local mayors and policy-makers have either instigated or come on board to drive similar programmes within their community. An individualistic focus on improving self-regulation, for example, in your own kids is one thing. But when everyone gets together to support all the teens within a community, or a country, the results can be remarkable.

Emma Young (@EmmaELYoung) is a staff writer at BPS Research Digest

The Psychologist has a collection of archive resources on resilence, including a new British Psychological Society briefing paper on the topic.

Read on nydailynews.com »

By CHIRLANE MCCRAY and CECILE NOEL
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS | OCT 22, 2019 | 5:00 AM

When one woman’s abusive partner forced her to transport his guns she was arrested and charged with weapons possession. Another woman’s partner sent an attacker after her; when the attacker fell off a terrace in the ensuing fight, the woman was charged with murder. A college student’s abusive partner threatened to kill her and her children unless she accompanied him to an apartment, where he killed a man. The student was forced to clean up the mess — then she was charged with murder.

These real New York stories reflect the phenomenon of “criminalized survivors”: people, overwhelmingly women, thrust into the criminal justice system because they retaliated against abusive partners or committed crimes as a result of abuse. They face arrest, prosecution and punishment.

The school-to-prison pipeline has received much attention, but there is also a gender-based violence-to-prison pipeline that is exploding. Most incarcerated women have survived some form of sexual violence, and women’s incarceration is climbing: A national study from the Sentencing Project shows an uptick of more than 750% between 1980 and 2017, even as New York has achieved the lowest big-city rate of incarceration for men and women. A national study by the Vera Institute of Justice found that 86% of women who have ever been jailed also report surviving sexual assault and 77% percent have experienced partner violence.

This Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we want to raise awareness of criminalized survivors. We count ourselves among their advocates, but this vulnerable population is without an internationally known hashtag like #MeToo or celebrity cases. Many survivors come from historically oppressed communities — including those that are black, brown, low-income, immigrant or transgender. They need resources beyond the criminal justice system — housing, vocational services, mental health and substance misuse support. Their stories need to be heard.

A crucial first step is making certain that women are not incarcerated in the first place. New York City has reduced the total number of women sent to Rikers Island by 54% from 2013 to 2018.

And with city funding, Rising Ground’s STEPS to End Family Violence program is partnering with criminalized survivors themselves to design training material and offer training sessions to anyone working with criminalized survivors, including advocates, lawyers and NYC Department of Correction staff.

STEPS aims to highlight the real life experiences and challenges of survivors so that their behaviors and choices are better understood beyond any isolated crime, like stealing or sex work. Another training goal is to raise awareness of how bias impacts who is seen as a “good” victim. The organization will also hire a full-time advocate for criminalized survivors at the NYC Family Justice Centers, which are run by the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-Based Violence to provide legal help and supportive services.

We are working to reduce future incarceration of domestic-violence survivors by identifying survivors who are in jail and providing them behavioral health care and referrals to supportive programs and transitional housing. Most incarcerated women are mothers, so our CMOM initiative, a project of the Department of Correction and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), unites incarcerated women and their children at the museum for visits and recreation. It has won national acclaim since the first lady introduced it in 2018.

CMOM resonates because family disruption and domestic violence are tragically common. The CDC estimates that on average, 20 people per minute are physically abused by an intimate partner. Last year, New York City police responded to 250,447 domestic incident reports and the city’s domestic violence hotline received over 81,000 calls. Fifty-five New Yorkers ended up dead because of intimate partner or family homicides.

We ask that all New Yorkers, this Domestic Violence Awareness Month and beyond, not judge survivors, particularly not on any connection to or involvement in the criminal justice system. They are part of our community. We are calling for more from all of us: more policy discussions, more reforms and much more compassion.

McCray is first lady of New York City. Noel is commissioner of the Mayor’s Office to End Domestic and Gender-based Violence.

Read on nydailynews.com »

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DES PLAINES, Ill. (WLS) — A new exhibit showing Muslim cultures around the world opened Friday night in Des Plaines at the Sabeel Center.

The exhibit is called “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far.” It was developed by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and is touring the United States.

The exhibit shows Muslim culture through art, architecture, music and design.

The consulate general of Pakistan was in attendance at the opening event. The exhibit runs through December 22.

Gift Builds on Support from Robin Hood’s Fund for Early Learning and the Museum’s Successful Longstanding Collaboration with the Department of Homeless Services

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New York, N.Y., October 1, 2019 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) announced today that it has received a $247,500 grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to install permanent learning hubs for young children and families in shelters across Harlem, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Under the program, Baby Brain Building Community Hubs, the Museum will install graphics and exhibit elements in the shelters, and design and implement skill-building workshops. The community hubs will serve approximately 700 children and their adult caregivers annually.

Additionally, Robin Hood’s Fund for Early Learning (FUEL) has approved a grant to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) to pioneer new ways to advance the early childhood life skills and literacy of children ages 0-3 years from low-income communities, including homeless shelters. The grant will also support important early childhood development research with Harvard University and Johns Hopkins University. CMOM is the first museum to receive a grant from the Fund for Early Learning from the Robin Hood Foundation, New York’s largest poverty-fighting organization.

During the IMLS review process it was noted that, “This is truly transformative work, leveraging institutional and city resources with audiences often marginalized and overlooked. This is a model Children’s Museums across the world should be considering. “

Kelvin Chan, Director, Fund for Early Learning (FUEL) at Robin Hood said, “This is FUEL’s first grant to a children’s museum, given because we are impressed with CMOM’s ongoing success working with hard to reach populations through the Museum’s hub program.”

Commented Jane McIntosh, Chief Advancement Officer and member of the Executive Leadership Team, “The essential support the Museum has received from Robin Hood, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and now, IMLS, is a major affirmation of the outreach work we have been doing in the homeless community for more than two decades. As CMOM looks to moving into its new home in 2023, this initiative assumes even greater importance in serving our larger community.“

CMOM’s work with New Yorkers experiencing homelessness began over 20 years ago with an innovative program that welcomed teen mothers and their children to the Museum for weekly writing, arts and parenting workshops. Over the years, thousands of mothers and children in need have benefited from this program. CMOM and DHS began their learning hub partnership in 2014, and now have a total of 32 hubs in underserved communities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan: eight in Head Start daycare centers, 23 in homeless shelters and one at NYC’s Administration for Children’s Service intake office in downtown Manhattan. Plans are underway to install four new shelter hubs in 2020 with funding from the NYC City Council Members.

CMOM’s mission is to be the stewards of early childhood and to help our youngest citizens grow and develop into their best selves.

Read entire article on nationalgeographic.com »

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Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Best for: Younger kids and animal lovers

Kids find fun things at every turn on this museum’s five floors. Exhibits are centered around dancing, water play, art and environmental experiments.

Located at 212 W. 83rd St. Open every day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. closing at 7 p.m. on Saturday. General admission is $15 and babies 1 and under are free.

Best for: Toddlers and preschoolers

New York 1 News covers the museum’s celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of the Woodstock festival.

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Episode Details

Original tape date: August 1, 2019.

First aired: August 7, 2019.

It’s Science in the Summer! Magalie Laguerre-Wilkinson explores an interactive exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan that shows families how to live a healthy lifestyle together;  Adam Miller finds a comic book designed to teach kids to make the right food choices;  Susan Jhun heads to a D.I.Y robot making class at the Brooklyn Robot Foundry; Andrew Falzon feeds a giraffe at the Long Island Game Farm; Mike Gilliam visits the fish at the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT; Ari Goldberg learns the science of skydiving from 5 feet off the ground at iFly; and Barry Mitchell makes a mess demonstrating the Earth’s layers.

Guest List

Read on newyorkfamily.com »    By Mia Salas

Art, Artists & You at Children’s Museum of Manhattan

212 West 83rd St., Upper West Side, Manhattan
Finding an Instagrammable spot around the city doesn’t have to only be about the aesthetic of the place. In Art, Artists & You, kids get to use their imagination and create their own art in the studio. There is also artwork by contemporary artists that fill the exhibit for inspiration, but this artwork also makes for great photos. The entire exhibit is very Instagram-friendly with its artistic designs, colors, and the mini-masterpieces that your little ones make! 

Get creative with your poses at the various art exhibits in Art, Artists & You! Photo by Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

The beautiful art makes for fun and aesthetically-pleasing backgrounds. Photo by Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

Explore a few of these (or all of these!) Instagrammable spots with kids in NYC this summer and fall! To accompany the Instagram spots, we’ve also got three quick tips to create the best photos. First, sunny days are Insta-days. Use the sun to your advantage and test out the photos beforehand to make sure that the sun is shining perfectly on your little ones to capture that beautiful glow. Next, dress to impress. If you’re going to go out of your way to take photos (please do!), then spend a little time pre-planning your kids’ outfits. Do you want to color coordinate with your family? Or maybe you want to dress in all white if you’re going to a super colorful exhibit? Break out the newest and cutest swimsuits for your pool days at The Floating Pool or the Technicolor Waterfront Pool. Finally, don’t be afraid to mix up the angles. I always find that taking the photo at a lower angle works well, but try tilting the camera or trying out a higher angle. Just keep taking photos over and over, and you will definitely have a lot of options to work with. Bonus tip: VSCO is Instagram’s best friend! The VSCO app is free. Play with the various effects to bring your photos to life — my personal favorite is C1. Where you take your photos is key, but don’t forget about the other factors that go into an Insta-ready photo (caption!). Most importantly, tell your story the way that you want to tell it.

View video on critical mention »

New York 1 News covers the visit of Chef Marcus Samuelsson to the Museum where he taught children and families to make an El Barrio summer taco as part of the Museum’s Simmer And Sizzle Chef series supported by the Morgan Stanley foundation.

Pix 11 covers the Museum’s programs for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

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New Tang Dynasty Television covers programs at the museum celebrating the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

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New York One’s Justine Re covers the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s programs for the 50th anniversary of the moon landing.

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From:               Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Contact:           Rubenstein Communications

Adam Miller [email protected], 212-843-8032

Shannon Spence [email protected], 212-843-9342

______________________________________________________________________

Media Advisory

CELEBRITY CHEF AND RESTAURANTEUR MARCUS SAMUELSSON TO GIVE A HEALTHY COOKING DEMONSTRATION AND TASTING AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ON JULY 19

Acclaimed chef, restauranteur, TV personality and author Marcus Samuelsson will do a healthy cooking demonstration and tasting for kids and families at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83^rd Street) on Friday, July 19 at 2 pm.

During the interactive demo, attendees will learn tips and tricks for cooking and eating healthy from the James Beard Award-winning chef and also enjoy sampling some of his favorite dishes and treats.

Due to limited space, this program requires you to sign-up for entry. Sign-up in the lobby one hour before the event. This program is free with museum admission.

The event is part of the museum’s brand new monthly Simmer and Sizzle Chef Series for kids and families. Participants discover creative ways of using affordable ingredients to make simple, healthy and delicious dishes and snacks with visiting chefs. They also get to taste a variety of foods and learn different cooking techniques as they explore the benefits of healthy eating.

Funding for this program is provided by Morgan Stanley Foundation.

For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

WHAT:     Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Simmer and Sizzle Chef Series: Marcus

                   Samuelsson 

WHEN:     Friday, July 19 at 2 pm

                   *Due to limited space, this program requires you to sign-up for entry. Sign-up

                   in the lobby one hour before the event.

WHERE:  Children’s Museum of Manhattan

                   212 West 83^rd Street

                   New York, NY  

Read as PDF »

From:               Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Contact:           Rubenstein Communications

Adam Miller [email protected], 212-843-8032

Shannon Spence [email protected], 212-843-9342

______________________________________________________________________

Media Advisory

KIDS TO MAKE A MOONSCAPE FROM MOON SAND AT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ON JULY 18

In celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, kids will create a moonscape made from moon sand at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83^rd Street) on Thursday, July 18 from 10:30 am – 12 pm. The kids will make a moonscape with inspiration from the museum’s Art, Artists & You artist-in-residence Patte Loper’s stop motion animated video.

The children will also test mini-rovers of their own design on this new terrain and learn about how the historic 1969 moon landing has impacted continued space exploration.

Kids, parents and museum officials will be available for interview.

WHAT:     Kids to make a moonscape from moon sand at Children’s Museum of

                   Manhattan

WHEN:     Thursday, July 18

                   10:30 am – 12 pm

WHERE:   CMOM

                   212 West 83^rd Street

                   New York, NY

Media Contact

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Adam Miller, Rubenstein Communications

212-843-8032, [email protected]

Read and see aired footage at cnn.com »

By Lauren Kent, CNN

(CNN)Children’s museums around the country are speaking out against inhumane treatment of migrant children in US detention centers.

Following a call to action from the Association of Children’s Museums, museums in Indiana, New York, Massachusetts and other states have pressed for more humane treatment of immigrant children and urgent action from politicians.

“Through forced separations and inhumane treatment in overcrowded, unsanitary facilities, the United States is denying children their basic human rights,” said the Association of Children’s Museums, which represents museums in all 50 states and 19 countries.

“What really drives children’s museums is a deep passion around making the world a better place for children,” ACM Executive Director Laura Huerta Migus told CNN.

She added that ACM got involved because of concerns from member museums and because poor treatment of young migrants is an issue that threatens the wellbeing of children and causes trauma.

The president-elect of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Dr. Sara Goza, received pictures from a social worker that were drawn by children recently released from CPB custody showing them in cages.

The association also called for a more permanent policy effort to ensure that inhumane treatment of immigrant and refugee families does not continue in the future.
The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis echoed the call for better treatment, posting on Facebook, “We stand with our colleagues in the children’s museum field in our belief that all children are valued citizens.”

Neighborhood North Museum of Play in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, and Kidzu Children’s Museum in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, shared the statement and added that they “hold inclusivity and equity as core values.”

The concerns about the treatment of migrant children follow recent reports of unsanitary conditions and overcrowding at several US Customs and Border Protection facilities in Texas. CNN reported that a team of lawyers, doctors and advocates found what they called major health and hygiene problems at detention facilities, including a lack of soap, limited access to showers and a shortage of beds.

The children’s museums’ outcries are not the first time the museum sector has gotten involved in issues surrounding migrant detention facilities. Earlier this week, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History inquired about obtaining disturbing drawings by migrant children that depict figures with sad faces behind bars.

The American history museum told CNN it hopes to preserve drawings made by three children recently released from US Customs and Border Patrol custody in McAllen, Texas, as part of an effort to document history as it unfolds.

Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan said Sunday that 350 migrant children remain in US Customs and Border Protection custody — down from 2,500 last month.

Updated 12:34 PM ET, Wed July 10, 2019

Read on childrensmuseums.org »

July 5, 2019 (ARLINGTON, VA)–The children’s museum field believes that all children are valued citizens, and our daily work reflects our commitment to this ideal. Children’s museums support the United Nation’s Declaration of the Rights of the Child, which states that children, no matter their country of origin, have the right to “develop physically, mentally, morally, spiritually, and socially in a healthy and normal manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity.”

CBS New York covers Pride Month activities at the museum.

Read on newyork.cbslocal.com »

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has announced that, after a distinguished 29-year career as executive director of the museum, Andrew Ackerman has shared his intention to step down from the position, effective June 30. Ackerman, who steered the institution to exceptional growth during his three decades of service and leadership, will transition to the role of senior advisor to the board, and will be honored at CMOM’s gala on October 29. A search committee led by CMOM’s board of directors will begin the process of finding a new executive director. In the interim, CMOM will be led by a senior leadership team comprising its chief operating officer Jacques Brunswick, chief advancement officer Jane McIntosh and deputy director of education and guest services Leslie Bushara.”
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Read article on Travelzoo.com »

by Beth McDonough

“Flag-making at Manhattan Children’s Museum”

“Stop by the museum any day from June 7 through June 30 to let the kids help paint this year’s Pride flag—the biggest yet—and fill it with brightly colored, hand-crafted objects. The idea is to give children a hands-on experience with something that’s usually high above their heads and out of reach. The meaning’s not just easier to grasp, it’s something they help make.

Beyond the flag, CMOM offers five floors of discovery and fun. While you’re here, you’ll want to explore them all. Art, Artists, & You, is an interactive exhibit that encourages families to explore and express their own identities through hands-on art, is perfect for Pride celebrants.”

NY1 News Covers the Pride Month programs at the Museum.

See on criticalmention »

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From:             Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Contact:          Adam Miller [email protected], 212-843-8032

                        Kyle Sklerov [email protected], 212-843-8486

For Immediate Release

Children’s Museum of Manhattan Announces Executive Director Andrew Ackerman to Step Down After Three Decades of Distinguished Service

Museum’s Board to Launch National Search for Next Executive Director

NEW YORK – June 3, 2019 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) today announced that, after a distinguished 29-year career as Executive Director of the museum, Andrew Ackerman has shared his intention to step down from the position, effective June 30, 2019. Ackerman, who steered the institution to exceptional growth during his three decades of service and leadership, will transition to the role of Senior Advisor to the Board, and will be honored at CMOM’s gala on Oct. 29, 2019.

A search committee led by CMOM’s Board of Directors will immediately begin the process of finding a new Executive Director. In the interim, CMOM will be led by a senior leadership team comprised of its Chief Operating Officer Jacques Brunswick, Chief Advancement Officer Jane McIntosh and Deputy Director of Education and Guest Services Leslie Bushara.

During Ackerman’s tenure, CMOM’s annual attendance grew to 350,000 people, becoming a leading family destination and a citywide resource. Yearly, some 50,000 underserved people from all five boroughs enjoy free or reduced admission and tens of thousands more throughout the city benefit from the museum’s outreach programs at schools, libraries, hospitals, and through CMOM’s permanent learning hubs at homeless shelters and Head Start centers.

Under Ackerman’s direction, the museum has garnered national and international recognition for leadership projects and cemented its position as a thought leader through partnerships with major universities, including New York University, Barnard College, Hunter College and Johns Hopkins University. CMOM also has developed and hosted numerous blockbuster interactive exhibits including the groundbreaking “Eat Sleep Play™: Building Health Every Day,” “Art Inside Out,” and “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” the latter of which is currently on tour in the U.S. Also during Ackerman’s tenure, CMOM’s partnerships with elected and appointed officials throughout New York and across the country have flourished, and the museum has deepened its relationships with local community leaders.

To realize fully its mission, double the number of visitors and meet the demand for programs for disadvantaged audiences, Ackerman guided the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s purchase of 361 Central Park West in late 2017, a space that, when complete, will serve more than 750,000 visitors a year. The project is currently in the design phase.

“Andy has been an extraordinary leader for CMOM and we thank him for his years of dedicated service to the museum,” said Board co-chair Matthew Messinger. “Thanks to his vision, the museum is well-positioned to thrive as we enter this next phase in our journey. There is an extremely qualified senior leadership team already in place and we are fortunate to have the benefit of Andy’s expertise and counsel as we move forward.”

“Andy has been an incredible asset to the museum and his impact will be felt for years to come,” said Board co-chair Shannon Bauer Aronson “We will always be profoundly grateful to Andy for his three decades of distinguished service, remarkable leadership and vision, and sense of commitment and passion for the institution and its mission to help children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Andy has positioned the museum for an exciting future. We wish him all the best during the next chapter in his life and look forward to working with him to create a fabulous museum in its new location.”

“It’s truly been an honor and privilege to serve as Executive Director of CMOM for the past 29 years, and to work alongside such a talented and dedicated staff and Board,” said Andrew Ackerman. “I’m immensely proud of all that we’ve accomplished here. My decision, made in concert with the Board of Directors, to step down as Executive Director at this time will enable the Museum to recruit leadership to complete the move to the new facility and to operate the new museum for years to come. The museum’s future is exciting and the leadership team is strong.”

Prior to leading the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Ackerman was director of the Arts in Education Program of the New York State Council on the Arts and, before then, served as director of education and assistant director of The Jewish Museum. He also has served as president of the Association of Children’s Museums, was a member of the Executive Committee of the NYC Arts Coalition and has served as a panelist for the NEH, IMLS and the Doris Duke Foundation.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

By creating experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and the humanities, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan helps children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. These experiences include exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances, and festivals. Based on research, evaluation, and testing, CMOM’s programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. The Museum’s special areas of focus – selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their lives – include early childhood education, creativity, health, and world cultures. For more information about CMOM, please visit www.cmom.org.

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Innovative Exhibit Encourages Children and their Families to Explore Self-Expression and Identity through Art-Making

New York, N.Y., June 4, 2019 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83^rd Street) today announced its next group of four new artists-in-residence for its hugely popular, critically-acclaimed “Art, Artists & You” exhibit. Part interactive art studio, part art exhibition, “Art, Artists & You” is where maker-space meets contemporary art. This exhibition experience is designed to encourage children and their families to explore self-expression and identity through the delights of art-making. Families can create stop motion animation, craft a model of a favorite pet, or collaborate on a massive wall hanging.

The Museum’s new artists-in-residence, Gabino A. Castelán, Patte Loper, Tijay Mohammed and Annesofie Sandal, will work in studios located directly in the exhibit, through the end of the year.  Castelán develops spaces through paintings, drawings, sculpture, performance and installation. Loper creates multi-media based works in painting, sculpture, video and technology. Mohammed primarily works with African wax fabric and incorporates other assorted materials and objects. Sandal works with discarded materials, site-specific installation, photography and video.

The artists, whose hours will vary, will demonstrate different practices, processes, and perspectives. They will encourage children and adults alike to express their own ideas through art-making. Each artist engages with a variety of familiar materials such as fabric, paper and found objects, as well as technology. Families will be able to experiment with these same materials and explore similar methods in spaces adjacent to the artists’ studios.

The exhibition which opened last June and is scheduled to run through December 31, 2019, includes 38 original works of art by 22 contemporary artists and features four artists-in-residence. As both an exhibition and laboratory, “Art, Artists & You” invites artists to step outside their studio practice and individual processes in order to challenge, refine and share their work in a unique and open environment. Works by artists Leo Castaneda, Delano Dunn, Amir Hariri, Amber Heaton, Robert Hernandez, James Hsieh, Sara Jimenez, Firoz Mahmud, Deborah Morris, Jasmine Murrell, Natalia Nakazawa, Ana Peñalba, Antonia A Perez, daaPo Reo, Annesofie Sandal, Nyugen Smith, Adrienne Elise Tarver, Jennifer Williams, Ezra Wube and Yeon Ji Yoo are also on display.

Funding for the exhibit is provided by the Gray Foundation, Ford Foundation, Miyoung Lee and Neil Simpkins. Funding for programming is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Funding for programming with Amir Hariri and Firoz Muhmad is provided by the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

###

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

By creating experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and the humanities, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan helps children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. These experiences include exhibitions, classes, workshops, performances, and festivals. Based on research, evaluation, and testing, CMOM’s programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. The Museum’s special areas of focus—selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their lives—include early childhood education, creativity, health, and world cultures. For more information about CMOM, please visit www.cmom.org.

Read at metro.us »

By Becca Glasser-Baker

Pride month is finally here, and this year, there are events for everyone. Here are five family-friendly events you need to check out this June.

Celebrating Pride isn’t just for grown-ups, it’s for children and families too.

This year New York City Pride is making sure all members of the LGBTQ community are celebrated, no matter what age they are. New York City Pride is hosting countless family-friendly events throughout June to celebrate the queer community. These events promise to be full of fun for all ages. From movie nights with drag queens to giant rainbow flags, celebrate all things LGBTQ with these five must-do events throughout the month of June.

Attend the annual LGBTQ family Pride night
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is hosting their annual LGBTQ Family Pride Night. This special after-hours event celebrates all types of queer families, as well as both LGBTQ adults and children. Families can explore all five floors of this wonderful museum for free. Just be sure to RSVP online!

June 6, 5:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m., free, 212 W 83rd St

Help decorate a giant Pride flag
In addition to the event listed above, The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is hosting countless events throughout June to celebrate Pride. From June 7-31, kids can help paint the pride flag and filling it with bright and colorful objects.

June 7-31, 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., $11-$14 (event included with admission), 212 W 83rd St

See all at metro.us 

Get Wet“Dynamic H20” Exhibit

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

212 West 83rd Street

Through September, weather permitting

Children and adults: $14

cmom.org

The museum’s water exhibit makes its seasonal return. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan calls this “the hot place for children to cool off.” It’s also educational, with children learning about how water cycles begin up in the clouds. Fun and discovery come together at the museum’s Sussman Environmental Center.

View on ourtownny.com »

PIC DU JOUR — Children’s Museum of Manhattan (@cmomNYC): “CMOM welcomed Secretary @HillaryClinton, a strong supporter of CMOM’s programs, along with @NYCFirstLady Chirlane McCray and officials from @CorrectionNYC to our Building Family Connections reunification program on Monday. For more about our programs visit https://cmom.org/outreach”. Pic

See this in the Politico New York Playbook archive »

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan celebrated “May the Fourth” – Star Wars Day among fans – with activities making LED lightsabers and paper Yoda ears. The event continues at the museum into Sunday. CBS2’s Jessica Moore reports.

View on news.yahoo.com »

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan celebrated “May the Fourth” – Star Wars Day among fans – with activities making LED lightsabers and paper Yoda ears. The event continues at the museum into Sunday. CBS2’s Jessica Moore reports.

View on newyork.cbslocal.com »

View entire blog entry on livelovehustle.blogspot.com »

By Iran

“The plan yesterday was to head to The New York Botanical Garden, but there was rain in the forecast. My friends and I decided to take the babies to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan instead. I have been meaning to visit this place ever since Riley has started crawling but have not taken the opportunity to.

The location of the museum is awesome. Right on the west side, walking distance from places to eat and Central Park. It is a little pricey for a one year old. $14 for each person. I feel that a one year old should not pay full price, but that is just my opinion. I guess it’s cheaper than those expensive baby gyms. I am interested in knowing yours below. ”

View entire blog entry on livelovehustle.blogspot.com »

Fox 5 coverage of CMOM’s annual Easter egg scavengr hunt.

See on critical mention »

Read on queenseagle.com»

By David Brand

An initiative that enables detained mothers to meet with their children at a Manhattan museum could expand to include fathers, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Friday during his weekly appearance on the “Brian Lehrer Show.” The Department of Correction confirmed that the agency is considering the expansion.

Since April 2018, the Crafting Family Connections program championed by First Lady Chirlane McCray has given some detained or incarcerated moms an opportunity to spend time with their kids at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Mothers who are charged with or convicted of nonviolent offenses and who have records of good behavior can enroll in Crafting Family Connections, but so far the program excludes dads who are held in city jails.

De Blasio signaled that the city is open to including fathers in the program.

On Friday, a man named Winston called into the “Brian Lehrer Show” on WNYC during the weekly “Ask the Mayor” segment to find out whether Crafting Family Connections might expand to include fathers who are detained or incarcerated. Winston identified himself as a Rikers Island detainee and said he was calling on behalf of dads he knew behind bars.

“I know First Lady McCray over at Rosie’s [Rose M. Singer Center] takes moms [into] the city to spend time with their kids. And I was just wondering if we can look forward to a program like that for the dads who are incarcerated at Rikers sometime soon?” Winston asked, his question interrupted by an automated message from the jail phone system indicating that he had one minute left on the phone call.

De Blasio said Winston made a “fair point” and a “good point.”

“What my wife, Chirlane McCray, did was to focus on the needs of mothers who were disconnected from their kids and try to create a very different approach where mothers had some time with their kids, particularly in a more conducive setting,” de Blasio said.

“And that has made a huge difference for those families to, you know, keep closer as they go through incarceration and hopefully, you know, a good pathway out of incarceration and into the family being strong again,” de Blasio continued. “Certainly dads deserve that opportunity as well … We were focused on the moms because there is a particular need there but I think it’s a great idea to take it farther and find a way to do that.”

Crafting Family Connections is designed to foster positive interactions among justice-involved families to enable healthy development for children.

“With increased opportunities for children to maintain relationships with an incarcerated parent and through better support for these parents—and other types of caregivers in the community—children and their families can be better protected and tap into their own resiliency against the effects of incarceration,” The Vera Justice Institute wrote in a report titled “The Human Toll of Jail.”

The Department of Correction said the program has proven successful for mothers and children and that the agency is “exploring” off-site programs for dads. The DOC currently runs on-site and televisory visitation programs for detained and incarcerated dads to connect with their children.

“Our off-site visitation program with incarcerated mothers at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been a great success, and we are now exploring a similar program for fathers,” the DOC said. “We are committed to keeping family and community connections strong for individuals in our custody, and quality time with loved ones increases safety and helps people rejoin their communities.”

In December 2018, McCray announced that the Crafting Family Connections pilot program had received funding to continue through 2020.

“Over the next two years, even more justice-involved families will be able to spend quality time together at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan,” McCray said in December. “Our hope is that this program, along with a host of other reforms the Department of Correction is leading, will help spur greater change — not just in New York City but across the nation.”

Read on queenseagle.com»

By Laurel Graeber

Read on nytimes.com »

EASTER AND PASSOVER ACTIVITIES at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (April 20, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; April 21-25, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.). Dragons are much in the news these days, but those appearing all over this museum from Saturday to Monday will have nothing to do with “Game of Thrones.” Rather, they will be images of Alphie, the letter-devouring baby dragon in the permanent installation “PlayWorks.”Children will search for eggs bearing Alphie’s picture as part of the annual Easter Scavenger Hunt, which will include filling in the dragon eggs’ colors on a sheet to receive a prize. For more weekend fun, young visitors can make designs on wearable bunny ears and weave baskets with paper and yarn. Every day through April 27, they can also sew embroidered matzo covers for Passover and, on Monday through Wednesday, create and decorate clay cups for the prophet Elijah. (A full schedule is on the website.) 
212-721-1223, cmom.org

By Pat King

Read all on metro.com »

“Easter Egg Hunt at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Sure, The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has some pretty great exhibits. But this Easter Sunday will be something truly special as CMOM will be hosting its annual Easter Egg Hunt! Eggs will be hidden throughout the museum’s five floors and children will have to work together to help fill in a color wheel with each colorful egg they find. What’s more fun than that?

The event will run both Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. and is free with museum admission.”

By Misha V.

Read entire article on ravishly.com »

“… In New York City, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan began a program in 2018 where incarcerated mothers can visit with their children at the museum when it is closed to the public. The program aims to mitigate some of the separation trauma and give families a healing, art based space to reconnect.

These types of programs can have a profound impact on families while they are separated, but many states do not have them.

“Adults can make mistakes — I told my daughter this when I was incarcerated” Ms. Payne said, “but these support programs are crucial in helping us rebuild. You see the change, you can begin to plan for your future, you feel hope for your family.””

Read entire article on ravishly.com »

Read on phillykidstravel.com»

by Kimberly Neff

“…In the Upper West Side, a few blocks off the park, The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) is in a mostly residential neighborhood packed with families. We must’ve counted 20 little ones zipping past on scooters. Admission is $14 for parents and children. (Compare to Please Touch Museum at $19.) No strollers allowed past the ticketing desk. If you’re bringing an infant, bring a carrier with you! In the summer months, there is a water play exhibit, so if you like to splash around come prepared! Compared to Please Touch, this is smaller, PTM is 157,000 SF vs. CMOM at 38,000 SF. This is New York City after all. Regardless of size, the fun factor is HUGE. You’ll encounter four floors of interactive play for little guys of all ages…”

Read entire review on  phillykidstravel.com»

View on the.ismali » 

by RAHIM CHAGANI | 22 March 2019 | UNITED STATES

A Navroz Celebration for New York City, through crafts and music activities that showcase the diversity of expression in the Ismaili community.

The Jamat of New York City, in partnership with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, invited families of different faiths to a celebration marking the festival of Navroz.

“The desire was to teach the greater New York community about Navroz and the traditions associated with it,” said Shazma Alibhai, from Manhattan, who managed the event. “It’s wonderful to see kids from all communities participating. We even saw groups from the Religious Education Center attending as part of their curriculum.”

“We are truly blessed to live in such a diverse county,” shared Anushka Kassim from the Manhattan Jamatkhana, who had invited families from other faiths. “We invited our kids, and their classmates, to enjoy the festivities to see what their friends’ holiday looks like. They had a great time.” Participants had an opportunity to learn how to cook unique dishes in a cooking class which gave parents and their children a time to bond together.

Inaara Tuan from Manhattan Jamatkhana led aspirational chefs in the cooking class. “We are going to teach you how to make a healthy, energetic, and delicious Navroz snack – one that you can make with your parents at home and share with others.” As the recipe is announced, kids start noting it down. Everyone is involved in making the snack with shredded coconut and date balls (tupak e khorma), a delicious treat at Navroz.
“I appreciate the community that has put on the event. It’s a fantastic way to learn about other traditions,” remarked a parent, walking by the henna station. People in South Asia, Central Asia, Africa, and the Middle East have been decorating their palms for over 9,000 years. Today, many use temporary tattoos during celebrations.

Navroz is celebrated in many parts of the Middle East and Central and South Asia, particularly among peoples influenced by Persian and Turkic civilizations. In countries such as Iran, Iraq, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, Navroz is observed as a public holiday.

“It’s great to learn about other cultures, isn’t it Sid?” questioned museum-goer Nicole Roberts of her daughter, who responded with a smile and a nod. “I think the tile painting was a really nice way to get kids involved in something they don’t normally do,” said Nicole, while her daughter added excitedly, “I painted a tile with my favorite colors: purple, green, and orange.” Her mother held the tile and said she would display it in their home.

Inaya Bhai from Long Island taught a session on an Indian dance (raas), a traditional folk-dance from Gujarat. Then Mukhabbat Beknazarova led the children in a Tajik Dance which showcased graceful movements of the arms and hands resembling the flight of birds. “It’s not difficult to get kids excited for Navroz. What’s difficult is to pull the kids away from one activity to another so that they can experience them all,” said Anushka Kassim.

“I enjoyed dance classes, egg painting, and cooking class,” said Suhan from New York Headquaters Jamatkhana.

“The kids are so involved that they don’t have time to speak to me,” said Noelle Velec, who works at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

“People showed great interest in the haft-sin table,” shared Iman Tuan, a 12-year-old from Manhattan who answered questions from visitors. “There was a particular lady from China who said in their culture they also put out senjed and coins as a part of their tradition,” she noted.

Sameer Walji and Iman Tuan explained that the haft-sin table is set with seven items beginning with the letter “s” – sib (apples), sonbol (hyacinth), serkeh (vinegar), senjed (oleaster or Persian olives), sabzeh (lentil or wheat sprouts), samanu (pudding), sekkeh (coins), as well as other items, such as goldfish, a mirror, and painted eggs, each having a symbolic meaning.

“I have never done an event like this before where children and parents are totally involved. I didn’t know about this holiday,” said Zoe Matti, who works at the Children’s Museum. She added: “The parents’ feedback has been great. Some of them were like, ‘Oh! I didn’t hear of this holiday. It’s a great way to learn and teach the kids.’ This is really different than what we have done in the past and people like it.”

The day was filled with activities, and “at the end, everyone walked away having learned something about another tradition and the celebration of Navroz,” said Shazma Alibhai in her parting comment.

View on the.ismali » 

See on cnn.com »

CNN reports on the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Rikers Island reunification program. Aired at 10:45 am on March 18, 2019

“CNN’s Poppy Harlow takes you inside the notorious Rikers Island prison in New York to meet the mothers locked up there — and into an innovative new program through the Children’s Museum of Manhattan that allows a select group of female inmates to spend a few precious hours outside of jail with their children. Source: CNN”

Read on cnn.com »

By Anissa Gray, CNN

Excerpt: “The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has become an unlikely place for making connections between children and female inmates at one of the largest jail complexes in the country. Once a month, select women serving time at Rikers Island shed their tan jumpsuits and shackles, put on street clothes and meet their kids on the Upper West Side of New York City for a few hours of arts activities “designed to support the development of a healthy family bond.”

Updated 8:02 AM ET, Mon March 18, 2019

Read on globaltravelerusa.com »

By Yasser Ogando 

“I must admit, as a New Yorker, I do not do a good job keeping up with all the activities that take place in the city that never sleeps. Luckily, WhereverFamily had my back this weekend!

Every month for the last year, I’ve been trying to do something super fun with my cousin (Yahel) and little brother (Abdiel) that involves playing, dancing, learning and — who am I kidding? — whatever tires them out by 7 p.m. when they stay the night. As I pondered all my options, I had a moment of clarity and headed to whereverfamily.com and found a solution in a matter of three minutes.”

Read the rest on  globaltravelerusa.com »

View on Goodhousekeeping.com »

“Even April showers can’t get in the way of some good ol’ fun. This year’s egg hunt, hosted by Playworks dragon, encourages kids to decode an Easter puzzle by collecting colorful eggs throughout the museum. If they complete the challenge, they’ll win a special prize (chocolate, maybe?). Tickets are included in the admission price.”

Read on guestofaguest.com»

Sunday Funday, the annual family benefit for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan(CMOM), is the New York City event for excitement and fun! Bouncy castles and face-painting, race cars and basketball stars, Nickelodeon characters and jugglers, arts and crafts, and music and dance filled Pier 60 at Chelsea Piers on Sunday, January 27th in support of CMOM’s citywide outreach programs at the Museum and at Head Start centers, schools, libraries, homeless shelters, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

CMOM Family Benefit Committee Co-Chair Nessia Sloane Kushner kicked off the festivities by welcoming the multi-generational audience. Children and adults enjoyed a sing-along with Nick Jr.’s Canticos, Ardea Arts’ BOUNCE the Basketball Opera, Justin the Magician’s wondrous tricks, and even a classic CMOM Dance Party hosted by DJ Supra. Attendees showed off their sporting skills with former New York Giant Justin Tuck, WNBA Swin Cash and NBA legend Ron Harper. The toddler crowd was thrilled to meet Paw Patrol’s Rubble and Chase and Nella from Nella the Princess Knight.

Click through to experience the day’s excitement.

[Photos by Josh Wong]

By Kristin E. Holmes

Read on philly.com »

The serene room with violet walls and views of Fairmount Park is a milestone in the 43-year history of the Please Touch Museum.

For the next seven months, the space will be part of an exhibit about Muslim culture around the world, from its architecture, music and art to clothing and food. It marks the first time that the West Philadelphia children’s museum has explored a religion so comprehensively, even providing a prayer room for the visiting faithful.

Petra Watson, a mother of four from West Oak Lane, knelt inside the prayer room during a preview of “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far.”

“I see myself here,” Watson said as she emerged. “I see my family and my community.”

And that is the point, said president and CEO Patricia Wellenbach. The exhibit, which opens Feb. 2, reflects a larger effort by the museum to “reimagine” its role, address contemporary social issues, and host events that reflect the region’s diversity, she said.

In the 5,000-square-foot exhibit, children will be able to experience Muslim culture, to trade rugs at a Moroccan marketplace, wrap themselves in colorful Senegalese fabrics, and weigh spices in an Egyptian vendor’s stall.

Objects from a typical Muslim home including prayer rugs and clothing are on display, along with a Quran dating to 1852 on loan from the Free Library of Philadelphia. Two paintings commissioned for the exhibit, and inspired by the artwork of Muslim students, are on the walls. The museum also will host special dance, theater, and musical performances.

“If done well, there is an opportunity to engage children and their families in a positive dialogue around learning and understanding, which we hope will promote greater acceptance and appreciation,” Wellenbach said.

It is possible to “educate the audience about religion, without promoting it or favoring one over another,” said Gretchen Buggeln, a professor of art history and the humanities at Valparaiso University in Indiana and coauthor of Religion in Museums, published in 2017.

“America to Zanzibar” is also an example of museum leaders’ evolving views of the role of their institutions, said Buggeln, a former research director at Winterthur Museum in Delaware. They see their spaces as not just places for “didactic teaching and learning,” but for engagement and conversation — allowing them to compete with online cultural offerings, and survive.

Wellenbach decided to bring “America to Zanzibar” to the Please Touch after seeing it staged at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, which developed the exhibit.

With a thriving Muslim community estimated at 250,000 — one of the largest in the United States — the Philadelphia area was a perfect landing spot, Wellenbach said.

The museum amassed about $600,000 in funding from such benefactors as the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, Peco, the Mayor’s Fund for Philadelphia, and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. A 20-member advisory council made up of Muslim and non-Muslim community members worked on the project for two years.

“As a Muslim who was born and raised in Islam and have often felt somewhat marginalized, I hope [this exhibit inspires a feeling of] validation, and an understanding from our neighbors that we are committed to bridging the gap,“ said Salima Suswell, president of Evolve Solutions, a management consulting firm, and leader of the group.

To reflect the lifestyle of Philadelphia Muslims, local families contributed objects to the exhibit. Suswell lent a prayer rug from Saudi Arabia, where she recently completed the hajj pilgrimage to Mecca. Hazami Sayed, founder of Al-Bustan Seeds of Culture, an Arab arts and education group in West Philadelphia, provided colorful mosaic tiles, designed as an expression of Islamic faith.

Wellenbach suggested the prayer room, not only as an example of Muslim culture but a practical place where visitors could fulfill their obligation to pray five times daily.

“When I heard about [the prayer room], I thought how accommodating and thoughtful to incorporate the things that are meaningful to us,” said Tahirah Muhammad, 33, of Overbrook, who plans to bring her 2-year-old daughter to the museum on opening weekend. “This is something we deal with [constantly] when we are on the job, or just go out. Where is there a place to pray?”

Buggeln calls the addition of a prayer room “fascinating.” There may be some parents, she said, “who are troubled by it and others who say it’s great.” She compares it to the rooms reserved for quiet reflection at the U.S. Holocaust Museum and the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

During the exhibit’s run at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, some visitors wondered “why did we do something around Muslim culture and not Christian or Jewish culture,” said Andrew Ackerman, executive director, explaining that it was chosen in part because Americans know less about Islam than the other faith traditions. Museum officials, he said, “are talking about” staging other similar exhibits. Wellenbach says the Please Touch Museum may as well.

Imam Quaiser Abdullah, of the Quba Institute, a mosque and school in West Philadelphia, says he expects some criticism.

Abdullah, who served on the advisory committee, says some outside the Muslim community may view the exhibit as “putting Islam on this pedestal when it has no right to be there,” while those within the faith may complain that Muslim history and culture are not fully explored. But the imam argues that the exhibit does not intend to elevate Islam above other religions, and that 1,500 years of history cannot be represented in a 5,000-square-foot exhibit for children.

Muhammad is looking forward to more moments like the one that occurred during a visit last summer. An Amish woman wearing her own traditional head covering asked Muhammad about hers.

“She could have just looked me up and down and kept moving,” Muhammad said, “but we had a conversation. And I think this exhibit will do the same. It will open up conversations.”

View on artnews.com »

Sarah Friedlander, Christie’s international director and specialist head of the postwar and contemporary art, has been added to the board at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan in New York.

The museum board co-chairs Shannon Bauer Aronson and Matthew Messinger said in a release, “We are pleased to have Sara join our Board, and look forward to benefiting from her valuable perspective and leadership.”

Friedlander joins the board as the museum prepares for its move uptown to a new space at 96th Street and Central Park West. She said in a statement, “I’m honored to join the Board of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, a renowned institution whose mission is to help children and families thrive. It’s an exciting and pivotal time as the Museum begins to plan for the transition to a much larger venue.”

BY Annie Armstrong POSTED 12/19/18 11:59 AM

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By David Brand

Since April, the Department of Corrections, the Mayor’s Fund and New York City First Lady Chirlane McCray have partnered to ensure that more children have an opportunity to engage with their detained or incarcerated moms in a healthy, constructive environment through Crafting Family Connections.

On Monday, McCray met with moms and kids at a Crafting Family Connections event at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and announced the expansion of the pilot program, which enables detained moms who are charged with or convicted of nonviolent offenses and who have records of good behavior to accompany their children to the museum during special hours.

“I am proud to announce that the City’s innovative Crafting Family Connections program will continue through 2020,” McCray said. “Over the next two years, even more justice-involved families will be able to spend quality time together at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Our hope is that this program, along with a host of other reforms the Department of Correction is leading, will help spur greater change — not just in New York City but across the nation.”

Across the country, mothers make up nearly 80 percent of the female prison population and most are single moms, the Vera Institute of Justice reports. Overall, women inmates account for the fastest-growing prison population in the United States.

When a mother is jailed for a crime, no one is affected more than her children. A child’s separation from a parent can have a devastating impact on his of her emotional development.

“No justice system worth the name indulges in counterproductive cruelty, and needlessly isolating children from their mothers is exactly that,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “This program is a step toward more humane justice and correctional systems that do less harm to those who are incarcerated, their families, and their communities.”

Crafting Family Connections is part of a $6 million investment in initiatives designed to break the cycle of incarceration for women in New York City. Women currently make up 6 percent of the population detained on Rikers Island, the DOC reports.

The new programs include efforts to foster family connections, improve behavioral health services and develop a network of re-entry services, the city said in a statement.

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Allowing incarcerated mothers to interact and play with their children during visits helps maintain a sense of family connection and may reduce the trauma of separation.

A program started in April allows mothers incarcerated at Rikers Island to play with their children at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan when it is closed to the public.

When Courtney Saunders was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for drug possession, everything in her life seemed to be falling apart. But perhaps the most agonizing aspect was that she would be separated from her daughters, then 4 and 2.

“Visits in jail took place behind plexiglass windows, no physical contact,” said Ms. Saunders. “I worried this would traumatize my daughters if they saw me like that. If we were given the chance to have a more child-friendly visit, that would have meant so much to the mothers there — it would have helped us hold onto some hope,” she said.

After serving six months at Bristol County Jail and House of Correction in North Dartmouth, Mass., in 2015, she was able to convince the judge to send her to a mandated treatment program where she was able to call her children daily. “Even if it was only for five minutes, I always called. It helped me be part of their day and stay connected.”

Ms. Saunders, now 30, was able to get sober and has since reunited with her girls.

Currently, over 200,000 women are imprisoned in the United States, the majority for nonviolent drug or property offenses, which have recently skyrocketed in connection with the opioid crisis. The number of children in foster care or living with relatives has soared as well.

According to the Vera Institute of Justice, a nonprofit research organization, women are the country’s fastest-growing prison population, and 80 percent of them are mothers. The overwhelming majority were the primary caregivers of their children.

The opportunity for an incarcerated mother to see her children can vary greatly by state, correctional facility and who has custody.

Prison visits are typically not recommended for parents who have committed certain violent crimes or abused their children; experts say there is a strong chance such visits will cause further trauma. But when family visits are appropriate, studies show that implementing them in a child-friendly way helps maintain the familial connection, potentially mitigates some of the separation trauma for both parent and child and reduces recidivism.

In many states, children in foster care have mandated visits with incarcerated parents, facilitated through state agencies. But when children with incarcerated mothers are cared for by family members, two-thirds of those caregivers struggle with poverty and often have trouble arranging to travel for visits — especially if the mother is in prison in another state.

Even when the children go to see their mothers, the settings for the visits do little to encourage parent-child bonding. Many jails prohibit physical contact, and visits take place through a plexiglass window, which can make children anxious.

“It’s very unnatural for a young child to not have close physical contact with their caregiver,” said Angela Tomlin, a psychologist and professor of clinical pediatrics at the Indiana University School of Medicine. “And if they’re in a situation where they can’t hold them, touch them, brush their hair, do whatever they want to do that promotes connection, it’s going to feel very unusual and odd to the child.”

In an attempt to limit the damage to these familial relationships, there are some efforts like Still She Rises in North Tulsa, Okla., which bills itself as “the first public defender office in the country dedicated exclusively to the representation of mothers in the criminal justice system.”

And a few states have begun creating child-friendly visitation programs. In April, a pilot program began in New York City that coordinates visits at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, where mothers incarcerated at Rikers Island and their children spend time together when the museum is closed to the public.

New York City’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, spearheaded the program after seeing first hand how difficult it was for parents and children to connect during prison visits.

“It’s a necessity for the whole family’s well-being that mothers have quality time and meaningful connection with their children while they are behind bars,” Ms. McCray said. “That’s why we prioritized making these off-site visits possible. Quality time together in a positive setting, creating art, listening to music and dancing gives children opportunities to express themselves, strengthening the bonds that keep children whole and families together,” she said.

Andrew Ackerman, the museum’s executive director, said activities like weaving, collage and journal making as well as music and a shared meal help families connect in a healing, art-based environment.

“The museum is committed to serving families most in distress, and using the arts to help families bond and heal,” he said.

But most correctional facilities haven’t adopted child-friendly programs. In fact, some prisons are ending in-person visits, opting for video chats only.

Visitation rules also vary significantly by state. Most New York facilities allow daily visits, whereas North Carolina permits visits once a week, and Arizona requires visitors to pay background check fees (exemptions include children under 18 and court-appointed guardians of the minor who is visiting).

Being able to have in-person visits is valuable for both the child and the mother. Meghann Perry, a mother who spent time in prison off and on during the first 10 years of her daughter’s life, credits her recovery to a period when they were able to have personal visits.

Meghann Perry was arrested when her daughter was 7 months old, and lost custody of her for years.CreditMeredith Derby Berg
Ms. Perry’s daughter was just 7 months old when she was arrested in Maine in 2002 after testing positive for methadone during a court ordered check-in following an earlier drug charge.

A doctor had prescribed methadone as a treatment to help wean her off heroin. But Neal Pratt, the lawyer who represented her at the time of her arrest in 2002, said that in drug treatment courts in Cumberland County, where she was charged, “methadone was not recognized as a real treatment, and at that time they didn’t differentiate between methadone and other opiates” — even for a recovering addict taking it under medical supervision. (Although federal guidelines now advise recognizing methadone as a drug treatment, many state drug courts, including those in Maine, allow methadone only on a case-by-case basis.)

Ms. Perry, now 45, spent the next few years bouncing in and out of jail and treatment. When her daughter was 4 she relapsed and lost custody. Her daughter initially lived with a foster parent until Ms. Perry’s mother assumed custody.

“When I was incarcerated, I wanted to keep in touch with her — she was all I had,” Ms. Perry recalled. She said she lived for the mail — sending letters and pictures to her daughter. The days she received letters back or they spoke on the phone inspired her to keep fighting. “Even after I lost absolutely everything, I never gave up believing that someday I would get to be her mother again.”

Holidays and birthdays were particularly excruciating. “I missed so many,” Ms. Perry said. “I’d think about my family gathering and laughing together, and I’d feel so profoundly alone.”

When Ms. Perry entered what would be her last inpatient program in Bangor, Me., in 2009, she was finally able to have regular visits.

“I was there nine months,” Ms. Perry said. “My daughter came several weekends and holidays. It was amazing. My time there was an incredibly important step in my recovery and my relationship with her.”

Ms. Perry, now a certified addiction recovery coach in Boston, who works with individuals seeking to initiate or strengthen their recovery, acknowledges that her story has a different ending than many others.

She said she was fortunate to have family support, whereas many women are stuck in the jail/rehab cycle and may permanently lose custody of their children, especially while serving a lengthy prison sentence.

“After almost six years apart, when my daughter was 10, I regained custody. At first, it was like starting from scratch, learning to parent again,” Ms. Perry said. “But I was so thankful to have her back.”

Photo Credit: Ed Reed/Mayoral Photography Office

See full article on Westsidespirit.com »

“This five-story Upper West Side museum is a great place to spend a rainy day — or any other day — with kids interested in arts, sciences and the humanities. Each floor features a hands-on environment for discovery, exhibits, workshops and performances that will enthrall kids with a bent for the artistic. Special exhibits include “EatSleepPlay,” to encourage children to eat healthy, and “Let’s Dance,” to introduce them to the varied world of dance. CMOM hosts an annual “Sunday Funday” benefit in January, and year-round is admission is $14 for children and adults and free for kids under 1 year of age.”

See full article on mommynearest.com »

“The Upper West Side’s CMOM is 38,000-square-feet of interactive exhibits and programming. Summer brings one of the hottest tickets in town at the Dynamic H2O water play area. Other favorites include Playworks, with its fire truck, sand play, a talking dragon who “eats” letters, a play structure for kids to climb and slide down, and a soft area for crawlers. (Free story time is often held in this area, along with daily hands-on activities in the Art Lab.). The museum is planning to move to a new (and bigger!) space along Central Park West in late 2021—we already can’t wait.

Can’t-miss exhibits: PlayWorks, Dynamic H2O, EatSleepPlay“

Read on Bloomberg.com »
By Amanda L Gordon
October 31, 2018, 2:37 PM EDT

Ever wonder how Jeff Bezos’s kids spend their summers? One answer came Tuesday night at a gala for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

For one week each year, Jackie Bezos hosts her 11 grandchildren for what they call “Camp Marmee” — so named because they’ve read Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” and equate her with the mother of Jo, Beth, Meg and Amy, she said in an interview. The novel’s Marmee makes sure her daughters are educated, and discourages them from marrying for money.

Camp Marmee takes place in Las Vegas. The kids do games, puzzles and challenges, like making a boat out of Styrofoam.

“It is wild and wonderful,” Jackie Bezos said. “It is the best week of my year.”

The rest of the time, she “goes to work every day” at the Bezos Family Foundation, focusing on childhood development programs and research — all with one big purpose.

“When you think about the possibilities of children’s needs being met, what we end up with is a better world,” she said on stage during the gala. “We end up with people sitting around decision-making tables in the future who really have the ability to make decisions. So this is not a nice thing to have. This is a necessity.”

A lot of people at the event agreed, including Paul Taubman of PJT Partners; Matt Messinger, chief executive officer of Trinity Place Holdings and co-chair of the museum’s board; and Michael Boublik of Morgan Stanley, also a museum board member. The benefit, held at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, raised about $1.6 million.

“When you invest in little humans, they grow up to be good big humans,” Boublik said.

Michael and Mimi Boublik, Paul Taubman and Janet ZagorinPhotographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Matt Messinger and Mary St. MartinPhotographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
Also attending were Neil Simpkins of Blackstone Group; Will Blodgett of Fairstead, a real estate private equity group; Lili Buffett, a stay-at-home mom married to Warren Buffett’s grandson; and Two Sigma co-founder John Overdeck and wife Laura, who’ve joined with the Bezos’s in a Robin Hood Foundation effort to help children under age 3 living in poverty.

Neil Simpkins, gallery director Bona Yoo and Simon Kim of the restaurant Cote.Photographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

John Hannan of Apollo Global, Barnard College President Sian Beilock, Laura and John Overdeck, Andrew AckermanPhotographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg

Lili Buffett and Carolyn Tisch BlodgettPhotographer: Amanda Gordon/Bloomberg
At the Children’s Museum, Jackie Bezos has joined forces with Laurie Tisch, another power grandma and philanthropist and the organization’s founding chair. Created more than 30 years ago to help parents raise their kids, it offers programs and exhibitions on world cultures, the arts, science and health. These take place at the museum’s West 83rd Street home in Manhattan, in permanent mini-museums set up in shelters around New York City, and at Rikers Island when moms are reunited with their kids.

“CMOM totally gets it,” Bezos said, after receiving the Laurie M. Tisch Award from Tisch and Wes Moore, the CEO of Robin Hood Foundation.

Research Endowment
The Bezos foundation helped fund the museum’s acquisition of a former church on West 96th Street, which will more than double its size once renovated. The foundation also established a research endowment and created an early childhood exhibition called “Superpowered Metropolis: An Early Learning City.” It’s scheduled to open in previews at 83rd Street next fall, before moving into the new building.

Andrew Ackerman, the museum’s director, said he plans to incorporate the findings of neuroscientist Patricia Kuhl, who holds the Bezos Family Foundation Endowed Chair for Learning and Brain Science at the University of Washington.

Kuhl has learned a lot by putting babies in a $2.5 million machine called an Elekta Neuromag, made in Helsinki. “We’re the first in the world to apply it to babies,” Kuhl said in an interview. “It’s perfectly safe and non-invasive and noiseless. It’s not clanking away, the babies can listen and look and do any number of problem solving things. It’s like a stethoscope for the brain.”

What she’s learned is that “Machines don’t turn baby brains on,” she said. “The brain thrives on social interaction.” In one study, a 9-month-old exposed to a foreign language in a dozen sessions absorbed words, while the same information over a DVD produced nothing. “Social is the gateway to cognition.”

Hearing Kuhl recount the work brought back memories for Jackie Bezos.

“Jeff was my first child, he was born two weeks after my 17th birthday, so we kind of grew up together,” she said. She didn’t have the benefit of the studies she’s funded, but she had good instincts. “I was playing with him, he was my playmate almost. It was very entertaining and I was amazed by it.”

Was it scary to have a kid at 17? “Yes,” Jackie Bezos said. “But it worked out well.”

Last month, Jeff Bezos said he’s allotting $2 billion to combat homelessness and fund early childhood education.

“He said at the time, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree,” she said. “I was very proud.”

Pix 11 covers programing at the Museum supporting the New York Yankees during the 2018 ALDS playoff games vs. the Boston Red Sox.

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Groundbreaking Exhibit Encourages Children and their Families to Explore Self-Expression and Identity through Art-Making

New York, N.Y., October 1, 2018 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83^rd Street) today announced the arrival of four new artists-in-residence for its hugely popular, critically-acclaimed “Art, Artists & You” exhibit. Part interactive art studio, part art exhibition, the experience is designed to encourage children and their families to explore self-expression and identity through the delights of art-making. Families can create stop motion animation, craft a model of a favorite pet, or collaborate on a massive wall hanging.

The exhibition which opened in June and is scheduled to run through Dec. 31, 2018, features 39 original works of art by 20 contemporary artists and features four artists-in-residence selected on the basis of their work with specific materials. As both an exhibition and laboratory, “Art, Artists & You” invites artists to step outside their studio practice and individual processes in order to challenge, refine and share their work in a unique and open environment. The Museum’s newest artists-in-residence Amir Hariri, Antonia A Perez, Camille Hoffman and Jasmine Laura Murrell will work in studios located directly in the exhibit.

The artists, whose hours will vary, will demonstrate different practices and processes, and they will embolden children and adults alike to express their own ideas through art-making. Each artist engages with familiar materials such as fabric, paper and found objects, as well as technology. Families will be able to experiment with these same materials and explore similar methods in spaces adjacent to the artists’ studios.

Children will enjoy building paper-pulp sculptures, three-dimensional cardboard models, or found-object forts. As part of their exploration of fiber arts, they can try their hand at crocheting, weaving, knitting, beading, and stuffed-animal or soft-sculpture crafting. Families interested in making art with technology will have access to green screen video filming, makey-makey invention kits, three-dimensional printer pens, and more.

“We wanted to take a step back from drawing and painting to explore materials all children have access to, and to show them how these everyday materials can and have been used to create impactful works of art” said David Rios, Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Director of Public Programs and curator of “Art, Artists & You.” “We hope this space and the experience provides fertile ground for each artist to explore new expressions and to experiment with new ways of creating.”

Works from contemporary artists Leo Castaneda, Delano Dunn, Tai Hwa Goh, Amir Hariri, Amber Heaton, Robert Hernandez, Juan Hinojosa, Firoz Mahmud, Natalia Nakazawa, Lina Puerta, daaPo Reo, Annesofie Sandal, Nyugen Smith, Adrienne Elise Tarver, Victoria Udondian, and Jennifer Williams are also on display.

Funding for the exhibit is provided by the Gray Foundation, Ford Foundation, Miyoung Lee and Neil Simpkins. Funding for programming is made possible in part by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Funding for programming with Amir Hariri and Firoz Muhmad is provided by the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)—a citywide resource for children, families, and educators—creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences, and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school, and in the community. The Museum offers hands-on learning environments, programs, and curriculums built on evidence-based early childhood research and the museum sciences. It also provides tools and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. In addition to delighting more than 350,000 visitors annually at its 212 West 83rd Street location, thousands of New York’s children benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, homeless shelters, libraries, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 2017, CMOM purchased 361 Central Park West. The new site is expected to open in late 2021. www.cmom.org

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HALLOWEEKEND AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN

October 27th – 31st

CMOM will be producing a full weekend of Halloween fun for your little ones.

Featured acts and programs will include:

• A live magician.
• A spooky dance performance by students of Steps on Broadway
• An interactive parade around the entire museum, followed by a Halloween dance party!
• Create your own Halloween arts & crafts masterpiece.
• Learn how your favorite magic tricks are pulled off!
• The Magical Halloween S.T.E.A.M Lab:  science experiments to teach your kids some very cool Halloween tricks.

See on theweekendjaunts.com »

Cool weekend event alert! During a special weekend of programs at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, kids and their families will have the opportunity to sing, play and learn with Canticos – a collection of bilingual classic nursery rhymes and songs from across the Spanish-speaking world brought to life through books, apps and sing-along videos that are available on NickJr.com.

This will include the chance to learnCanticos’ Little Chickies – Ricky, Nicky and Kiki – along with Sammy the bunny and Benji the elephant and his pal Lili the spider. They will also meet Canticos creator Susie Jaramillos for book readings, sing-alongs, and arts and crafts.

Read on to check out the full schedule below:

Read and Sing-along with Canticos
Join artist and Canticos creator Susie Jaramillo as she shares her favorite Canticos nursery rhymes and songs. Sing-along with Susie and learn about her journey creating memorable characters, books and cartoons.
Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 22 & 23 | 11:30 am, 12:30 & 2 pm | All ages | Ticketed**

Canticos Sing-along videos
Come check out the adorable world of the Canticos characters with sing-along videos in English and Spanish!
Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 22 & 23 | 11 am, 12, 1 & 2:30 pm | All ages | Drop-in

Meet the Canticos Puppet Pal
Ricky Chickie is an adorable little chickie who loves a good snuggle. Come meet him, get a big hug and even take a photo with Ricky.
Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 22 & 23 | 10:30 am, 12 & 1 | All ages | Drop-in

Create with Canticos
Get creative with Canticos! Find inspiration from the Canticos cast of characters and their stories to leave your mark in the Children’s Museum’s latest exhibit, Art, Artists & You.
Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 22-23 | 10:30 am – 4:30 pm | Ages 5 & younger | Drop-in

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If you’re traveling with young children, visit this nirvana designed for ages six and under. Age-specific exhibits include Playworks for the youngest visitors and Adventures with Dora and Diego for ages 2 to 6. Changing exhibits show how children live in other lands. City Splash water play is a favorite in warm weather and offers the chance to sail a boat, paint with water, and play with sand. The museum provides waterproof smocks but it may be wise to bring a change of clothes in case of splashes. Stop at the information desk for the daily schedule of special workshops and performances, all included with admission. No food or drink is available in the museum but hand stamps at admission allows you to come and go all day. Grab a sandwich at Café 82 at Broadway & 82nd, then head to nearby Riverside Park for a picnic and playgrounds. Subway: 1 train to 79th Street. M104 Broadway bus to 82nd Street.
Tuesday to Friday: 10am – 5pm. Saturday: 10am – 7pm. Sunday: 10am – 5pm. • Reviews

View video on newyork.cbslocal.com »

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – There’s a catchy children’s song circulating that’s driving a lot of parents a little crazy. It’s called the “Baby Shark Song” and little kids can’t get enough of it.

“Baby shark dooo dooo doo doo doo dooo, baby shark dooo dooo doooo,“ the viral hit goes.

“It’s really kind of an ear worm right, it just repeats and repeats and repeats,” Emily Munro from the Children’s Museum of Manhattan told CBS2’s Cindy Hsu.

The song actually came out in 2007 but a cover of the track went viral last month on YouTube and now it’s turned into a “baby shark dance challenge” that’s captivated the internet.

The song has even hit the music charts in the U.K. at number 37 – higher than Cardi B’s song “I like it.”

“It’s a great movement break because it gets the kids moving around,” preschool teacher Holly Casper said. “It works on a lot of gross motor, fine motor skills as well.”

Parenting expert Julie Ross says every generation has its own annoying children’s song and a good strategy for parents who may be tired of the tune is to keep introducing new music.

“If you really can’t stand it, noise canceling headphones work,” Ross joked.

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2018/09/06/baby-shark-song-is-a-hit-with-kids-and-driving-parents-crazy/

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Jackie and Mike Bezos and the Bezos Family Foundation to Receive the Laurie M. Tisch Award in Recognition of their Innovative Educational Programs and Philanthropic Efforts

New York, NY — August 20, 2018 — Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) Board Co-chairs Shannon Bauer Aronson and Matt Messinger today announced that Jackie and Mike Bezos and the Bezos Family Foundation will be honored at the institution’s upcoming gala on October 30, 2018. The event will celebrate how children benefit from inspired learning environments and programs, reflecting the work of both the Children’s Museum and the Bezos Family Foundation. Jackie and Mike Bezos and the Bezos Family Foundation will receive the Laurie M. Tisch Award in recognition of their commitment to helping young people, from birth through high school, to reach their full potential and ultimately become active and meaningful contributors to society. The celebratory fundraising evening, co-chaired by halley k harrisburg and Laurie M. Tisch, will take place at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Pier 61, in New York City.

The Laurie M. Tisch Award is presented annually to an individual or family who exemplifies the civic spirit; visionary leadership in education, arts, culture and/or health; and philanthropic commitment to positive social change for children and families by the Children’s Museum’s Founding Board Chair and Capital Campaign Co-chair Laurie M. Tisch. This year, Wes Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Robin Hood will join Ms. Tisch in presenting the award.

“Jackie and Mike Bezos, with their creation of the Bezos Family Foundation, have fashioned a wonderful model for family philanthropy,” said Ms. Tisch, who is also President of the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund. “Their innovative programs, including Vroom and Mind in the Making, reflect their extraordinary commitment to the science of learning and to improving life outcomes for children in New York City and in communities across the globe. We are also grateful for their transformational leadership gift for the new Children’s Museum of Manhattan.”

In late 2017 the Children’s Museum purchased 361 Central Park West, the former First Church of Christ, Scientist, a 1903 building designed by Carrère and Hastings. The new space, expected to open by 2022, will allow the organization to serve twice the number of people it currently does and offer twice the exhibition space available at its 212 West 83^rd Street site.

“We are honored and humbled by this recognition,” said Jackie Bezos, president of the Bezos Family Foundation. “When our family started the Bezos Family Foundation 17 years ago, we began with the belief that early investments in children would benefit us all. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan shares this belief, and a strong commitment to using the science of learning and development in designing their programs and exhibits. Their commitment to bringing quality programming beyond their four walls and out into the community to better serve children and families is truly remarkable.”

Past recipients of the Laurie M. Tisch Award include philanthropists and owners of the Michael Rosenfeld Gallery halley k harrisburg and Michael Rosenfeld. Ms. harrisburg is also co-chair of the museum’s capital campaign and served as the organization’s board chair for more than a decade. Other award-winners include Pulitzer Prize-winning author Dr. Siddhartha Mukherjee; artist and MacArthur Genius Fellow, Sarah Sze; education philanthropists and former NY Giant, Lauran and Justin Tuck; and Renée Edelman and the Edelman Family, for their multi-generational commitment to philanthropy.

Each year the Children’s Museum Gala brings together over 400 philanthropists and supporters. Funds raised at the event support the organization’s operating costs which include offering free museum admission to over 50,000 people through Head Start programs in low-income neighborhoods as well as through direct service programs with NYC homeless shelters, libraries, schools and hospitals.

For additional information and to purchase tickets to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s gala, visit https://cmom.org/gala/.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) —a citywide resource for children, families, and educators—creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences, and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school, and in the community. The museum offers hands-on learning environments, programs, and curriculums built on evidence-based early childhood research and the museum sciences. It also provides tools and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. In addition to delighting more than 350,000 visitors annually at its 212 West 83rd Street location, hundreds of thousands of New York’s children benefit from the museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, homeless shelters, libraries, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. In 2017, CMOM purchased 361 Central Park West. The new site is expected to open in late 2021. www.cmom.org

About the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund

The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund (LMTIF) is a New York City-based foundation that strives to improve access and opportunity for all New Yorkers. Founded in 2007 by philanthropist Laurie M. Tisch, the Illumination Fund plays an active role in supporting innovative approaches to education, the arts, healthy food and civic service in order to illuminate strategies that transform our urban landscape. For more information about the Illumination Fund, visit: http://www.lmtilluminationfund.org/

About Bezos Family Foundation

The Bezos Family Foundation believes young people are born with potential and deserve the experiences needed to learn and thrive. Its programs and funding are guided by the science of learning and aim to transform how we support all young people—especially those furthest from opportunity—to have impact in a rapidly changing world. The Bezos Family Foundation is an independent, nonprofit private Foundation created by Jackie and Mike Bezos, who along with their family, serve as the Foundation’s directors. Current programs include the Bezos Scholars Program, Mind in the Making, Students Rebuild, and Vroom.

Honorees Include Jackie and Mike Bezos & Bezos Family Foundation, and the late Mark Adkins. 

View on mysocialgoodnews.com »

See on page 11 of Antiques and the Arts Weekly, August 17, 2018 »

NEW YORK CITY — “Art, Artists & You,” a new exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), is part interactive art studio and part art exhibition. The experience is designed to encourage children and their families to explore selfexpression and identity through the delights of art-making. Families can create stop motion animation, craft a model of a favorite pet or collaborate on a massive wall hanging.

Children will enjoy building paper-pulp sculptures, threedimensional cardboard models or found-object forts. As part of their exploration of fiber arts, they can try their hand at crocheting, weaving, knitting, beading, and stuffed-animal or soft-sculpture crafting. Families interested in making art with technology will have access to green screen video filming, makey-makey invention kits, three-dimensional printer pens and more.

The exhibition features four artists-in-residence selected on the basis of their work with specific materials: Sara Jimenez (found objects), Deborah Morris (fiber), Ezra Wube (technology/ new media) and Yeon Ji Yoo (paper). Working in their medium of choice at home-away-fromhome studios in the museum, each artist will use these familiar materials to examine their world and create art. A curated selection of their works will also be featured in the exhibit.

The artists, whose hours will vary, will demonstrate different practices and processes, and they will embolden children and adults alike to express their own ideas through art-making. Families will be able to experiment with various materials and methods in spaces adjacent to the artists’ studios. Artists-in-residence will change in September.

Works from contemporary artists Leo Castaneda, Delano Dunn, Tai Hwa Goh, Amir Hariri, Amber Heaton, Robert Hernandez, Juan Hinojosa, Firoz Mahmud, Natalia Nakazawa, Lina Puerta, daaPo Reo, Annesofie Sandal, Nyugen Smith, Adrienne Elise Tarver, Victoria Udondian and Jennifer Williams will also be on display.

“Art, Artists & You” is scheduled to run through December 31. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is at 212 West 83rd Street. For information, 212-721-1223 or www.cmom.org.

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Kids will learn how to reuse their toys as part of the “Art, Artists & You” exhibit that encourages hands-on activities.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is offering a special stuffed animal repair program from July 31 until Aug. 5 as part of its ‘Art, Artists & You’ exhibit. Photo Credit: Children’s Museum of Manhattan

By Lisa L. Colangelo 
[email protected]
Updated July 29, 2018 5:33 PM

In an era of cheap chic and disposable consumerism, there’s a comfort in sitting down to patch up a child’s beloved stuffed animal.

Kids will get the chance to learn the craft during a special program at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan this week.

Educators hope the workshops will provide some basic sewing skills while prompting youngsters to think about the value of their toys.

“We can talk to kids about keeping up a healthy lifestyle, which also means recycling and repurposing instead of just giving up on certain things,” said Kevin Nieves, manager of public programs at the museum. “Sometimes kids are tempted to chuck out an old toy when it rips. We want to show them you can fix it and even put some personality into it.”

Kids are urged to bring their own well-worn loves to the museum from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from July 31 through Aug. 5. They can also take one of the museum’s plush toys in need of some stitching and stuffing.

The Stuffed Animal Repair program is part of the “Art, Artists & You” exhibit that encourages hands-on activities with several artists-in-residence.

Many youngsters may already be familiar with the intricacies of toy repair through the popular Disney Channel television show “Doc McStuffins,” which features a young girl who can bring her inanimate playthings to life and find out what ails them.

Hidden in those fun episodes are life lessons about handling injuries and illnesses.

Nieves said kids also need help learning practical skills, especially since home economics is no longer a required curriculum in many schools.

The program is aimed at children between the ages of 4 and 10, he said. Getting the younger kids to handle plastic needles and pierce certain fabrics also helps refine motor skills.

They can also create small wraps and casts for their fluffy “patients.”

“We have an animal rescue center in the museum,” said Nieves. “Our stuffed animals are used quite a bit and we usually take them into the back and fix them up. We thought it would be interesting to make the kids part of that process.”

Art studio leader Jasmine Ly said she could have used the workshop when she was a kid.

“I had this Beanie Baby dog named Bandit and he went with me everywhere,” said Ly, who will work with children in the program. “He got so messed up, his leg almost fell off, but luckily my grandmother was a seamstress and helped me out.”

By Lisa L. Colangelo
[email protected]

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By Des Shoe

excerpt

 

LUNCHTIME ZEN: Check out the Children’s Museum of Manhattan‘s “Dynamic H2O” exhibit, which gives families a cool place to beat the heat while learning how New York City gets its water and the role water plays in our environment.

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https://www.facebook.com/CBSNewYork/videos/10156079715189024/

Read on nytimes.com 

By Laurel Graber

by Tara Mastrelli

“In New York, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan recently announced its move to a historic church on Central Park West. Originally designed by Carrère & Hastings and completed in 1903, local firm FXCollborative will take on the rehabilitation project with an anticipated completion of 2021.”

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Read on harlemworldmagazine.com »

First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray today announced a groundbreaking pilot program designed to allow mothers currently incarcerated at Rikers Island to visit and participate in activities with their children at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. The program, which launched its first family visit on April 30, brings select mothers, children, and their custodial caregivers to the museum when it is closed to the public. Parents and children will participate in arts activities designed to support bonding and ease the trauma of separation. The custodial caregivers that participate in the pilot program will receive a CMOM membership, which will be renewed free of charge when the incarcerated mothers return home.

“To be emotionally healthy, children must bond with a parent and spend quality time with that parent. It is a necessity for their mental health and overall well-being,” said First Lady Chirlane McCray, who recently announced a series of new initiatives to support incarcerated women on Rikers Island and their families. “Time spent together outside of a jail environment, making art, dancing, and enjoying music will provide children with opportunities to express themselves and relieve the anxieties that so many families of incarcerated women experience. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, with its commitment to the arts and child development, is the perfect partner and setting for this new and groundbreaking program.”

“This extraordinary reunification opportunity allows mothers to interact with the children in secure environments, outside of the jails,” said Department of Correction Commissioner Cynthia Brann. “Time spent with families can have a positive influence both during and after an individual’s time in jail. The more humane we can make the experience of incarceration, the safer our jails will be for both detainees and personnel. Our city is better off too, because this initiative also offers a vital step to help women in DOC custody successfully return to society.”

“Children’s museums have a special role to play in the lives of all children. We are honored to be able to offer these families, and all New York City’s families, opportunities for discovery and joy. Through arts programs, parents and children can actively explore together, express and share their feelings, or simply relax together in a safe, nurturing space,” said Andrew S. Ackerman, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

This new pilot program for incarcerated women and their children is based on tested programs at the Museum, which use art-making to positively influence behavior in its Health and Learning Hub program. Hubs bring permanent museum-quality installations, wall graphics, and hands-on, arts-based education programs focused on developing healthy lifestyles and literacy to Head Start centers and NYC Department of Homeless Services shelters across the five boroughs. The City is committed to continuing this program, including recurring visits and community connections, to improve family relationships and reentry for incarcerated women.

The Children’s Museum is widely recognized for its commitment to both child development and arts-based learning. Past art-related exhibitions include “The Art of Andy Warhol” and “Sunday Morning Breakfast: the Art of Romare Bearden.” “Art Inside Out” invited visitors to step into works by artists Elizabeth Murray, William Wegman, and Fred Wilson. Dance and music were the foci of “Jazzed! The Changing Beat of 125th Street” and the current “Let’s Dance!” exhibit. “Art, Artists & You,” which gives visitors an active role in the artistic process, opens at the Museum on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

The Children’s Museum is widely recognized for its commitment to both child development and arts-based learning. Past art-related exhibitions include “The Art of Andy Warhol” and “Sunday Morning Breakfast: the Art of Romare Bearden.” “Art Inside Out” invited visitors to step into works by artists Elizabeth Murray, William Wegman, and Fred Wilson. Dance and music were the foci of “Jazzed! The Changing Beat of 125th Street” and the current “Let’s Dance!” exhibit. “Art, Artists & You,” which gives visitors an active role in the artistic process, opens at the Museum on Saturday, June 2, 2018.

In February, First Lady McCray announced a $6 million investment to launch new initiatives designed to break the cycle of incarceration for women in New York City. Among those initiatives, the City will expand programming to support family connections and resilience, enhance critical behavioral health services and create a network of re-entry services that help women and their families stabilize and prevent future returns to jail.

First Lady Chirlane McCray was also the driving force behind the 2016 launch of citywide baby showers to ensure that new and expectant parents had access to City resources and services—which included a shower at Rikers Island for women incarcerated on Rikers Island and their young children in 2016 and 2017.

Over the last four years, New York City has made significant, system-changing investments to ensure that fewer people enter jails and that those who do have access to the therapeutic, educational and vocational services that can lay the foundation for future stability and prevent returns to jail. While women have been served by these system changes, new programs like this partnership with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan marks the extension of dedicated services that specifically address the unique needs of incarcerated women.

Women comprise seven percent of the overall jail population in New York City and are more likely than incarcerated men to have histories of trauma, mental illness and substance misuse, and significant housing and employment needs. Further, the majority of women at the Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC) on Rikers Island have a child in their home or are the primary caretaker of another family member.

By addressing these unique issues faced by women in New York City jails, the programming announced today will help rectify some of the issues that lead women to enter the criminal justice system, accelerate safe reductions to the number of women in City jails and better protect children from negative outcomes associated with parental incarceration, which include higher rates of school drop-out, homelessness, learning disabilities, and chronic health conditions.

These efforts build on the de Blasio administration’s plan announced in 2017 to close Rikers Island and create a borough-based jail system that is smaller, safer and fairer.

“This initiative is an example of how the arts can be a powerful tool for advancing civic and social good, such as helping to heal families with an incarcerated parent,” said Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. “Giving parents and kids the chance to express themselves and explore their creativity together in a stimulating, supportive, and safe environment such as the Children’s Museum of Manhattan provides a positive experience for them both as individuals and as family units.”

“The trauma of incarceration can have lasting health impacts for the person in prison and their loved ones outside of it, particularly children,” said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. “This initiative is a way to strengthen familial supports, which are important for the mental and physical health of mother and child.”

“Maintaining ties between incarcerated individuals and their loved ones is so important, especially when we are talking about a mother and her child. Everyone benefits when children can have personal, consistent contact with parents who are incarcerated. I commend the Mayor and First Lady for this innovative program and look forward to seeing the results,” said State Senator Velmanette Montgomery.

“The children of incarcerated individuals are unfortunately and far too often the forgotten victims in our criminal justice system. Despite committing no crime, nor having any charges brought against them, they are still forced to cope with the damaging effects of being separated from a parent while that parent is in a jail or prison, especially if that parent is their mother” said Assembly Member David I. Weprin, Assembly Correction Committee Chair. “Any step we take to strengthen familial and community bonds for the families of incarcerated individuals and any advance made towards enhancing parental bonds between mothers and their children must be applauded. I commend First Lady of New York City Chirlane McCray for launching this important pilot program between the New York City Department of Correction and Children’s Museum of Manhattan.”

Assembly Member Latrice M. Walker said “The Uniting Families of Incarcerated Women program is the beginning of the collective fight towards reducing African-American women and girls’ growing rates of mass incarceration. Reuniting families and offering a mother an opportunity to bond with her family is the crutch that is needed on an already difficult journey. I commend First Lady Chirlane McCray for launching this program because it offers the support to incarcerated mother’s children and families as they grow up without their mother’s physical presence.”

“By allowing children to connect with their incarcerated mothers in an appropriate environment, the City is taking steps to improve the re-entry process. As we focus on the closure of Rikers Island, these initiatives are critical to supporting mothers and families impacted by the criminal justice system. I applaud First Lady McCray and the Department of Correction for committing resources for incarcerated women, and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for offering such a unique program,” said Council Member Keith Powers, chair of the Criminal Justice Committee.

“Museums have always been spaces that bring families together to learn and experience joy and wonder,” said Council Member Van Bramer, Chair of the City Council’s Committee on Cultural Affairs and Libraries. “I’m happy to see this opportunity extended to incarcerated mothers and their families. This program at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan will allow mothers and children to create together, spend quality time together and strengthen their connections to one another. All of which will contribute the health and wellbeing of the whole family, ultimately reducing incidents of incarceration. Experiencing arts and culture truly changes lives and I am proud to fight for programs like this that expand access to the arts for all New Yorkers.”

“I applaud the efforts of First Lady McCray and the Department of Corrections to break the cycle of incarceration for women in New York City, and I stand firmly with them in believing that all mothers and children have a right to spend meaningful, restorative time together. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has long offered families, my own included, a nurturing, communal space to get creative, explore the world around us, and become lifelong learners. This forward-thinking institution is a cornerstone of my district, the Upper West Side, and they are the perfect partner for bringing this noble program to life,” said Council Member Helen Rosenthal, Chair of the Committee on Women.

At the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, incarcerated women will get the chance to bond with their kids over art activities. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

see on metro.us »

By Dale W. Eisinger and Erin Durkin

Locked up at Rikers Island, Estefania Solano said the hardest part is being separated from her three young daughters.

“Every day in jail is like a year when you’re away from your kids,” said Solano, 28.

Solano was one of three mothers incarcerated at Rikers who got a chance to leave the jail Monday and reunite with their children at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan — part of a new visit program being tested by the city.

Solano has been in jail since March, serving a three-month sentence for a grand larceny charge dating back five years. After she gets out in June, she hopes to become a substance abuse counselor.

Her partner Eduardo has visited religiously twice a week — but typically does not bring the three little girls for a day-long schlep with multiple levels of security. But on Monday, daughters Adele, 1, Erin, 2, and Ederlyn, 3, were there to meet their mom at the museum in matching red plaid outfits and buns in their hair.

“Jail makes you appreciate the outside world that much more. And I try to take all the opportunities I can for a learning experience,” Solano said. “I’m really excited to see them in this museum, where we get to play together.”

The pilot program will let incarcerated women with good behavioral records spend a few hours at the upper West Side museum with their kids while it is closed to the public. The kids’ guardians will get free memberships to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, which the mothers will be able to renew when they get out of jail.

With correction officers standing watch, the children ran into their mothers’ arms Monday. “Mommy, mommy, I love you so much!” one little boy shouted.

Free Rikers bus line starts up with service from Harlem, Brooklyn

Eduardo, who asked that his last name be withheld, said he was happy to use his day off from work to bring his daughters to see their mom at the museum.

“Nothing brings me greater joy than seeing my children with their mother,” he said. “It’s hard to get them to the island, and this is a really important time, especially the little ones. For them to see their mother in that inmate uniform and all these police officers around — that’s just not what I want for my daughters.”

First Lady Chirlane McCray read to the tots from the classic children’s book “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.”

“You can see that these kids miss their moms,” she said. “And it’s so important for their development to be with their mothers. To have a place like this that is fun and safe and with all these activities is making memories for them so they’ll have an association with their mothers that is positive, and not scary and unpleasant.”

http://m.nydailynews.com/new-york/rikers-moms-reunited-kids-museum-test-program-article-1.3964679

Story and photos by Gregg McQueen

The Manhattan Times covers the ribbon cutting at Hamilton Family Residence, the Museum’s 15th Health and Learning Hub at a Family Shelter.

see on manhattantimesnews.com »

The installation is an exact reproduction of educational exhibits at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

By Brendan Krisel 

HARLEM, NY — More than 150 homeless families living at the Hamilton Family Residence in Harlem will have access to educational tools as a result of an expanding partnership between the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and the city Department of Homeless Services.

See entire article on patch.com »

A city partnership with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is bringing a part of the museum straight to hundreds of children living in a shelter.

The Department of Homeless Services cut the ribbon Friday on a hands-on learning hub at the Hamilton Family Residences, where 155 families live.

The goal is to brighten the lives of children there by promoting healthy lifestyles and literacy.

It’s already an inspriation to residents, Jessica Jordan and her daughter, India.

“Before it came it was like kind of dull here. It didn’t have all these decorations and you know I feel like it helps even the kids with healthy eating,” Jordan said.

This is the 15th learning hub installed at a DHS shelter with more to come this year. Residents will also be given a one-year membership to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan through the partnership.

View on nyc.gov »

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 13, 2018

Contact: Isaac McGinn, [email protected] (o: 929-221-5564 c: 646-946-9667)

Adam Miller, [email protected] (o: 212-843-8032 c: 646-295-6531)

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN EXPANDS PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY’S DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES

Grants Totaling $275,000 Bring “Health and Learning Hubs” and Museum Programs to More City Shelters

NEW YORK—The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) and the New York City Department of Homeless Services today announced they are expanding their collaborative partnership to improve quality of life for homeless New Yorkers by replicating CMOM’s successful early childhood health and learning hub model inside two additional homeless shelters serving families with children. The Children’s Museum will also expand its programming for staff and families at shelters. This expansion is made possible through $200,000 in grants from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) and a $75,000 grant from New York Community Trust.

The Children’s Museum’s health and learning hubs bring permanent museum-quality installations, wall graphics, and hands-on education programs focused on developing healthy lifestyles and literacy to underserved communities. In addition to installations and educational programming, families will also receive a free one-year CMOM membership. Two new hubs at Park Avenue Manor Family Shelter (Brooklyn) and Hamilton Family Residence (Manhattan) will open this spring, with two additional hubs to be installed by fall 2018, bringing the total number of hubs installed in City shelters for families with children to 18.

“At the Department of Homeless Services, we are committed to raising the bar for families experiencing homelessness as they get back on their feet,” said Department of Homeless Services Administrator Joslyn Carter. “The Children’s Museum’s colorful graphics, fun interactives, and joyful programming for families and children reinforce our dedication to encouraging healthy eating, exercise, sleep, and learning—and exemplify how innovative collaborations are helping us transform a haphazard shelter system decades in the making. We are thankful to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, Target, and The New York Community Trust for their partnership, allowing this extraordinary initiative to reach even more New Yorkers in need.”

“Our work with the NYC Department of Homeless Services is a fundamental expression of the Children’s Museum’s commitment to serving all New York City’s families,” said Andrew S. Ackerman, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “We believe that culture, the arts, health, and learning are vital for all our citizens in every borough and neighborhood. We are grateful to Target and The New York Community Trust for their ongoing support of this important work.”

In addition to enhancing quality of life in four more shelters for families with children by introducing dedicated educational installations that teach about health and wellness, the grant funding provides for Children’s Museum staff to conduct programs for families and shelter staff at all 18 shelter locations, utilizing CMOM’s EatPlayGrow™ curriculum created in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. The curriculum emphasizes strategies for healthy, affordable living. Programs will feature hands-on art activities, literacy, music, and dance and will offer information about nutrition, physical activity, and the importance of sleep. The program participants will enjoy a family festival as well as free museum memberships.

In addition, the grant from the New York Community Trust will fund an expansion of family programs and professional training for staff to another five shelters new to the Children’s Museum outreach. Programs and training at these five additional locations will also be based on CMOM’s EatPlayGrow™ curriculum and will include activities and materials from CMOM’s new All the Way to K and Beyond (ATWTK) initiative developed with NYC Department of Education and Administration of Children’s Services. ATWTK offers free literacy resources for parents and caregivers to help prepare children from birth to five years of age for learning and school. To date, CMOM has introduced their educational curriculum to a total of 23 transitional housing facilities across the city, which together serve approximately 2,500 families experiencing homelessness each day, comprised of more than 7,500 New Yorkers.

“When caregivers help young children make healthy choices and develop language skills, they’re making smart investments in promising futures,” said Natasha Lifton, Senior Program Officer, The New York Community Trust. “Supporting early childhood development for those most in need is a core value at The New York Community Trust, which is why we’re thrilled to fund this effort.”

“Research showed that by transforming the environment with compelling, fun graphics and engaging interactive elements, we were able to reinforce important health and literacy messages for all types of learners,” said Leslie Bushara, Deputy Director of Education at CMOM. “This repetition, at home, at school and in the community, makes it easier for parents and children to grasp, remember and put into action what they’ve learned.”

CMOM’s work with New Yorkers experiencing homelessness began more than 18 years ago with an innovative program that welcomed teen mothers and their children to the museum for a weekly writing, arts and parenting workshop. Over the years, thousands of mothers and children in need have benefitted from this program, which continues to be offered at the Museum today.

CMOM and the Department of Homeless Services began their learning-hub partnership in December 2014, opening the first installations in Spring 2015 at a NYC Department of Homeless Services transitional housing locations in Brooklyn, the Bronx and Manhattan.

“Our city is blessed with so many amazing cultural and educational institutions like the Children’s Museum of Manhattan,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale A. Brewer. “It’s important that we make the most of this resource, forging more partnerships like this one to enrich the lives of children and families in need.”

“The epidemic of homelessness in our City is a heartbreaking reality for so many families across the five boroughs, and can have particularly devastating effects on children,” said Council Member Mark Levine. “Providing resources to ease the burden of homelessness on even just one child can make a world of difference, and I’m thrilled that the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and Department of Homeless Services are partnering to address that challenge. The new Health and Learning Hub in Harlem will be an invaluable educational resource for countless families and I look forward to the program’s opening this fall.”

“When I saw the Museum here doing healthy activities with the kids, I thought it was great,” said Orlando Cotto, former shelter resident. “They are opening up their creativity and learning about vegetables! They got something really good going on here.”

In addition to Target and The New York Community Trust, funding for the health and learning hub initiative and related programming was provided by Morgan Stanley Foundation, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, Walmart Foundation, and Chapparal Foundation.

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About the Department of Homeless Services

The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) works to prevent homelessness before it occurs, address street homelessness and assist homeless New Yorkers in transitioning from shelter and the street to permanent housing. DHS collaborates with not-for profit partners to provide temporary shelter and services that homeless New Yorkers need to achieve and maintain housing permanency. In April 2016 Mayor de Blasio announced a major restructuring of homeless services in New York City, followed by the release of a comprehensive plan in February 2017 to turn the tide on homelessness, neighborhood by neighborhood. The plan’s guiding principle is community and people first; giving homeless New Yorkers, who come from every community across the five boroughs, the opportunity to be sheltered closer to their support networks and anchors of life in the communities they called home in order to more quickly stabilize their lives.

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM)—a citywide resource for children, families, and educators—creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences, and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curriculums built on evidence-based early childhood research and the museum sciences. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers tools and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, homeless shelters, libraries, and hospitals. In 2017, CMOM purchased 361 Central Park West. The new site is expected to open in late 2021. www.cmom.org

About The New York Community Trust

The New York Community Trust connects past, present, and future generous New Yorkers with vital nonprofits working to make a healthy, equitable and thriving community for all. It is a public grantmaking foundation dedicated to improving the lives of residents of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island. Visit us at nycommunitytrust.org.

See on danspapers.com »

Dan’s Papers covers the appointment of Shannon Bauer Aronson and Matthew Messinger as new co-chairs of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Board of Trustees.

By Kim Megson 

Attractions Management covers the selection of FXCollaborative as architects for the transformation of 361 Central Park West into the new home of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

See on attractionsmanagement.com »

by Anna Gibertini

Interior Design Magazine covers the selection of FXCollaborative as architects for the conversion of 361 Central Park West to a new home for the Museum.

View on InteriorDesign.net »

by Lee Lawrence

“Whether it is to learn, laugh or be challenged, to share discovery or wonder, art brings people together. And whether by stimulating appreciation or controversy, art helps people understand each other. This sounds straightforward enough, but is it true? Does art really do this and, if so, how? Those were my questions as I set out to write about the Building Bridges Program, which since 2007 has backed arts initiatives in the us through a total of 138 grants, all of them focused on Arab and Islamic cultures.”

Read entire article on aramcoworld.com »

News India reports on the Consul General of India in New York Sandeep Chakravorty’a visit to the Museum on February 28 where he presented a check for $10,000 in support of the Museum’s upcoming exhibit The Namaste Express.

Read article on newsindiatimes.com »

View as PDF »

From: Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Contact: Rubenstein Communications
Adam Miller 212-843-8032, [email protected]
Kyle Sklerov 212-843-8486, [email protected]
________________________________________________________________________
For Immediate Release

Children’s Museum of Manhattan Announces Selection of FXCollaborative as Architect to Transform Its Historic Building at 361 Central Park West into a 21st Century Museum

Museum’s New Building Will Double Its Exhibition Space and Accommodate More Than Twice the Number of Visitors

(New York, New York – Feb. 26, 2018) After a careful selection process, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) today announced that FXCollaborative will lead the architectural design and planning process for its newly acquired building, an historic church at 361 Central Park West at 96th Street.

The 1903 building, designed by Carrère & Hastings to house the First Church of Christ, Scientist, will be adapted into a vibrant and engaging space for New York City’s children and families. The renovation is expected to double the amount of exhibition space while accommodating up to twice as many visitors a year. The Museum anticipates moving into the new building in late 2021.

“We are excited to begin the design process with FXCollaborative as we plan for a future where we can engage even more children and families across New York City,” said Laurie M. Tisch, Founding Board Chair and Co-chair, Capital Campaign, Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

“FXCollaborative has the experience and creative vision that’s needed to work respectfully within a landmarked building, and a particular understanding of complex programs and designing spaces for children,” halley k harrisburg, Co-chair, Capital Campaign, Children’s Museum of Manhattan, noted.

With additional room, the Museum will be able to feature multiple exhibits and programs simultaneously. This will allow for cross-pollination between content areas—selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their young lives—such as the arts and creativity, early childhood, health and the environment, and world cultures.

“FXCollaborative is committed to designing environments that fulfill and uplift the human spirit,” said Sylvia Smith, Senior Partner, FXCollaborative. “We are looking forward to working with CMOM to transform 361 Central Park West into a national destination.”

The breadth and diversity of FXCollaborative’s experience were critical to the Children’s Museum’s selection of the firm. CMOM’s current Board Co-chairs Shannon Bauer Aronson and Matt Messinger agreed. “CMOM is an ever-evolving place for the most transformative and unpredictable people: children. FXCollaborative is not a rigid practice. It was clear that the desire for positive change and the constant search for new ideas are baked into its culture.” Aronson, harrisburg, and Messinger all served on the selection committee. The museum was supported in its selection process by Denham Wolf’s Project Management Services group.

FXCollaborative was also responsible for the renovation of the historic Lion House at the Bronx Zoo. The Lion House had been closed to visitors since the late 1970s. The structure’s landmark designation posed a challenge of how to maximize needed space while preserving the original structure.

“We were impressed with FXCollaborative’s initial thinking about the marriage of our program with a distinctive landmark building,” said Andy Ackerman, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “In addition to providing us with more space, 361 Central Park West will serve as an extraordinary teaching tool to introduce children to the art of architecture.”

FXCollaborative’s cultural and educational projects include the new Statue of Liberty Museum, the Center for Global Conservation at the Bronx Zoo, the renovation and expansion of Alice Tully Hall and The Juilliard School, The Spence School, The Calhoun School, Ramaz Lower School, and Brooklyn Friends School.

In addition to dedicated performance areas, galleries, and studio workspaces, the new CMOM will offer visitors amenities targeted to the needs of families. These will include quiet spaces for nursing, stroller storage, and even a café. The new building will be completed in late 2021. Until then, the Children’s Museum will continue operations at its 212 West 83rd Street home.

###

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan
The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan—a citywide resource for children, families, and educators—creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences, and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curriculums built on evidence-based early research and the museum sciences. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers tools and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, homeless shelters, libraries, and hospitals. www.cmom.org

About FXCollaborative
FXCollaborative leverages broad expertise in architecture, interiors, and planning to enrich our world with responsible, intelligent, and beautiful design. The firm’s holistic approach integrates client aspirations, an urban sensibility, and a celebration of the craft of building. FXCollaborative’s work ranges from the scale of individual buildings and interiors— cultural facilities, K-12 and higher-education institutions, office towers, multi-family residences, workplaces—to the city as a whole, addressing infrastructure and transportation. www.fxcollaborative.com

by Danielle Valente

TimeOut NY Kids covers the Museum’s architect selection for rennovation of 361 Central Park West as the Museum’s future home.

View on TimeOut.com »

by Amy Plitt

Read on Curbed NY

The Art Newspaper covers the selection of FXcollaborative as the architect for the Museum’s future home at 361 Central Park West.

See on theartnewspaper.com »

By Diana Bell

Costar covers the Museum’s purchase of 361 Central Park West, interviewing Matthew Messinger, co-chair of the Children’s Museum Board of Directors and Christopher Terry, partner in the real estate practice at Kleinberg Kaplan who advised the Museum during the purchase. 

Read on Costar.com »

The Children’s Museum Acquires Vacant UWS Church for $45M
CMOM Will Base Permanent Home at the Landmark and Move in 2021
By Diana Bell
February 1, 2018

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has closed on its new permanent home, purchasing 361 Central Park West (1 W. 96th St.) in New York City for $45 million, or about $1,500 per square foot, from North Development Group.

Law firm Kleinberg Kaplan advised the museum in its acquisition of the property, a 30,000-square-foot landmarked church originally built in 1900 on one-third of an acre in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.

CMOM says it will open the doors to its new location in 2021. Until then, it remains in its leased space at 212 W. 83rd St., which is owned by Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church.

“The repurposed building will offer approximately three times the exhibit space of the existing Children’s Museum. We currently serve hundreds of thousands of families from a wide range of socio-economic backgrounds. With the additional space, we’ll be able to reach even more. We’re pleased to have acquired this free-standing building. It is a building that proclaims, ‘You are in New York!’,” says Matthew Messinger, co-chair on the board of directors at CMOM and CEO of Trinity Place Holdings Inc.

Messinger tells CoStar News the property’s proximity to Central Park is a tremendous added benefit, as the institution is committed to early childhood health.

Architects Carrere & Hastings built 361 Central Park West, known as the First Church of Christ, in Beaux-Arts style. First, the property needs a little TLC.

“We worked with seller’s counsel to negotiate the purchase and sales agreement and performed diligence relative to title and survey matters. There were some minor issues with the building – it has not been occupied for a few years, some facets of the building did not receive the love and attention they would have if in use,” Christopher Terry, partner in the real estate practice at Kleinberg Kaplan, tells CoStar News. The Church intends on preserving the building’s exterior.

The previous ownership group had sought a zoning variance on the unoccupied Church which was denied, according to Terry. CMOM is not seeking a variance and will utilize the property in its original community use.

“We have not finalized an engagement with an architect yet. Once we’ve completed the design process, we’ll be able to share more details on the interior renovations and structural elements. Until then, we know that some of the interior ceiling heights are approximately 60 feet high. We expect to use that volume of space, possibly adding levels and floors inside. We also plan to include an homage to the building’s earlier uses. We know that in addition to exhibition space, we would like to feature dedicated performance areas, galleries, studio work spaces and, of course, the new museum will offer visitor amenities targeted to the needs of families. These will include quiet spaces for nursing, stroller storage, and even a café,” Messinger explains.

North Development Group acquired the church in April 2014 for $26 million, or about $867 per square foot, from Crenshaw Christian Center East, a subsidiary of Los Angeles-based Crenshaw Christian Center, according to CoStar data.
See CoStar COMPS #3066982.
Working on behalf of CMOM was a Kleinberg Kaplan team including Terry, fellow real estate practice partner Ross Yustein, managing partner of the real estate practice Andrew Chonoles and associate Michael Scharpf.

Brokerage firm Denham Wolf was involved in buyer-side negotiations.

Please see CoStar COMPS #4095902 for additional information on this transaction.

By Justin Maki

Kyodo News covers the opening of the Hello From Japan! exhibit on the first floor of the museum, with interviews with exhibit designers Tim Cramer and Ellen Bari.

Read on english.kyodonews.net »

By Tom Jacobs »

Research by New York University‘s Tara Mandalaywala and Marjorie Rhodes conducted at the Children’s Museum indicates that young children (ages 5-6) “largely reject the belief that an individual’s personality and abilities are determined by one’s skin color.”

Read on psmag.com »

Sunday Funday covered in the confidential section of the New York Daily News.

By Rebecca Fiore

Manhattan Express News covers the purchase of 361 Central Park West.

Read on manhattanexpressnews.com »

BY DOUGLAS FEIDEN

The West Side Spirit covers the architectural history 0f 361 Central Park West and the Museum’s purchase of the building at the end of December 2017.

See on Westsidespirit.com »

By Associated Press

Coverage of the Museum’s purchase of 361 Central Park West.

See on Crainsnewyork.com (paywall) »

by The Associated Press

NEW YORK – (AP) — The Children’s Museum of Manhattan says it has completed its $45 million purchase of a new home: a former church right across from Central Park.

The museum completed the purchase of the former Church of Christ, Scientist on Dec. 22.

The New York Times reports that the new location at 96th Street and Central Park West is about 70,000 square feet, almost twice the size of the museum’s current home on West 83rd Street.

The old location has been the museum’s home since 1989.

The new building is scheduled to open in 2021. Museum Executive Director Andrew Ackerman says the new space will focus on arts and creativity, early-childhood programming, health education and cultural literacy.

Read on Newsday.com »

WNBC News 4 NY covers the Museum’s purchase of 361 Central Park West.

See it on Critical Mention »

WINS-AM covers the Museum’s purchase of the historic church at 361 Central Park West.

Hear it on Critical Mention »

WNYC-FM covers the museum’s purchase of a historic church building.

Hear it on Critical Mention »

Pat Kiernan at New York 1 News highlight’s the Museum’s purchase of 361 Central Park West in his What’s in the Papers segment.

See it on Critical Mention »

By Laurel Graeber

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan completed the $45 million purchase of its new home: the former Church of Christ, Scientist, at 96th Street and Central Park West. 

Read on NYTimes.com »

ACLU STAND Magazine winter 2018

America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far’s travel to the Creative Discovery museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and the Muhammed Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, is covered in the ACLU STAND magazine’s Guide: Arts+Culture section.

By Brendan Krisel, Patch National Staff 

Upper West Side Patch covers the Museum’s purchase of 361 Central Park West.

View on patch.com »

Read it on Habitatmag.com »

Habitat Magazine covers the museum’s purchase of 361 Central Park West.

By Will Parker

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan will eventually move to a new home after buying a former church at 361 Central Park West for $45 million, property records filed with the city Tuesday show.

Brooklyn investor Joseph Brunner, who had planned condominiums for the First Church of Christ Scientist site but was ultimately rejectedby the Board of Standards in 2016, was the seller.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s is currently located 13 blocks south on West 83rd Street. 361 Central Park West lies between West 96th and 97th Streets.

In a statement to The Real Deal, the museum’s executive director, Andrew Ackerman, said the museum was at capacity at its 83rd Street location and had been actively looking for a new one.

“We look forward to discussing our vision with the community in more detail in the coming weeks, as we begin the formal planning and design process to reactivate the building into a world-class children’s museum for families to visit, explore, and feel part of our great city,” he said, suggesting that the new facility the museum is planning will preserve elements of the existing church.

In 2014, Brunner bought 361 Central Park West for $42 million from Ira and Irene Shapiro. The deal was not smooth, however, as $10 million of that was allegedly contingent upon successfully clearing the condo project with the city, according to a suit filed by Brunner against the Shapiros in 2016. The Shapiros had tried to get that $10 million that Brunner left off the closing table and Brunner sued when they sent him a notice of default on that money. His suit was dismissed with prejudice in September.

In 2015, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan was rumored to be in talks to move to a new location on the Lower East Side.

Read on therealdeal.com »

by West Sider

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has outgrown its home at 212 West 83rd Street, and it’s now making a bold move, relocating to a former church on 96th Street and Central Park West. Property records filed with the city on Tuesday showed that the museum has purchased the building for $45 million, according to The Real Deal.

In a statement to The Real Deal, the museum’s executive director, Andrew Ackerman, said the museum was at capacity at its 83rd Street location and had been actively looking for a new one.

“We look forward to discussing our vision with the community in more detail in the coming weeks, as we begin the formal planning and design process to reactivate the building into a world-class children’s museum for families to visit, explore, and feel part of our great city,” he said, suggesting that the new facility the museum is planning will preserve elements of the existing church.

The church, once the home of the the First Church of Christ, Scientist, was slated to be turned into condos. The developers even received approval from the Landmarks Preservation Commission to start work. But the Board of Standards and Appeals, a city board that hears zoning appeals, rejected the plan in 2016.

The Children’s Museum had been negotiating to move to a space on the Lower East Side, but that fell apart, setting the stage for the new plans. The museum may still have to deal with some of the same hurdles that the developers faced. A letter from the Children’s Museum to members says they expect the new building to be ready by 2021. “The new building will allow CMOM to more than double its size!  It also keeps us on the Upper West Side, is easily accessible by public transportation, and saves an architectural gem for joyous public use.”

The church, built in 1903, has already been gutted. It will invariably need considerable renovations to house a children’s museum.

See on westsiderag.com »

By Liam La Guerre

“Seems as though Brooklyn-based developer Joseph Brunner has finally ended the ill-fated saga of trying to convert a former church into residential condominiums.

Brunner has sold the landmarked building at 361 Central Park West between West 96th and West 97th Streets to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for $45 million, according to records made public today. The sale closed on Dec. 22. 

The site is the former home of the 47,000-square-foot First Church of Christ, Scientist. Brunner, a Brooklyn developer, acquired the property in 2014 for $42 million, according to The Real Deal. He filed plans under the name 361 Central Park West, LLC, to convert the property into luxury condos later that year.

The project was approved by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in March 2015, but then rejected later that year by Community Board 7, as New York YIMBY reported. The plans then went before the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals, where they were shot down again.

The museum is planning to relocate from 212 West 83rd Street between Amsterdam Avenue and Broadway on the Upper West Side due to a space crunch. It currently rents the entire 33,000-square-foot building and has been there for more than 40 years, according to CoStar Group.

“[The church] is currently at capacity at our 83rd Street location and we had been actively looking to move to a bigger home,” Andrew Ackerman, the executive director of the museum, said in a prepared statement. “361 Central Park West will allow us to serve even more children and families across the city. We look forward to discussing our vision with the community in more detail in the coming weeks, as we begin the formal planning and design process to reactivate the building into a world-class children’s museum for families to visit, explore and feel part of our great city.”

Brunner did not immediately return a request for comment.” 

Read on comercialobserver.com »

By Tanay Warerkar

An Upper West Side church once slated for a condo conversion will now be the new home of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the Real Deal reports. Due to a steady surge of visitors, the museum has been looking to expand for quite some time now.

In 2016, the Museum was considering a move to the Lower East Side megaproject, Essex Crossing, but eventually decided against it. Now, the museum won’t have to move too far from its current location on West 83rd Street.

The move will take the museum less than 15 blocks north to 361 Central Park West. The museum purchased the church for $45 million, according to city records. That church, located between West 96th and 97th Streets, was once set to be converted into 35 apartments, but the developer anticipated a rejection from the city’s Board of Standards and Appeals, and eventually nixed plans to redevelop the site.

While the Children’s Museum’s design plans at its new location have yet to be finalized, the museum is hoping to preserve some elements of the existing church into the new space, the executive director for the museum, Andy Ackerman, told TRD. Neighbors will get to voice their opinions about the new space as the project goes through the city’s approvals process in the coming months.

• Children’s Museum of Manhattan buys 361 CPW for its new home [TRD]
• Contentious Central Park West Church Conversion Is On Hold [Curbed]
• Children’s Museum ends talks for Essex Crossing outpost [Curbed]

Read on Curbed.com »

View this release as a PDF »

From:          Children’s Museum of Manhattan

Contact:      Rubenstein Communications

Adam Miller 212-843-8032, [email protected]

Kyle Sklerov 212-843-8486, [email protected]

________________________________________________________________________

For Immediate Release

Children’s Museum of Manhattan Announces Plan to Move to Bigger Home to Serve More New York City Children and Families

Recently Acquired Space at 361 Central Park West will Allow Museum to Triple its Exhibition Space, and Serve Double the Number of Visitors

(New York, New York – January 23, 2018) – After a multi-year search, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) announced it has purchased the former First Church of Christ, Scientist at 361 Central Park West and 96^th Street as the Museum’s future home. The new building is expected to triple the Museum’s amount of exhibition space while accommodating up to twice as many visitors a year.

CMOM is currently at capacity at its West 83^rd Street location. Attendance is about 375,000 per year, almost double its early years, making it among the most densely visited museums in the city on a visitor per square foot basis.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for an institution,” said Matt Messinger, Board Co-chair, Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “Our new home on Central Park West will enable the Museum to expand its educational mission and reach twice the number of visitors.” Board Co-chair Shannon Bauer Aronson agreed, adding, “Returning this extraordinary building to public use will benefit both the Museum and all New Yorkers.”

The 1903 building, built by Carrère & Hastings, has stood vacant for years. With the acquisition of the property complete, CMOM will engage an architect and begin the design phase. The Museum is committed to working with a New York-based team practiced in renovating landmarked buildings and expects to move into the new building in late 2021.

“For 28 years, the Archdiocese of New York City has been a gracious landlord. They have stood with us to make the lives of our City’s children better for which we are grateful,” said Andrew S. Ackerman, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “Now we look forward to collaborating with our many constituents to create a much larger center for learning and discovery that reflects NYC’s diversity.” Ackerman also noted that the exhibits and programs would continue unabated at CMOM’s 212 West 83rd Street site until the move.

The purchase of the building was made possible thanks to CMOM’s board of directors and a few early visionary funders such as Laurie M Tisch and the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, the Bezos Family Foundation, Nickelodeon, and S. Donald Sussman.

“I am thrilled to be part of the coming transformation of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan,” said Laurie M. Tisch, President, Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund and Campaign Co-chair and Founding Board Chair, Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “The Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund has long supported outreach and education programs that help CMOM serve hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers in every borough. In the coming years, the Museum will be able to reach even more people with fun and educational exhibitions and creative programming.”

CMOM has served as a point of entry to New York City’s cultural life for millions of children since opening in 1973. With additional room, the Museum will be able to feature multiple exhibits and programs simultaneously. This will allow for cross-pollination between content areas – selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their lives – the arts and creativity, early childhood, health and the environment, and world cultures.

Known for making complex topics accessible to family audiences, CMOM’s groundbreaking exhibits have included “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” “EatSleepPlay™: Building Health Every Day,” and “Art Inside Out.” The latter exposed families to the working processes of artists and provided a welcoming entry point into New York’s world of art and museums.

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) has been a part of my family’s life since our first daughter was born. We have benefitted greatly – like so many others – from the Museum’s exhibits, programs, classes, and outreach efforts. I am especially proud of CMOM’s commitment to providing a first museum experience for all of New York’s children and families,” noted halley k harrisburg, Campaign Co-chair, Former Board Chair of the Children’s Museum.

In addition to dedicated performance areas, galleries and studio workspaces, the new CMOM will offer visitors amenities targeted to the needs of families. These will include quiet spaces for nursing, simpler stroller storage, and even a café.

Renovations at 361 Central Park West are expected to be complete by late 2023.

###

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83^rd Street, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula built on evidence-based early research and the museum sciences. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers tools and strategies for parents, caregivers and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals.  www.cmom.org

CBS 2’s Jessica Moore interviews children at the Museum about their New Year’s resolutions during the Museum’s practice drop on December 29.

See it on Critical Mention »

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been excellent in developing exhibitions that expand kids’ world views and expose them to different cultures. The museum has already explored China, Japan, ancient Greece and more in past exhibitions, and in its current exhibit, “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” tykes learn all about Muslim culture. Soon, it’ll also get to dive into Indian culture with the museum’s upcoming exhibit, “The Namaste Express.”

Beginning in summer 2018, “The Namaste Express” will take kids on an “train ride” through India to get a taste of its vibrant culture. The train will whisk passengers through various parts of the country with each stop featuring a different environment or cultural style through colors, shapes and other fun features.

Interactive activities will bring the country to life and a variety of programming will be provided to complement the exhibit. Not only will children walk away knowing how to say phrases in different languages, but they’ll also play in a grand Indian architectural fort, check out rickshaws and a street car, watch a Rajasthani puppet show, sit in at a yoga center and sing and dance along to traditional music by the Bollywood stage.

“The Namaste Express” will run for three months beginning summer 2018 with the possibly of extending the exhibit for four years in a bigger location. In the meantime, check out other cultural exhibits and events around NYC like “New York at Its Core,” “World Brooklyn,” Shababa Fridays and “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far.”

More details on the exhibit to come. In the meantime, if you’re looking for even more family fun, explore our favorite children’s museums, our favorite family attractions and the best 101 things to do with kids in NYC.

Sign up to receive great Time Out New York Kids deals in your inbox each day.​

https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/blog/travel-to-india-with-childrens-museum-of-manhattans-upcoming-exhibition-111417

‘Hello From Japan!’ 

Poor Godzilla. He didn’t make the cut.

“Hello From Japan!,” the latest exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, crams a lot of culture into one room. While it doesn’t include movie monsters — perhaps too scary? — it has other fanciful Japanese creatures: dragons, beckoning white cats (they’re good luck) and yuru-kyara, odd mascots representing places, sports teams, businesses, even individuals. The city of Narita, for instance, takes pride in its eel restaurants and busy airport, so its yuru-kyara, Unari-kun, is half eel and half airplane. Part of the fun of “Hello From Japan!” is an opportunity for children to create their own mascots; no hybrid is too bizarre.

At one end of the exhibition, you’ll stroll through displays representing Tokyo’s Harajuku district, the center of teenage life and wacky fashion. Little visitors can join the fun by dressing up according to the kawaii, or cute, aesthetic — think of Hello Kitty — and singing karaoke to tunes like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.” (A video screen shows you how to pronounce the Japanese lyrics.) This is Japan at its sweetest and silliest.

A more serious and serene aspect, though, lies across a small bridge, where the exhibition evokes one of Japan’s many Shinto shrine parks. The Shinto religion honors kami, or spirits, which are believed to exist in all things and can help humans. A reproduction of a shrine to Inari Okami, or the kami protecting rice fields, includes figures of kitsune (foxes) believed to be this spirit’s messengers. (Perhaps not surprisingly, they look like Pokémon.)

Central to this area is a big wishing tree, trees being conduits for kami. Children can follow the practice of writing wishes on ema — wooden plaques, here represented by notecards — and tying them to the branches. They may not understand the religious references — Buddhism is mentioned, too — but it’s refreshing to see a show for young people deal with non-Western faiths so straightforwardly.

The exhibition also succeeds in entertaining a range of ages. Preschoolers can build miniature bridges or serve a plate of pretend shun (seasonal food); older children can investigate the Japanese language via touch screens that allow them to trace characters with a finger, stroke by stroke, and spell the words for various fruits and vegetables. Kamishibai Weekend: The Art of Storytelling, this Saturday and Sunday, will offer traditional Japanese tales and crafts.

And yes, the show will teach you how to say hello: “Konnichiwa.”

By LAUREL GRAEBER

All the Way to K and Beyond!: Evaluation Summary by Palmer-Wolf

All the Way to K and Beyond!: Evaluation Full Report by Palmer-Wolf

NTDTV covers children at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83rd Street) making Thanksgiving cornucopias and talking about what the holiday means to them. Public Programs Director David Rios is interviewed.

Fox 5 interviews Director of Public Programs, David Rios and observes young visitors making cornucopias to celebrate the holiday and express their thanks! https://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/30946136?token=9abb950a-59bc-427b-9b21-188b6c714ffb  

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been excellent in developing exhibitions that expand kids’ world views and expose them to different cultures. The museum has already explored China, Japan, ancient Greece and more in past exhibitions, and in its current exhibit, “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” tykes learn all about Muslim culture. Soon, it’ll also get to dive into Indian culture with the museum’s upcoming exhibit, “The Namaste Express.”

Beginning in summer 2018, “The Namaste Express” will take kids on an “train ride” through India to get a taste of its vibrant culture. The train will whisk passengers through various parts of the country with each stop featuring a different environment or cultural style through colors, shapes and other fun features.

Interactive activities will bring the country to life and a variety of programming will be provided to complement the exhibit. Not only will children walk away knowing how to say phrases in different languages, but they’ll also play in a grand Indian architectural fort, check out rickshaws and a street car, watch a Rajasthani puppet show, sit in at a yoga center and sing and dance along to traditional music by the Bollywood stage.

“The Namaste Express” will run for three months beginning summer 2018 with the possibly of extending the exhibit for four years in a bigger location. In the meantime, check out other cultural exhibits and events around NYC like “New York at Its Core,” “World Brooklyn,” Shababa Fridays and “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far.”

More details on the exhibit to come. In the meantime, if you’re looking for even more family fun, explore our favorite children’s museums, our favorite family attractions and the best 101 things to do with kids in NYC.

Sign up to receive great Time Out New York Kids deals in your inbox each day.​

https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/blog/travel-to-india-with-childrens-museum-of-manhattans-upcoming-exhibition-111417

NEW YORK – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan will host an exhibition on Indian culture The Namaste Express, in the summer of 2018.

The Namaste Express will be the latest exhibition in an ongoing series of the museum’s exhibitions devoted to world cultures which have already included Ancient Greece, China, Japan and Jazz in NYC, with America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far as their current cultural exploration.

Through these exhibitions, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is able to teach children the importance of different cultures around the world and they do this by providing interactive, hands-on activities that the children can participate in, at their will, so they are able to gain a deeper understanding of the culture and its people.

In their upcoming exhibition, The Namaste Express, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan wants to celebrate the beauty and diversity of India’s different cultures and languages along with its history and technological advancements.

The exhibition will be “conceptualized as an interactive train journey through the country. The exhibition layout will allow children and families to make multiple stops at states and cities in India and sample the variety of architectural styles, cultures and environments through colors, shapes, structures and landscapes,” said Lizzy Martin, the Director of Exhibition Development and Museum Planning, at a meet to launch the exhibition, on November 6.

Some of the activities that are already underway include a Rajasthani puppet show, a Bollywood stage, a Chaat Cart (wheeled street cart), rolling rickshaws, a yoga center and a majestic Indian architectural fort, but the Children’s Museum of Manhattan wants more.

“We want families to feel like they are in India, so that is why we are asking members of the Indian American community to help us bring this cultural experience to life,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Executive Director of the museum, speaking at the meet.

“As an Indian American and a mother of two boys, I would love for my kids to learn about India while living in New York,” said Anu Shegal of Culture Tree, who also brought Diwali to the museum this year in their one day special.

The museum is not only looking for ideas from the Indian American community but wants to bring in performers, educators and artists who can bring the diverse cultures of India to life, in front of a family audience.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan plans to run the scheduled three-month exhibition in the summer of 2018 and depending upon the response, may plan to extend The Namaste Express exhibit for four years, in a much bigger location.

See PDF

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES NATIONAL TOUR FOR ITS “AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR” TRAVELING EXHIBIT

Groundbreaking, Family-Friendly Exhibit Celebrating the Diversity of Muslim Cultures across NYC and the World Will Travel to Cultural Institutions in Chattanooga, Philadelphia and Louisville after it ends its Run at the Children’s Museum on Dec. 31

New York, NY – Nov. 6, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced that its America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far, a groundbreaking, interactive exhibit for children and families that explores the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the U.S. and abroad, will travel to major cultural institutions in three U.S. cities after it closes at the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street) on Dec. 31.

Following its run in Manhattan, where it has been seen by more than half a million visitors, making it one of the most popular exhibits ever hosted by the Museum, the exhibit will be on display at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee (Feb. 3, 2018 – May 13, 2018), Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Feb. 2, 2019 – Sept. 2, 2019), and The Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

“America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far” was an important exhibit for our Museum and for the city of New York,” said Andrew Ackerman, executive director of the Children’s Museum. “At CMOM, we believe children learn about themselves by learning about others. Now more than ever, cultural institutions have a responsibility to celebrate and reflect the vibrant diversity of our nation. We’re grateful to our colleagues around the country who share this opinion.”

“At Creative Discovery Museum, we provide experiences that expand a child’s world,” said Henry Schulson, executive director of the Creative Discovery Museum. ‘America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far’ will contribute to our goal of fostering global awareness and welcoming visitors of all cultures and backgrounds to the Museum. We are delighted to be the first venue outside of New York to host this important and wonderful exhibit.”

“All of our exhibits, programs and events encourage explorations of family, community and the world, CMOM’s ‘America to Zanzibar’ exhibit will be a wonderful and timely addition to these efforts,” said Patricia D. Wellenbach, president and chief executive officer, Please Touch Museum.

“The beauty and joy of CMOM’s ‘America to Zanzibar’ exhibition is that it allows families to learn about and explore the multidimensional Muslim culture that the late Muhammad Ali embraced for 50 years,” said Donald E. Lassere, president and chief executive officer at the Muhammad Ali Center. “The discovery element of this groundbreaking exhibit fused well with our mission of preserving and sharing Muhammad’s legacy; promoting respect, hope, and understanding; and inspiring adults and children to be as great as they can be. We look forward to hosting this exhibit.”

The 3,000-square-foot exhibit is the fourth in the Museum’s Global Cultural Exhibition Series, following exhibits about the cultures of Ancient Greece, China, and Japan. The series celebrates the diversity of cultural expression across our world. An important part of the Museum’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of global citizens, the series offers family-friendly, hands-on experiences designed to engage the senses and appeal to a wide variety of learning styles.

Funding to create this exhibition was provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, MetLife Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Open Society Foundations, The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust, El-Hibri Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Goldman Sachs Gives, Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, National Endowment for the Arts, Maison de l’Artisan in Morocco, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Board of Directors and scores of individuals.

Support for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been provided by the City of New York under the leadership of Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. In addition, citywide program funding has been provided by the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

###

About the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The non-profit Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families, and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries, and hospitals. cmom.org

View on Critical Mention »

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By Cindy Hsu

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish year, begins at sundown Friday.

Yom Kippur is the day of atonement. It marks the end of a 10-day period of reflection and repentance beginning after Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year.

Observant Jews will fast for 25 hours.

Yom Kippur ends at sundown Saturday with a blast from the shofar, an ancient instrument made of a ram’s horn.

Earlier in the day, CBS2’s Cindy Hsu took a look at the holiday through the eyes of children.

Shormi Uddin was teaching kids at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to make charity boxes for Yom Kippur.

“By making these boxes, kids get to learn more about the Jewish religion and maybe even more about charity,” she said.

Noa Abehassera, 9, described Yom Kippur as “I know that it’s a day where we say sorry to all the people we did bad things to.”

Rabbi Peter Rubinstein with the 92nd Street Y said it’s a peaceful day of rest and prayer where many attend synagogue, and it’s a time to put things behind you and start fresh.

“It’s an opportunity for people to reflect on their lives and to ask forgiveness of those they know, even though they may not have thought they wronged them,” he said.

It’s also a day to fast, giving up food and drink from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday. Children aren’t expected to fast until they’re 12 or 13.

It’s a tradition both Shoshana and Miriam will take part in this year.

“You don’t eat or drink for 25 hours, which makes it really hard, but also reminds you all the time what you’re doing,” Miriam said.

“It helps you concentrate more on your mistakes in your past, so you can focus more on what you’ve done and to have God forgive you,” Shoshana added.

Yom Kippur is a solemn holiday to slow down and put things in perspective.

“This year, I definitely want to maintain a really close relationship with my family and friends and work hard to make time for everything,” 15-year-old Jacob Brooks said.

After Yom Kippur, some families will start preparing for Sukkot, which starts next Wednesday and will lead to the end of the Jewish holidays.

Some other traditions observed are not wearing leather shoes, lotions or perfumes. Also not bathing or washing to move away from the comforts of life and really focus on repenting.

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ARTIST ALEXANDRIA SMITH AND MUSEUM VISITORS TO CREATE “COLLAGE COLLABORATIONS” AT THE CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN

New York, NY— August 26, 2017— Young children and their adults will enjoy a hands-on opportunity to learn about the art of collage under the direction of artist Alexandria Smith beginning Saturday, September 2 at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. “Collage Collaborations,” is an exhibition and family program series that introduces children and families to artists who use collage as an art form. It is funded by a National Endowment for the Arts Art Works grant.

Inspired and influenced by Romare Bearden, Wangechi Mutu, Ellen Gallagher and Philip Guston Smith creates monumental collage installations that feature her own visual language and symbols. At the Museum, she will conduct interactive workshops for children under five, and their families, that showcase her work and artistic process. Workshops participants will work with the artist to create a collaborative artwork that will be on display at the Museum for eight weeks.

Smith’s work has been showcased at the Schomburg Center, Scaramouche Gallery and Thierry Goldberg Gallery. She received her formal arts training at Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Parsons The New School for Design, NYU and Syracuse University where she studied with Coco Fusco, Mira Schor, Dipti Desai and Leslie Hewitt.

Smith is the second distinguished artist to lead a series of weekend workshops as part of “Collage Collaborations.” Each workshop explores the artist’s creative process, the practice of collage, and collage’s impact on early childhood development through collaborative art-making. Artist Naomi Reis kicked off the series in April. In December, visitors will have the opportunity to work with Tai Hwa Goh.

Children work with each artist on a large-scale collaborative artwork. At the end of the series and under the direction of David Rios, the Museum’s Director of Public Programs, Museum arts educators continue collaborating with families to complete the artworks. Each piece is then displayed at the Museum alongside existing works by each artist.

“Collage Collaborations” began in April 2017 and continues through January 2018. For more information on this and other projects supported by NEA Art Works Grants, visit arts.gov/news. For information on the Children’s Museum, visit www.cmom.org.

About the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) does what is good for children. By creating experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and the humanities, CMOM helps children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Based on research, evaluation, and testing, our programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. The Museum’s special areas of focus—selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their lives—include early childhood education, creativity, health and world cultures.

Founded in 1973 as a grassroots, neighborhood organization to help bring the arts to New York City public schools, the Children’s Museum is committed to serving a diverse audience. As a citywide resource and a destination for visitors from around the world, each year more than 350,000 people visit our 38,000 square-foot learning facility on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Thousands more benefit from our outreach programs at schools, libraries, homeless shelters, Head Start Centers and hospitals. www.cmom.org

View video on Critical Mention »

by Caryn Cooper

Let’s Dance! is an immersive exhibit for children and their families that showcases the joy, beauty, and diversity of dance across New York City and the world. The exhibition, slated to run from July 1st to December 31st 2017, features a number of opportunities to learn about dance through daily live performances, various workshops, and a dance-portal projection dome! In conjunction with the ongoing initiative of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), Gateway to the Arts, this project is designed to introduce children to dance as an art form, an expression of diverse cultures and traditions, and as a healthy physical activity.

View entire article on BroadwayWorld.com »

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Legendary boxer Muhammad Ali is being honored at an exhibit in the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

“Anything Muhammad Ali-related, I think is an important thing, especially for us,” one museum visitor said. “I remember when he first came into prominence. He had a real big influence on me as a child, because he stood for everything he believed in.”

A pair of boxing gloves, along with old photos, fight posters, and memorabilia from the 1960 Olympic Games, are among the items on display.

View video on NY1.com »

Come Monday, eyes will be on the sky to witness a rare solar eclipse. In the tri-state, it won’t be a total eclipse but people could still be risking their vision. Roseanne Colletti has more.
See on nbcnewyork.com»

Report on Dynamic H2O by NTDTV

View full report on NTDTV.com »

Interesting. Unusual. Uniquely NYC. Highlights of this week’s cheat sheet to the top events include Let’s Dance!, Robert Rauschenberg, The Legacy of Lynching, and more. Get the NYC-ARTS Top Five in your inbox every Monday and follow @NYCARTS on Twitter to stay abreast of events as they happen.

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Kids can now show off their best moves at a new exhibit on the Upper West Side. As NY1’s Shannan Ferry explains, the interactive space opened just ahead of National Dance Day.

The 1,500 square foot exhibit opened Thursday at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. It features an interactive video portal, costumes, stage lighting, instruments, and more. Curator Ellen Bari says the goal is to get children engaged with dance as an art form.

Organizers say they timed the opening to coincide with ‘National Dance Day,’ which is Saturday. The celebration encourages Americans to dance to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Parents and kids we spoke seem to have no problem jumping in on the action.

Admission to the museum is $14.

The exhibit runs through December, and includes daily workshops.

View video on NY1 website »

View on Critical Mention »

by EdLab at Teachers College, Columbia University

See on the Vialogues website »

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF “LET’S DANCE!”

New Exhibit Opening July 1 Features Daily Live Dance Performances and Workshops as well as an Interactive Video Installation that Lets Children Dance Along with World-Class Dance Companies

New York, NY – June 19, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83rd Street) today announced the opening of Let’s Dance!, a new immersive exhibit for children and families that showcases the extraordinary joy, beauty, and diversity of dance across New York City and the world. The exhibition runs from July through December 2017 and introduces visitors to dance from a variety of entry points: as an art form, as an expression of diverse cultures and traditions, and as a healthy physical activity. Let’s Dance! features daily live performances and workshops along with a dance portal projection dome showcasing world-class dance companies inviting children to dance along.

From ballet to Bollywood, from the hora to the hula, Let’s Dance!, a 1,500-square-foot exhibit located in the Museum’s lower level gallery, offers visitors hundreds of ways to engage with dance. Visitors to the exhibit can, among other things:

• Interact with the immersive video projection dome dance portal to watch, learn and dance along with more than 25 renowned professional, community, and student dance companies from New York and abroad
• Create multicolor shadow dances on the “stage” while exploring lighting design with a child-friendly lighting box
• Choreograph a series of dance patterns while learning the language of dance and using movable signs, engaging props and fun costumes
• Experiment with authentic percussion instruments, drumming unique beats and rhythms
• Explore and capture new dance positions by manipulating poseable figures
• Be inspired by photography and video that celebrate the breadth of the dance world, including the fabulous New York City Dance Parade, and dance in New York City’s public schools as seen in PS Dance. 
• Participate in a dance workshop then take a seat to experience world-class performances!

  The exhibit is the latest iteration of the Children’s Museum’s ongoing Gateway to the Arts initiative.

  “Let’s Dance!, like all our Gateway to the Arts programs, is designed to introduce children and families to the arts and to improve cultural equity by bringing a diverse array of New York City arts and cultural institutions to the Museum,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “We believe the innovative combination of exhibition and programming found in Let’s Dance! will also pique the interest of new audiences and develop advocates for the amazing performers and arts organizations found across our city.”

  Dance organizations participating in the dance portal include Ajna Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet Hispánico, Bare Feet with Mickela Mallozzi, Blanca Li, Camille A. Brown & Dancers, Dancing Classrooms NYC, Elisa Monte Dance, Féraba – African Rhythm Tap Company, Halau Hula Kealohilani, KaNu Dance Theatre, Mark Morris Dance Group, Martha Graham Dance Company, New York Theatre Ballet, Silva Dance Company, Steps on Broadway, and Thunderbird American Indian Dancers.

  Let’s Dance! reaffirms the Museum’s long-standing dedication to the arts as essential to early childhood development. Research shows that dance boosts children’s self-confidence, imagination, memory, social skills and happiness, in addition to being fun and healthy.

  To ensure the exhibition included both the breadth of NYC’s dance community and the latest information on the value of dance to a child’s physical and emotional well-being, the Museum convened an advisory committee of dance educators, performers and administrators. A complete list of Let’s Dance! advisory board members can be found at

  https://cmom.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Advisory-Board-070617.pdf

  Advisory board member, Shale Wong, MD, MSPH, pediatrician, and Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine and Director of Child Health Policy and Education for the Eugene S. Farley, Jr. Health Policy Center notes, “Daily physical activity in our society is stagnant and continues to decline. Dancing offers diverse health benefits, physical, emotional and social, making it an excellent, accessible antidote to our sedentary and stressful lifestyles. When children are introduced to dance at a young age, it offers a lifelong source of fun activity that improves their health and well-being.”

  Jody Gottfried Arnhold, funder and advisory board member of Let’s Dance!, founder of Dance Education Laboratory (DEL) 92Y, and advocate for dance education agrees, “Physicality is essential to the development of young children. They discover the world through their senses and physical being. Dance experiences, like those offered in Let’s Dance! provide an entry point for children to share their feelings, explore their creativity, and begin to experiment with movement.”

  Daily family programs will further enhance the visitor experience. Children will experiment using their muscles to move like robots and animals. They will have the chance to create music and dances about favorite children’s books, develop new moves inspired by pops, snaps and beats, and even train to be superheroes with dances inspired by

  superhero theme songs. Afternoon workshops will explore dance-making through movement, architecture, design and sound. Visitors will be able to design working tap shoes, crawl, jump and dance through unusual shapes and architecture found in the exhibit, and engineer a device using markers, crayons and paint to leave a trace of each dance.

  In addition to a daily dance party, Let’s Dance! will feature live performances and workshops with teaching artists including:

  Performances:

•  Elisa Monte Dance (July 2)

•  Calpulli Mexican Dance Company (July 9)

•  Dancing Classrooms: Youth Dance Company (July 22)

•  Young Dancemakers Company (July 23)

•  Taylor 2: Paul Taylor Dance Company (July 30)

•  Ayazamana Cultural Center (Aug. 6)

  Dance workshops with guest teaching artists:

• BOLD Creative Movement with ShalomIsrael Diggs (July 6)

•  Dance Discovery with Broadway performer Angel Reed (July 13)

•  Dance around the world with Stephanie Marrow (July 20)

•  Dancing Classrooms (July 27)

•  The BrainDance with Dionne Kamara (Aug. 3)

•  Hip Hop Dance Party with Neil Fernando (Aug.10)

•  African Diasporic Dance Maxine Montilus (Aug. 17)

  Participation is free with admission. Due to space limitations, however, tickets are required for entry to some workshops and may be picked up in the Museum lobby one hour before the event. For a schedule of programs and performances: cmom.org/calendar. Programs are subject to change without notice.

  Funding for the exhibit has been provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, and Jody and John Arnhold. Dance programming has been made possible with public funding from the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council. Casio America, Inc., Drum Workshop, Inc., Harlequin Floors (American Harlequin Corporation), Putumayo World Music, Steps on Broadway, and Traveling Tutus, Inc. have provided in-kind donation

  for Let’s Dance! Learn more at cmom.org.

  About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

  The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a nonprofit, citywide resource for children, families, and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning

  environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research, and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries, and hospitals. cmom.org.

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Children’s Museum of Manhattan Hosts 11th Annual Pride Night: A Celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Parents, Extended Family and Friends

New York, NY, June 13, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM), announced today that it will host its Annual LGBTQ Pride Night on Thursday, June 22 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. Admission to the event is FREE, but RSVPs are required. The evening serves as a celebration of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender parents and children, as well as extended family and friends.

The special after-hours event includes healthy snacks, volunteer- and educator- facilitated art activities, as well as exclusive access to the Museum’s five floors of fun, interactive exhibits, including such favorites as Adventures with Dora and Diego, EatSleepPlay™: Building Health Every Day, Dynamic H2O, and America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far.

Children will be invited to mix paint on the Museum’s famous Mural Wall. They can train to be superheroes and come up with special moves inspired by superhero theme music. Throughout the evening families will be able to take photos with Maddie the New York Liberty’s Mascot, meet special guest transgender youth activist Rebekah Bruesehoff, and join in a hip-hop dance party with dance teaching artist and choreographer Neil Fernando. Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks volunteers will be on hand to assist visitors throughout the event.

“The importance of family in a young child’s life cannot be overstated. The Children’s Museum thrives today because of families – families as diverse at New York itself. We are so happy to be able to provide a place that is safe, fun and nurturing to all families. We hope the LGBT community looks forward to this event as much as we do,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director.

Hosting Pride Night offers another opportunity for CMOM to continue its celebration of families and diversity while encouraging dialogue in an environment that fosters social networking for parents and their children. Pride Night special programs for all ages include:

• Special Guest Host, Transgender Youth Activist Rebekah Bruesehoff
• Meet Maddie: Say hello to the beloved Maddie, the New York Liberty’s Mascot!
• Hip-hop Dance Party with Neil Fernando: This dance teaching artist and choreographer uses pop music, hip-hop and funk to get everyone movin’ and groovin’.
• Drag Queen Story Hour: Join Reverend Yolanda for a very special Story Time from the Drag Queen Story Hour program
• Family Photo Booth: Hop into the photo booth with Victory Photos and have fun with your family and new friends.
• Mural Wall Painting: Mix paint with new friends on the PlayWorksTM mural wall!
• Cue the Theme Music!—Superheroes in Training: Prepare for the challenge of being a superhero! Train through a series of obstacle course games and come up with special movements inspired by superhero themed music from your favorite movies and shows.
• Rainbow Bracelets: Spin, sway and dance with colors as you combine colorful rainbow ribbons to make your very own rainbow bracelets!
• Parachute Play: Blue and green, yellow and red. What colors can you find over head?

Admission to the event is FREE, but RSVPs are required and can be secured at Eventbrite: The Annual LGBTQ Pride Night at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. (https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-annual-lgbtq-pride-night-at-the-childrens-museum-of-manhattan-tickets-34368543238?aff=ehomecard)

Funding for Pride Night is made possible with the generous support of Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks. Promotional support is provided by the New York Liberty.

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a nonprofit, citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN APPOINTS LYNN B. BAYARD TO ITS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

New York, NY – May 17, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced it has appointed Lynn B. Bayard to its Board of Directors. Bayard is currently a litigation partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP. Her appointment was effective as of May 10, 2017.

“We are delighted to welcome Lynn to our board,” said halley k harrisburg, chair of the Children’s Museum’s Board of Directors. “She brings a wealth of experience to the Museum which will be invaluable for achieving our mission and our plans for the future.”

“The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is an institution beloved by children and families across the five boroughs. I am looking forward to contributing to its success,” noted Bayard.

As a litigation partner, Bayard has a diverse practice in the media, sports and entertainment industries, representing songwriters and music publishers, television networks, sports leagues and motion picture studios, with a focus on copyright and trademark matters.

Bayard has been recognized by The Legal 500 for her copyright practice. In addition, she has extensive IP transactional experience including drafting and negotiating license agreements, and regularly represents on a pro bono basis non-profit organizations in connection with publishing and arts-related matters.

Bayard is currently the chair of the board of Children’s Cause for Cancer Advocacy (CCCA), a pediatric cancer advocacy organization devoted to finding more effective and less toxic therapies for children, and enhancing the lives of childhood cancer survivors. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania in 1990 and Boston University School of Law in 1995. Bayard lives on the Upper West Side with her daughter.

About the Children’s Museum of Manhattan The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. www.cmom.org.

By Reed Dunlea on Circa.com

Visitors are encouraged to interact with the different sections of the exhibit, from a virtual tour of mosques around the world to a pretend marketplace, to a screen that teaches you how to say “my name is” in different languages. “They’re immersive, they’re hands on, they’re interactive, they’re multi-sensory. Basically, we’re wanting the child’s natural curiosity to be completely catered to,” said Lizzy Martin, Director of Exhibit Development and Museum Planning . “We want them to touch, to smell, to feel, and almost to pretend that they are of the culture themselves.”

See full article on circa.com »

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF OUTDOOR WATER EXHIBIT, “DYNAMIC H2O”

Interactive Exhibit, Which Celebrates Water and Explores the Incredible Story of How New York City Gets its Supply from Upstate, Opens Memorial Day and Runs through September

New York, NY – May 15, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced the opening of Dynamic H2O, an outdoor water exhibit offering children of all ages and their families a fun place to chill while they learn how New York City gets its water and the role water plays in in our local environment. The exhibit in the Sussman Environmental Center at the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street), which made a huge splash with visitors when it debuted last season, reopens May 27 and runs through September, weather permitting.

The exhibit, which features hands-on interactives and fresh, colorful graphics, dives into NYC’s water supply system, which delivers about 1.1 billion gallons per day to 9.5 million New Yorkers, and whose world-class drinking water travels downhill from upstate watersheds extending more than 125 miles from the city.

The exhibit features a 16-foot interactive water table that lets children trace the path of New York City’s water as they play and explore. The experience begins with the water cycle in the clouds. Children can release a rain shower and place small floating droplets in the resulting river as water moves downstream toward the city. There’s also an area where kids can create waterfalls, build dams and pretend to fish. Opportunities for discovery continue as the water streams toward a build-your-own city that awaits future engineers and architects.

“Dynamic H2O, offer families more than a place to cool off. We use fun, age-appropriate programs and activities to introduce children to the importance of water, as well to familiarize them with the marine life of our rivers, and with even water-related careers,” said Andrew Ackerman, Children’s Museum’s executive director. “We worked closely with the NYC Department of Environmental Protection to ensure that the exhibit’s content is scientifically accurate as well as entertaining.”

“We are thrilled that this exciting, interactive exhibit is returning to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to teach young people about the engineering marvel that is New York’s City’s water supply system,” said DEP Acting Commissioner Vincent Sapienza.

Additional highlights of the 800-square-foot, three-level exhibit include:

• An interactive of NYC buildings designed to help children understand how gravity and pumps are essential in providing water to houses and skyscrapers across the city
• Magnetic tubes that can carry water allow visitors to create the aqueducts and tunnels that transport the water from upstate to NYC. Children will be challenged to piece together enough pipes to span the “100 miles” from the Catskills to the city.
• Outdoor laboratories where children can enjoy inquiry-based exploration, assuming the roles of some the people involved in maintaining NYC’s water supply including marine biologists, ecologists and other scientists.

A full range of educator-led workshops will occur throughout the exhibit’s run.

Dynamic H2O was made possible in part by Carolyn Tisch Blodgett and Will Blodgett, and the Institute for Museum and Library Services. Additional support for education programs was provided by the Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

For more information about the exhibit, please visit www.cmom.org

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — While Mother’s Day only falls once a year, most mothers like to give a lot of advice to their children all year round.  CBS2’s Cindy Hsu sat down with some adorable little ones to find out the best advice they ever received from their moms.

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/05/12/mothers-day-advice/

Time Out New York Kids by Allie Early

Check out the greatest exhibit at children’s museums that are happening right now!  Your kids will love ’em.
https://www.timeout.com/new-york-kids/things-to-do/nyc-museums-best-new-exhibits-for-kids

WNBC News 4 New York
http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/26895225?token=4904ef80-530d-4ec3-a841-60fcfcfac2b9

WLNY (TV 10/55) WLNY News

http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/26895230?token=4904ef80-530d-4ec3-a841-60fcfcfac2b9

WPIX (CW)  PIX11 News

http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/26896763?token=4904ef80-530d-4ec3-a841-60fcfcfac2b9

HAND TO HAND  – By Lizzy Martin and Andrew Ackerman
In 2010, Children’s Museum of Manhattan staff proposed to the board of directors that the next exhibition…
Hand to Hand,  Association of Children’s Museums Publication

WASHINGTON POST  – By Associated Press

NEW YORK — An exhibition about Muslim cultures around the world is proving popular at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

The museum has seen an increase in visitors since the show opened, with a third of those visitors from outside the New York area.

The show, called “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” runs through December and will open in February 2018 at the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee, followed by a run in 2019 at the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia.

“As a first-of-its-kind exhibition, the content of ‘America to Zanzibar’ is new for most visitors,” said Andrew Ackerman, the museum’s executive director. “Many parents are eager for their children to experience a broad range of cultures in a deeper way than what they encounter in the media. Our exhibition helps address this need.”
The exhibition includes interactive features like a global marketplace where children can pretend to buy spices from Egypt, ceramics from Turkey and rugs from Morocco. They can also weigh their catch at the Zanzibar fish market, smell Indonesian fruits, serve Tajik tea and design outfits inspired by West African tailors who work in New York. And they can explore ancient trade routes on a camel or an Indian Ocean boat called a dhow.

The exhibit is decorated with geometric tile designs, patterned rugs, ceramics and other works of art. A 3-D installation shows mosque architecture from the Maldives to China.

The exhibit is designed for children aged 2 to 10 and their families. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/muslim-culture-show-a-hit-at-childrens-museum-of-manhattan/2017/04/03/c52868f4-1895-11e7-8598-9a99da559f9e_story.html?utm_term=.356a2171b09f

NYPR (WNYC) celebrates the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far Exhibition http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/26877550?token=7adb83de-0c88-4859-9666-561dc40284dc

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National Endowment for the Arts Funds “Collage Collaborations” Exhibitions and Programming at Children’s Museum of Manhattan

New York, NY— March 27, 2017—With funding from a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works grant, young children and their adults will enjoy a hands-on opportunity to learn about the art of collage beginning Saturday, April 1 at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

“Collage Collaborations” is an exhibition and family program series that introduces children and families to artists who use collage as an art form. These distinguished artists will lead a series of weekend workshops at the Museum in April, August, and December. Workshops will explore each artist’s creative process, the practice of collage, and collage’s impact on early childhood development through collaborative art-making.

Artist Naomi Reis will kick-off the series from April 1-7. Reis will work with children on landscapes of greenery in her collage-based paintings and installations. Children will paint clear plastic sheets cut into different shapes and help Reis layer and collage these organic forms, creating a portal to a jungle landscape. The Brooklyn-based Reis was born in Shiga, Japan. She has participated in residencies at Wave Hill, the Lower East Side Printshop, the Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, and has shown at venues such as Mixed Greens, TSA New York, Susan Inglett, Field Projects, Kunsthalle Galapagos, Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Exit Art.

Alexandria Smith, another artist, will join “Collage Collaborations” on August 26-27. A recipient of numerous awards and residencies, Smith’s recent exhibitions include a solo exhibit at Scaramouche Gallery and group exhibitions at The Schomburg Center, Thierry Goldberg Gallery and Rush Arts Gallery.

On December 2-3, visitors will have the opportunity to work with Tai Hwa Goh, who has exhibited in galleries and museums such as the International Print Center, the DUMBO Art Festival, Islip Museum, and AIR Gallery. Recent exhibitions include her site-specific installations at Wave Hill in the Bronx as part of their Sun Room Project Space and BRIC House in Brooklyn.

Children will work with each artist on a large-scale collaborative artwork. At the end of the series and under the direction of David Rios, the Museum’s Director of Public Programs, Museum arts educators will continue collaborating with families to complete the artworks.

The final collages will be on view at the Museum alongside existing works by each artist.

“This NEA Art Works grant lets children under age five and their caregivers interact directly with working artists and supports our commitment to exhibit artworks by contemporary emerging artists,” noted Rios. “These opportunities are usually limited to older children, so we are delighted to introduce our youngest children to the artistic process.”

“Collage Collaborations” will take place between April 2017 and January 2018. For more information on this and other projects supported by NEA Art Work Grants, visit arts.gov/news. For information on the Children’s Museum, visit www.cmom.org.

About the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) does what is good for children. By creating experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and the humanities, CMOM helps children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Based on research, evaluation, and testing, our programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. The Museum’s special areas of focus—selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their lives—include early childhood education, creativity, health and world cultures.

Founded in 1973 as a grassroots, neighborhood organization to help bring the arts to New York City public schools, the Children’s Museum is committed to serving a diverse audience. As a citywide resource and a destination for visitors from around the world, each year more than 350,000 people visit our 38,000 square-foot learning facility on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Thousands more benefit from our outreach programs at schools, libraries, homeless shelters, Head Start Centers and hospitals. www.cmom.org

http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/04/02/trumps-arts-funding-new-york/

Wall Street Journal by MELANIE GRAYCE WEST

“NYC Arts Groups Could Take Hit With Proposed Trump Budget”
By city, New York City arts groups receive the most contributions from the National Endowment for the Arts.

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The Children’s Museum of Manhattan recognized as a Finalist for 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service

Public encouraged to share stories of institution’s excellence on IMLS Facebook page during March, April

New York, NY (March 20, 2017) – The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) today announced that the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 W. 83rd Street) is one of 30 finalists for the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. As the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community, the award celebrates institutions that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service and are making a difference for individuals, families, and communities.

“The 2017 National Medal Finalists represent the leading museums and libraries that serve as catalysts for change in their communities,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “It is our honor to recognize 30 notable institutions for their commitment to providing programs and services that improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities. We salute them and their valuable work in providing educational opportunities to their community and celebrate the power libraries and museums can have across the country.”

“This recognition is an honor for our institution,” noted Andrew S. Ackerman, executive director of the Children’s Museum. “IMLS support has been integral in helping us to serve our community and remove barriers to museum access. Our first Health and Learning Hub was developed with funding from IMLS. Today, there are Hubs in 24 Head Start Centers and homeless shelters across the city. We bring colorful graphics and interactive exhibit components from our ‘EatSleepPlay™’ and ‘PlayWorks™’ exhibitions into barren, uninspiring locations and transform them into joyful spaces that encourage healthy lifestyles and a love of learning.”

For more than 40 years, the Children’s Museum has created exhibitions and offered programs celebrating New York City’s multi-cultural communities. “For many families, a visit to the Children’s Museum may be their first visit to a museum,” said halley k harrisburg, chair of the Children’s Museum’s board of directors. “Our exhibitions are designed, and our programs are curated, to engage families in the arts and diverse cultures. In a single day, families can visit our ‘America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far’ and ‘Hello from Japan!’ exhibitions, enjoy holiday programming, and even participate in art-making, dance and musical performances featuring local artists.”

National Medal Finalists are chosen because of their significant and exceptional contributions to their communities. The Children’s Museum and IMLS are encouraging community members who visit, or have visited, the Museum to share their story on the IMLS Facebook page. To Share Your Story and learn more about how these institutions make an impact, please visit www.facebook.com/USIMLS.

The National Medal winners will be announced later this spring. Representatives from winning institutions will travel to Washington, D.C., to be honored at the National Medal award ceremony.

To see the full list of finalists and learn more about the National Medal, visit www.imls.gov/2017-medals.

About the Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) does what is good for children. By creating experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and the humanities, CMOM helps children and families thrive at home, at school, and in the community. Based on research, evaluation, and testing, our programs and exhibits are designed to address the multiple ways children learn and to help parents understand and support their children’s development. The Museum’s special areas of focus—selected for their ability to benefit children throughout their lives—include early childhood education, creativity, health and world cultures.

Founded in 1973 as a grassroots, neighborhood organization to help bring the arts to New York City public schools, the Children’s Museum is committed to serving a diverse audience. As a citywide resource and a destination for visitors from around the world, each year more than 350,000 people visit our 38,000 square-foot learning facility on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Thousands more benefit from our outreach programs at schools, libraries, homeless shelters, Head Start Centers and hospitals. www.cmom.org

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) is celebrating its 20th Anniversary. The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 123,000 libraries and approximately 35,000 museums. Our mission is to inspire libraries and museums to advance innovation, lifelong learning, and cultural and civic engagement. Our grant making, policy development, and research help libraries and museums deliver valuable services that make it possible for communities and individuals to thrive. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

IMLS: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON. D.C. – The Institute of Museum and Library Services today announced 30 finalists for the 2017 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community.

For 23 years, the award has celebrated institutions that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service and are making a difference for individuals, families and communities.

“The 2017 National Medal Finalists represent the leading museums and libraries that serve as catalysts for change in their communities,” said Dr. Kathryn K. Matthew, director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. “It is our honor to recognize 30 notable institutions for their commitment to providing programs and services that improve the lives of individuals, families and communities. We salute them and their valuable work in providing educational opportunities to their community and celebrate the power libraries and museums can have across the country.”

IMLS is encouraging those who have visited finalist libraries and museums to share their story on the IMLS Facebook page as a way to further honor their work in their respective communities. To Share Your Story, please visit www.facebook.com/USIMLS(link is external).

New York Times  By JANET MORRISSEY

As terrorism fears have mounted and tensions have escalated toward Muslims in the United States in recent years, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is doing its part to help defuse the rising anxiety. Its exhibition “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far” showcases the history, art and traditions of Muslims, with the belief that education will beat back ignorance and hate every time.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/13/arts/design/muslims-islam-exhibit-childrens-museum-manhattan-new-york.html?_r=1

NBCNews.com
From food to writing in different languages, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan wants to help children learn about different cultures.

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NorthJersey.com, By: Cheryl O’Brien , Staff Writer, @CherylDaleNews

In a glass case, located near a replica Pakistani truck and mock global market at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan are a Quran, a tunic, and a gavel owned by Mohammed Hameeduddin, Bergen County’s first Muslim mayor.

The personal items are part of an exhibit entitled America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far. And Hameeduddin, who first served as Teaneck’s mayor from 2010 to 2014 and was elected again in July, is one of several Muslim-Americans showcased in the exhibit that teaches children about the customs and experiences of Islamic cultures in America and abroad.

”I want people to see we are a diverse nation, and from that we get to learn a lot from each other,” Hameeduddin said.

The exhibit has been running since February, but Hammeeduddin’s belongings were added earlier this month.

The museum was packed on a recent Tuesday morning with children and parents browsing portraits and artifacts donated by Muslim contemporaries and playing in interactive booths where they smelled Indonesian fruit, weighed Moroccan spices, and bought prawns and changuu at a Zanzibari fish market.

Hameeduddin, a Bronx native who grew up in Teaneck, is the sole public official featured alongside local contemporary Muslim figures and emerging artists, according to Director of Exhibit Development Lizzy Martin. Along with a gavel, Hameeduddin included campaign materials from the last election in the exhibit. He ran alongside Councilman Mark Schwartz, who is an Orthodox Jew and Deputy Mayor Henry Pruitt, an African-American who identifies as Christian.

“It’s about showing that plurality in our society,” Martin said. “The diversity of the stories in the exhibit for us is key.”

Arlene Thomas of Orange took a seat near Hameeduddin’s display as her two children played on tablets that taught them how to say “my name is” in 21 different languages. They enjoy experiencing the different cultures, she said, and interacting with other children at the museum.

“You meet people from all walks of life,” she said.

Teaneck, the first town in America to voluntarily desegregate its schools, is widely regarded for its multiculturalism. The display is representative of the town, which prides itself on its diversity, Hameeduddin said.

The exhibit is running at a time when anti-Muslim sentiment is particularly high.

Hate crimes against Muslims rose in 2015 to the highest rates seen since terrorist attacks of 2001, according to Federal Bureau of Investigations data. In the days following the November election, a handful of mosques and Islamic centers around the country received hateful anti-Muslim letters, Southern Poverty Law Center reported.

“In this age of Islamophobia, I hope that by seeing me swearing in on the Quran, there are Muslim-American children everywhere dreaming a little bigger and believing that they can do and become anything they put their mind to,” Hameeduddin said.

Hameeduddin’s inclusion in the exhibit came about when his sister, Yasmeen Al-Shehab visited the exhibit when it first opened. The museum had one vacant slot with a sign encouraging visitors with special stories to reach out.

The museum plans to keep the exhibit open for another year due to its success, Director of Strategic Communications Deirdre Lurie said.

“It’s kind of an easy way to see the world,” Lurie said. “It reflects the diversity of New York City.”

  4:50 p.m. ET Dec. 22, 2016

MOMMY POPPINS, By Jody Mercier

If a trip to Japan is just slightly over your budget, but you’re still crazy—or curious—about Japanese culture, the newly reopened Hello from Japan! exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan is a perfect, albeit petite, alternative. This exhibit—the third in the Upper West Side museum’s Global Cultural Exhibition Series, following exhibitions on Ancient Greece and China, and preceding the ongoing Muslim culture exhibit—originally graced the museum in 2015 and has returned for another run, offering an immersive experience for NYC’s youngest art and museum fans.

Kawaii Central is inspired by Japan’s Harajuku district.

Hello from Japan! presents two very different aspects of Japanese culture in the CMOM-signature, kid-friendly fashion. Entering the exhibit on the museum’s ground floor, visitors cross under a colorful arch into CMOM’s vision of a Harajuku district dubbed Kawaii Central, where vibrant colors pop from each mini storefront and cute is the name of the game.

The first storefront invites visitors to “Dress Kawaii” for their journey through town and offers lively props from feathered boas and frilly tutus to dragon tails—kids are encouraged to get creative. Next, kids (and their parents) can pop into a photo booth and email themselves a keepsake. Mascot Central introduces the concept of mascots so popular in Japanese culture. A giant, colorful, flowchart hangs on the wall and lets kids find a mascot who shares their interests. A giant touchscreen then lets you in on some quirky facts about these new, funny friends. I pinpointed one and learned it was an “athletic guy who loves all sports especially hang gliding, hockey, and tai chi. He also loves to eat apples!”

Touring the exhibit with the help of my 3-year-old, I can say without a doubt, her favorite booths were the next three: Katakana Club, Pop Pop Karaoke, and Bento Joy.

In Katakana Club, she sat down at one of the many tablets and got to work practicing the art of calligraphy on an app CMOM developed specifically for the exhibition. Kids choose a fruit or vegetable, then get to practice tracing the characters necessary to write the word. I tried my hand, too, and was surprised at the precision required to get more than three-of-five stars for my work. Examples of traditional and new calligraphy utensils were on display and plenty of facts about how many characters Japanese children have to learn by the end of first grade. Take note: It was in the thousands!

RELATED: Explore Japantown with Kids and Tweens

Kids can sing and dance to nursery tunes at Pop Pop Karaoke. 

Pop Pop Karaoke allowed kids room to dance—disco lights included, naturally—and sing along to traditional nursery rhymes. Words to songs like Mary Had a Little Lamb were written in both English and Japanese as karaoke videos played. My daughter’s favorite was a Japanese music video that she kept jamming to over and over.

Once she had worked up an appetite, she headed next door to the Bento Box storefront, where she couldn’t get enough of playing restaurateur with the tiny sushi play food. Displays overhead explained how the bento box came to be as a way for Japanese mothers to fill their kids’ lunch boxes (and bellies!) with leftovers and detailed the way they “cutetify” their lunch creations, putting my ham-and-cheese sandwiches to shame.

The last storefront wasn’t really a storefront at all, but an homage to the streets of Japan, where traffic hazards are marked with crafty characters meant to reassure pedestrians and motorists that if they follow directions, everything will be all right. Plastic manhole covers were on display and showed how even the most mundane objects are artfully decorated in Japanese culture. There was also a truck because as curator Ellen Bari pointed out, there is always a truck. She knows her audience, because there was also always a line as kids waited anxiously for their turn to drive.

RELATED: Best Museums and Art for NYC Kids

Kids can play in the Streets of Japan area. Photo courtesy of the museum.

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“AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR” EXHIBITION AT CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN EXTENDED DUE TO PUBLIC DEMAND

Innovative, Interactive Exhibit Celebrating the Diversity of Muslim Cultures across NYC and the World to Tour Cultural Institutions across the United States

New York, NY – Feb. 13, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced it has extended the run of its America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far, a groundbreaking, interactive exhibit for children and families that explores the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the U.S. and abroad. The multimedia exhibit and programming at the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street) showcases the cultural expressions of various Muslim communities around the world through age-appropriate experiences with art, architecture, travel, trade, design and more.

More than 350,000 visitors have viewed America to Zanzibar since it opened on February 13, 2016, making it one of the most popular exhibits ever hosted by the Museum. It will be on display at the Children’s Museum through December after which it will travel to cultural institutions across the United States.

“New York’s Muslim residents make up a vital part of our city’s rich and diverse communities, and we’re proud to have this exhibit in one of our city’s important cultural resources,” said Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City. “With America to Zanzibar, children will have the chance to learn about Muslim cultures in an engaging and thoughtful way. We only grow stronger when we embrace and celebrate the multitude of cultural backgrounds that make up New York City.”

“We are thrilled at the public’s reception for America to Zanzibar,” noted Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “The Museum is committed to offering children and families joyous, educational experiences that celebrate the extraordinary diversity of our city, our country, and our world every day. We are also pleased that families across the country will be able to experience the exhibit for themselves beginning in 2018.”

“America to Zanzibar offers a compelling introduction to the great variety of Muslim visual art, architecture, and cultural experiences in the United States and globally,” said Bro Adams, the National Endowment for the Humanities chairman. “Guided by leading humanities scholars, this exhibit reflects the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s ongoing commitment to exploring international history and culture, and exemplifies NEH’s support for educational exhibits on world cultures.”

The 3,000-square-foot exhibit is the fourth in the museum’s Global Cultural Exhibition Series, following exhibits about the cultures of Ancient Greece, China, and Japan. The series celebrates the diversity of cultural expression across our interdependent world. An important part of the museum’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of global citizens, the series offers family-friendly, hands-on experiences designed to engage the senses and appeal to a wide variety of learning styles.

The exhibit, designed for children ages 2-10 and their families, consists of five major sections: an American Home area, a Global Marketplace, a Trade Routes area, an Architecture area, and a Courtyard.

The American Home area is a contemporary living room filled with objects donated by American Muslims. Visitors explore the wide variety of American and New York City Muslims’ stories through their unique objects, clothing, art and books. They can also learn to write “My name is…” in 21 of the languages spoken by New York Muslims, view artistic works by emerging local American Muslim artists, and follow the history of Muslims in the U.S. through a visual timeline.

The Global Marketplace features stalls from around the world brimming with sounds, smells, and goods, where children can pretend to buy and sell spices from Egypt, ceramics from Turkey and rugs from Morocco. They can also weigh their fresh catch at the Zanzibari fish market, smell Indonesian fruits, serve Tajik tea, and design outfits inspired by the West African tailors on 116th Street.

Visitors learn about the exchange of culture across continents and centuries in the Trade Routes area. Children can climb aboard a replica of a multi-level Indian Ocean dhow (boat) and experiment with navigation techniques, travel to various ports, learn to bargain, and unload goods from around the world. Below deck, they can experience a multisensory exploration of the dhow’s cargo. Children can also decorate a Pakistani truck, then hop in the cab and embark on a pretend trip through the Western Himalayas. They can also climb on top of a life-size camel and journey across the desert.

The Architecture area virtually transports visitors into a series of magnificent, international mosque architectural styles. Breathtaking panoramic images are projected onto a 21-foot curved screen and explore the wide range of aesthetic styles from Asia to Africa and America. Families can also try their hand at drafting structures complete with domes and arches, while gaining insight into architectural traditions from around the Muslim world.

The Courtyard features warm light flooding through a lattice roof. Families can explore key elements of design, water and geometric patterns that are central to a traditional Muslim courtyard. At a central fountain, visitors can sample verses from renowned Muslim poets and share how they would make the world a better place–one drop at a time. Children are also encouraged to make music with digital instruments and compete in a guessing game with authentic objects that illustrate the significance of geometric patterns in Muslim cultures.

America to Zanzibar features a selection of artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s renowned collection of Islamic art, objects from The Hispanic Society Museum and Library, and original art by five contemporary artists. The exhibit also includes music by five local musicians.

A range of workshops and programs will take place throughout the exhibit’s run. Participation is free with admission.

Over the past five years, the Children’s Museum has worked with an international network of advisors from academia, research, civil society, government and the arts in support of America to Zanzibar.

Funding has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, MetLife Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Open Society Foundations, The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust, El-Hibri Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Goldman Sachs Gives, Sultan Qaboos Cultural Center, National Endowment for the Arts, Maison de l’Artisan in Morocco, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Board of Directors and scores of individuals.

Support for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan has been provided by the City of New York under the leadership of Mayor Bill de Blasio and Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl. In addition, citywide program funding has been provided by the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

After its run at the Children’s Museum, the exhibit will travel to other cultural institutions around the country. The first stop on tour in early 2018 will be the Creative Discovery Museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Other venues will include Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2019.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula built on evidence-based early research and the museum sciences. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. www.cmom.org

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN TO OFFER SERIES OF EVENING PERFORMANCES DESIGNED TO BRING ITS “AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR” EXHIBIT MUSIC APP TO LIFE

Series Exploring Cultural Aspects of Music Launches Jan. 14

and Runs through Feb. 11

New York, NY – Jan. 10, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83rd Street) today announced it will be holding a series of special evening performances designed to bring to life the AtoZ Music App it created for its America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far exhibit, which celebrates the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the U.S. and abroad. The Many Tunes, One Melody: Muslim Arts Series, which explores the cultural aspects of music through collaborative musical jam sessions, kicks off Jan. 14 and runs through Feb. 11.

To create the AtoZ Music App, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, working with New York City-based percussionist Dan Kurfist, brought together five skilled musicians to play instruments representing a wide range of Muslim communities, musical styles and geographical locations. In addition to tremendous improvisational skill, the musicians brought a wealth of expertise about their instruments’ regional and cultural-specific sounds, from India to Egypt to Indonesia.

The creative composition was developed by laying down a simple beat track with an Indonesian frame drum known as the rebana. That was followed by the tabla, kora, oud, ney and ghijak (also jijek) – instruments that are not ordinarily played together. Wearing headphones, each musician played an original piece while listening to the tracks that had already been recorded.

A unique composition of world music was produced by mixing the individual tracks together. The melodious combination of sounds even surprised some of the musicians themselves. To create the app, the instrument tracks were separated again and programmed to give young visitors the ability to “create” their own music by playing any number of the six instruments in different combinations.

Since the recording session, the musicians have become a part of the Children’s Museum family. They were consulted during the creation of the graphic, to ensure authenticity of the animated instruments, and have given inspiring live performances, individually or in pairs, in the exhibit’s “courtyard” performance area.

Now, in collaboration with Dan Kurfist, the Children’s Museum is uniting these artists again in the Many Tunes, One Melody: Muslim Arts Series. The schedule of performances is below:

Dan Kurfirst (frame drum), Kane Mathis (kora), Roshni Samlal (tabla)

Saturday, Jan 14, 2017 | 5 pm and 6 pm

Tom Chess (oud/nay), Kane Mathis (kora), Roshni Samlal (tabla)

Saturday, Jan 28, 2017 | 5 pm and 6 pm

Dan Kurfirst (frame drum), Tom Chess (oud/nay), Gabriel Marin (jijek)

Saturday, Feb 11, 2017 | 5 pm and 6 pm

The performances are free with admission to the Museum.

Funding for the app and related programming comes from the Building Bridges Program of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art.

About the Building Bridges Program

The Building Bridges Program is the grant-making arm of the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art (DDFIA), which is an extension of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation (DDCF). Based in New York, the Building Bridges Program supports national efforts to advance relationships, increase understanding, and reduce bias between Muslim and non-Muslim communities. For more information, please visit www.ddcf.org/what-we-fund/building-bridges.

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF “HELLO FROM JAPAN!” EXHIBIT

Interactive Exhibit Exploring Tokyo’s Vibrant Culture Will Run from Jan. 20, to May 14, 2017

New York, NY – Jan. 10, 2017 – Back by popular demand, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Hello from Japan! exhibit is returning to the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street) beginning Jan. 20 through May 14, 2017. The interactive traveling exhibit, which garnered great attention and praise during its 2015 run at the museum, transports families to two distinct areas of Tokyo that exist side by side: one serene and exquisite, the other, too cute for words.

Located in the museum’s Lower Level Gallery, the 1,500-square-foot exhibit invites families to explore an immersive, child-sized Tokyo streetscape and Shinto park. Visitors learn how time-honored Japanese traditions co-exist with the contemporary culture of kawaii-inspired graphics and products, characterized by round figures, vibrant colors and a whimsical, cute aesthetic.

Based upon the colorful and bustling streets in the modern Harajuku district, Kawaii Central explores contemporary Japanese culture by evoking the friendly feel of Japanese Kawaii, an aesthetic and sensibility which emerged in the 1970s among Japanese schoolchildren and has now permeated cultures worldwide. Families are introduced to Japan’s unique culture through child-friendly characters and graphics. Visitors express their own individuality and simultaneously gain insight into modern Japanese society as they create kawaii outfits, design playful mascots for their families, serve up a seasonal Japanese meal, practice writing Japanese characters, and sign along to Japanese children’s songs in a karaoke booth.

A bridge at the end of the streetscape leads from the contemporary urban setting into a more tranquil Shinto shrine park environment. The park explores the traditional, nature-based practices and beliefs of Shinto, an indigenous Japanese religion. Families learn about the appreciation of diverse and powerful elements of nature. They are also encouraged to appreciate their own local parks, trees and natural elements after they explore the shrine area’s crawl-through forest, make a wish at a large Wishing Tree, get their fortune told and encounter a few of Japan’s kami spirits.

Hello from Japan! was the third in the museum’s Global Cultural Exhibition Series, following exhibits about the cultures of Ancient Greece and China, and preceding an exhibit which explores diversity of Muslim cultures worldwide for a family audience and is currently on display on the museum’s first floor. The series celebrates the diversity of cultural expression across our interdependent world. An important part of the museum’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of global citizens, the series offers family-friendly, hands-on experiences designed to engage the senses and appeal to a wide variety of learning styles.

“We believe learning about others helps us to learn about ourselves. This is true for both adults and children,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “An ability to appreciate cultural similarities and differences is more important now than ever. Our Global Cultural Exhibition Series, which includes Hello from Japan!, lets families have fun and make new discoveries together.”

A full range of complementary workshops and programs will occur throughout the exhibit’s run.

Hello from Japan is part of the Freeman Foundation Asian Culture Exhibit Series, funded by The Freeman Foundation and administered by the Association of Children’s Museums.

For more information about the exhibit, please visit www.cmom.org

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

New York City has no shortage of things for kids of all ages to do and explore, even when the weather isn’t cooperating outside. One of our favorite indoor spots is the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on the Upper West Side. CMOM is a 38,000-square-foot learning facility filled with tons of interactive exhibits and programs. Here are five reasons you’ll want to visit the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, a Mommy Nearest partner, this winter.

1. Visit the Hello from Japan! exhibit

After a successful run at the museum in 2015, Hello from Japan! returns on January 21. The interactive experience brings the culture of Japan—both new and old—to the fingertips of children through an array of different stations and programs. (There’s even a ton of fun facts about the country written on the walls, like how to say “hello” in Japanese—it’s Konnichiwa.) Opening weekend festivities include designing bento boxes, listening to Kamishibai storytelling and making traditional Japanese fans using anime characters. Read more about the exhibit here.

2. See America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far

If you haven’t yet visited this one-of-a-kind exhibit that celebrates Muslim cultures worldwide, we highly suggest you plan a trip. (And if you have visited, visit again!) Taking over CMOM’s first floor, the exhibit is presented in a way that children ages two to 10, and their families, can really enjoy and understand. Each component highlights important traditions such as community courtyards (where everyone comes together to enjoy each other, live music and performances), a global marketplace (wonderland of smells, textures and colorful sights including Moroccan rugs, Egyptian spices and Turkish ceramics), and mosques (you can take a virtual architectural tour of more than 20 mosques worldwide!).

3. Check out an upcoming event

CMOM celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. from January 14 to 16 with a three-day celebration honoring the civil rights leader. Kids can help create a mosaic portrait of Dr. King and watch a special dance performance by KaNu Dance Theater. The “Many Tunes, One Melody: Muslim Arts Series,” with funding from the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Arts, is also the first in a series of evening events designed to bring the music of America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far to life with performances on the frame drum, kora, tabla, rebana, oud, and ney. Shows are on January 14 and 28, and February 11 at 5 and 6pm. Make sure to check the museum’s online calendar regularly to learn about other special events and activities.

4. Get tickets for Sunday Funday

The museum’s popular fundraising event is back at Chelsea Piers on January 29. Families can meet sports celebrities, work with Play-Well TEKnologies on Lego-inspired activities and even race mini sports cars. Plus, CMOM will premiere its new interactive video installation Dance Portal! Food, meet-and-greets with costumed characters and parachute play is also planned. You can buy tickets here.

4. Don’t miss favorites like Playworks and Adventures with Dora and Diego

Playworks is home to a fire truck, sand play, a talking dragon who “eats” letters, a play structure for kids to climb and slide down, and a soft area for crawlers. Free story time is often held in this area, along with daily hands-on activities in the Art Lab. Ask staff at the entrance for the daily schedule, or check their calendar here. Another favorite is Adventures with Dora and Diego: Little ones can walk across the Rainbow Bridge, drive Tico’s car, help Diego rescue animals and even hang out inside Dora’s house.

5. Snag a membership and visit all year long

CMOM is hands-down one of our favorite places to get a family membership. The regular family membership ($225) gets you unlimited visits for two adults and up to four children per visit, plus discounts on classes, early access to new exhibits, and discounts at other local stores and restaurants.

Tips for your visit:

• CMOM has complimentary stroller and coat check at the door (and you must leave your stroller, they are not allowed inside so be prepared to fold them up).

• No food or drink is allowed inside the museum.

• Special events and performances take place daily in conjunction with the specific exhibits so keep an eye on the museum’s online calendar to see what’s coming up. Plus, all performances, programs and workshops are free with admission.

• The museum opens an hour early on Wednesdays (9am) for members only.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

212 West 83rd Street

New York, NY 10024

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES MARTHA NEIGHBORS AS DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT

New York, NY – January 3, 2017 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced it has engaged Martha Neighbors as its Director of Development. She will play an integral role in advancing the mission of the Children’s Museum by developing donor strategies and increasing fundraising opportunities.

“We are delighted to welcome Martha to the Museum,” said Andrew Ackerman, executive director of the Children’s Museum. “The Museum is entering an exciting period of growth. Martha’s 20 years’ experience in fundraising combined with her rich background in the arts and museum sciences will ensure we are able to fulfill our mission and meet our city-wide goals.”

“I’m inspired by the Children’s Museum’s efforts to reach all New Yorkers with exhibitions and programs on the arts, sciences, and culture, noted Neighbors. I’m proud to join this vibrant member of our city’s cultural landscape and look forward to working with the Board of Directors, museum members, and funders.”

Neighbors most recently served as Director of Development at New York’s Big Apple Circus, which entered Chapter 11 receivership in November 2016. The Circus performed for more than 300,000 people annually and reached an additional 300,000 through Clown Care, Circus of the Senses, Circus Embraces Autism, Circus After School and other programs. Neighbors was responsible for raising $5 million in annual giving from dedicated individuals and Big Apple Circus members, private foundations, corporations, and government contracts.

Prior to her work with Big Apple Circus, Neighbors served as Executive Director at Doug Varone and Dancers. She has also had positions of responsibility with Theater Communications Group, Risa Jaroslow & Dancers, the American Federation of the Arts and the J. Paul Getty Trust.

Neighbors holds a certificate Arts Administration from New York University, an MA in art history and museum studies from the University of Southern California and a BA from Hunter College. She also attended Summerhill School, A.S. Neill’s pioneering alternative school in England where she is now a trustee.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – creates experiences at the intersection of the arts, sciences and humanities to help children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula built on evidence-based early research and the museum sciences. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. www.cmom.org

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN TO MARK EXTENSION OF POPULAR “AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR” EXHIBITION WITH ADDITION OF ARTIFACTS FROM THE HISPANIC SOCIETY MUSEUM AND LIBRARY

New York, NY – November 14, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83rd Street, NYC, NY) is pleased to announce that its “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far” exhibition has been extended through 2017 due to popular demand. The groundbreaking, family-friendly exhibit, which has been seen by more than a quarter of a million visitors since opening last February, celebrates the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the United States, and abroad. The addition of artifacts on loan from the Hispanic Society Museum and Library will highlight how Muslim cultures have been intertwined with Spanish culture for more than a thousand years.

“Like today’s New York City, medieval Iberia (today’s countries of Spain and Portugal) supported a multi-ethnic culture including Christians, Muslims, and Jews. We are pleased to loan our artifacts to the Children’s Museum as part of the Hispanic Society’s ongoing effort to promote awareness and appreciation of Islamic culture,” said Dr. Marcus Burke, senior curator at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library, built in 1908 and located on Broadway between 155th and 156th Streets in Manhattan.

The historical objects include two 19th century pieces: a miniature reproduction of the Door of the Mosque, Alhambra, Granada by famous Spanish architect, restorer and Spanish writer Rafael Contreras y Muñoz, and a winged amphora, also based upon the styles found in the Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain. The Alhambra was built in the 13th century as a fortress and palace for a Muslim ruler and is considered one of the finest examples of Muslim (or Moorish) architecture in Spain. Visitors will also be able to view eight authentic 15th and 16th century Spanish ceramic tiles from Seville and Toledo, Spain. The tiles illustrate the confluence of Spanish-Muslim craftsmanship, design, and production techniques.

“We are excited to share the artifacts from the internationally renowned collection at the Hispanic Society Museum and Library with our visitors. It is through partnerships like this one that our Gateway to the Arts initiative introduces children to the very best of the city’s arts and cultural institutions,” said Andrew Ackerman, executive director, Children’s Museum. “Being able to add this selection of historical Spanish-Muslim objects to the exhibit’s existing series of art work by emerging American Muslim artists and objects on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art enhances ‘America to Zanzibar’ and enables it to continue to be an exciting and authentic experience for families near and far.”

In addition to its Islamic collection objects, the Hispanic Society is loaning a unique object, one that has never been publicly displayed: a 14th century Mamluk candlestick from Egypt. The candlestick, which is brass inlaid with silver and gold, will complement the exhibit’s collection of objects from around the world.

The 3,000-square-foot exhibit is the fourth in the museum’s Global Cultural Exhibition Series, following exhibits about the cultures of Ancient Greece, China, and Japan. The series celebrates the diversity of cultural expression across our interdependent world. An important part of the museum’s ongoing commitment to nurturing the next generation of global citizens, the series offers family-friendly, hands-on experiences designed to engage the the senses and appeal to a wide variety of learning styles.

Funding for America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, MetLife Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Open Society Foundations, The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust, El-Hibri Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Goldman Sachs Gives, National Endowment for the Arts, Maison de l’Artisan in Morocco, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Board of Directors and scores of individuals.

Citywide program funding has been provided by the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Following its run at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the exhibit will travel to other cultural institutions around the country.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families, and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries, and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

About the Hispanic Society Museum and Library

The mission of the Hispanic Society Museum and Library is to collect, preserve, study, exhibit, stimulate appreciation for, and advance knowledge of works directly related to the arts, literature, and history of ancient and medieval Iberia, Spain, Portugal, Latin America, and other countries where Spanish or Portuguese have been spoken languages, all in the service of the public and in accordance with the highest professional standards. The collection of the Hispanic Society is internationally known, and the Hispanic Society often shares it with other institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum, the Detroit Institute of Arts, and the Smithsonian’s Sackler-Freer Gallery in Washington. Learn more at www.hispanicsociety.org

CNN, By Kelly Wallace

One of the many unprecedented aspects of this presidential campaign was how it became a topic of discussion for families across the country.
From the dinner table to carpool lines to the voting booth, children engaged with their parents about the candidates and the campaign more than they might have during previous presidential elections.

And many parents, specifically those who supported Hillary Clinton and hoped and expected she’d become the first female president of the United States, woke up with the tough job of explaining the results to their children.

“I am at a loss. I am terrified for my lovely and sweet gender-non-conforming child,” said Cecily Kellogg, mom to a 10-year-old daughter and founder of a content marketing and social media management firm. “I don’t know what to say. I can only hold her, let her cry and tell her I will keep her safe.”

One of the first things parents can do, experts who work with children say, is take time to pause and collect their own feelings, since children will be looking for signs from their parents about how to react.

“Kids do take cues from you, so it’s important not to catastrophize the results” if you are upset about the outcome, said Dr. Gail Saltz, associate professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital Weill Cornell Medical College. “Remind yourself and your children that we have had some very varied presidents of very varied values, styles and moral character, and we have always pulled through as a nation.”

‘Democracy is messy’

This is a time to explain to children that “democracy is messy,” said Leslie Bushara, deputy director for education at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan and mother of a 14-year-old boy.

“When you can, talk with your children about what President Obama called ‘the boisterous diversity of our country,’ ” she said. “Help young children understand that like a family, we won’t always agree as citizens, either.”

Louise Sattler, a psychologist and frequent contributor to CNN Parents stories, said this is a great time to explain to children how the nation is made up of not one person, but a system.

“For young children, start with a fundamental talk about how one person doesn’t rule the United States,” said Sattler, owner of Signing Families, which teaches the basics of sign language to people of all ages and abilities. “That is why our ballot has many names on it, and all have a special role.”

For older children, Sattler says, education is key, including talking about the electoral college and the importance of checks and balances within our government.

“I think it is a great time to discuss how every vote matters and … (how) being popular doesn’t always mean you win,” she said.

One of the challenges for parents of children who hoped Clinton would make history as the first female president is helping kids, especially young women, cope with their tremendous disappointment.

“It was especially hard to tell my daughters that the best candidate we had to break the glass ceiling failed even after years of proving herself worthy,” said Rhonda Woods, a Connecticut real estate agent who has 15-year-old boy-girl twins and a 22-year-old daughter.

Acknowledging that disappointment during her concession speech Wednesday, Clinton sent a message to young women: “Someday, someone will” crack that glass ceiling, “and hopefully sooner than we think right now.

“To all the little girls who are watching this, never doubt that you are valuable and powerful and deserving of every chance and opportunity in the world to pursue and to achieve your own dreams,” Clinton said during the speech.

Nancy Friedman, a mother of two, said she was looking for what she could say to her 16-year-old daughter, and instead, it was her daughter who comforted her.

“To Hillary, I love you. No one has ever been more qualified to be president than you,” Rachel Friedman, a high school junior, wrote on Facebook. “You embodied everything a candidate is supposed to be. … Keep your head high Hillary, you cracked the glass ceiling and I have faith it will soon be shattered.”

Teaching kids to be ‘gracious winners’

For parents like Marie Stroughter, who voted for Trump, there are also important conversations to have with her three children, ages 13, 15 and 18. She said she and her children saw the “gamut of reactions” about Trump’s victory on social media, with a lot of “ugly comments” and people unfriending or threatening to unfriend her on Facebook.

“We talked about how emotions are high and how we felt the last two times when things didn’t go the way we had hoped,” said Stroughter, co-founder and host of African-American Conservatives, referring to the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections, when a Republican lost to Barack Obama.

Stroughter said she and her children said a prayer together “and continue to pray for healing for our nation.”

Talking to kids about how to be gracious winners and good losers is also important, said Bushara, of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Children of families who are delighted by the outcome should remember that there are many families — and many children — who are disappointed.

“Remind them, as in sports, don’t make fun of those who supported the losing candidate, and don’t be unkind towards those who won,” she said.

Part of the conversation with children can also involve explaining how we live in a divided country, and how many people who voted for Trump are struggling to make ends meet and think Trump, more than Clinton, may bring about the change they believe is needed to get ahead.

Christine Koh, founder and editor of Boston Mamas, wrote about “the way forward” for her, her family and the country in a blog post.

Finding a path ahead will involve hard conversations about topics such as fear of diversity, racism and gender inequality, and then committing to work together to make things better, said Koh, who has two daughters, ages 5 and 12. That also means no more jokes about leaving the country if Trump becomes president, she said.

One of her older daughter’s first questions Wednesday morning, after she learned that Trump was elected, was whether the family would be moving to Canada.

“And I said, ‘No, we can’t move away from our problems, we need to move towards them,'” wrote Koh, who is also an author, podcaster and consultant. “Part of privilege is the ability to move away from problems — which leaves people in need behind. It’s just an option. We need to deal with what is in front of us.”

Brian Gresko, a writer and critic, said he has spent the past year talking with his 7-year-old son about how Trump is exactly the kind of man that they shouldn’t model themselves upon, so it was a tough morning conveying that Trump had won the presidency.

That said, Gresko encouraged his son to practice kindness and compassion and to be optimistic but also sensitive to the many different reactions — anger, sadness, shock — on the part of residents in their Brooklyn community.

“And that this would be the beginning of what will be a four-year period of remaining positive and hopeful and, even more than that, active in making sure we accept others who are different from ourselves,” said Gresko, editor of “When I First Held You: 22 Critically Acclaimed Writers Talk about the Triumphs, Challenges, and Transformative Experience of Fatherhood.

Lauren Smith Brody, author of “The Fifth Trimester: The Working Mom’s Guide to Style, Sanity, and Big Success After Baby,” which will be released in April, said she’s talking to her boys, ages 5 and 8, about the lessons from the campaign.

“The lesson for all of us, I’m telling them, is to keep your heart and mind open. Let people feel heard. Never act superior to anyone else. Speak out against bullies,” she said. “We all have things to learn from one another.”

November 10, 2016

Read on CNN.com»

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Parents.com, By Melissa Willets

Parents: Happy or not with the outcome of the election, it’s gonna come up. Here’s how to help your kids digest the news.

Whether you are happy with the election results or not, emotions are definitely running high. And with that, kids are hearing their parents’ thoughts and feelings about the fact that Donald Trump is this country’s new president-elect. My children have come home for weeks sharing with me what other kids, teachers, and adults around them are saying on the subject, and they are also hearing things on the news, and I can only imagine that in the aftermath of the election, this issue will persist.

It’s with that in mind that we talked to Leslie Bushara, deputy director for education at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, to get tips for parents on how to talk to kids about the election. Here is what she recommends:

1. Take time to pause and gather your feelings, whether you are delighted or disturbed by the election’s outcome. Remember, your children will be looking to you to determine how they should react to the news. Children want to know that their daily routine will not change. Remind them that today the family got up, you went to school, and we went to work. And tonight we will have dinner. That will not change and is important for all age groups, even teens.

2. Remind kids that democracy is messy. When you can, talk with your children about what President Obama called “the boisterous diversity of our country.” Help young children understand that, like a family, we won’t always agree as citizens either.

3. Make sure that your children are listened to and that their voice matters. Younger children need to be heard, even if their thoughts are not as well formed. As noted in previous tips, now is a great time to work on learning to listen to one another and practice disagreeing respectfully.

4. Teach kids about how to be gracious winners and a good losers. Remind them, as in sports, not to make fun of those who supported the losing candidate and to also not be unkind toward those who won.

5. Take the time to help an upset child understand that the president is an elected position, and that it isn’t permanent. Explain that in four years there will be another election, and the people will be able to pick again.

6. Look for things that you can do as a family to support your values and interests. Find things to do that are familiar and comforting. Spend time together reading books, playing games, or visiting neighborhood parks and museums.

7. Remember that whether your family is celebrating, mourning, or just getting used to the idea of change, faith communities, cultural institutions, and nonprofits all offer opportunities for empowerment, learning, and even much needed fun.

The tips about being gracious and respecting others’ points of view are the most important for me.

How are you helping your kids understand the outcome of this election?

Read on Parents.com»

WNBC – News 4 New York at 4 pm

October 27, 2016 4:58 PM

‘I Approve this message’ Exhibit

View Video

WNBC – NEWS 4 NEW YORK:

Today historical figures are giving local kids a real life lesson. View video

With the race for the White House right around the corner, children can experience I Approve This Message, an interactive new exhibition featuring a 40-foot display of framed historical documents with authentic autographs from the American presidents. The collection includes two original pages of Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting covering a legal settlement, Richard Nixon’s letter of resignation, personal checks signed by Harry Truman, Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt, and autographs from several First Ladies.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan: I Approve This Message

Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Manhattan, Ongoing

Excerpt. Read whole article at NYC-Arts»

NY1 NEWS, Reporter Roger Clark:  A new learning hub has opened at a Homeless Shelter in Brooklyn as part of an effort by the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to bring more educational opportunities to underserved neighborhoods. Roger Clark Joins us now from Flatbush. View video

NY1 NEWS, Reporter Roger Clark: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is celebrating the opening of a new learning hub for kids who live at a homeless shelter in Brooklyn. Joining us from Flatbush is Roger Clark with the story. View video

NY1 NEWS: An Upper West Side children’s museum is bringing its educational programs to kids around the city, and some of the five boroughs’ most vulnerable young people are benefiting. NY1’s Roger Clark filed the following report. View Video

CRAINS’S NY, By Miriam Kreinin Souccar
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is once again on the lookout for a new home.

The Upper West Side museum, which has been around since 1973, has pulled out of negotiations with Delancey Street Associates to move to Essex Crossing, the mixed-use development under construction near the Williamsburg Bridge. The new space would have allowed the 37,000-square-foot institution to double in size.

Andy Ackerman, CMOM’s executive director, declined to specify why talks broke down. “We had a wonderful conversation, but at the end of the day it didn’t work out,” he said. “Location, financing, timing—all those things have to line up.”

A spokesman for Delancey Street Associates declined comment.

The museum is in active discussions about two other potential sites—one on the Upper West Side and one in the Wall Street area. The new space will be a minimum of 70,000 square feet and the museum is looking at both existing buildings or new construction. Ackerman said once they secure the site, the museum will begin a capital campaign. Denham Wolf, a real estate advisory firm that specializes in nonprofits, is overseeing the search.

The Children’s Museum, located on West 83rd Street, has long been a favorite spot for Upper West Side families, but a number of popular exhibitions and programs have been attracting record visitors and pushing the current space beyond capacity.

Last February, CMOM opened an exhibit on the Muslim world called America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far. The show took six years to develop and focuses on the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the United States and the rest of the world. During its development, the museum received warnings that the subject matter was too controversial for the current political environment.

But since it opened, attendance has been up 13% year over year. The first quarter of the current fiscal year, which began July 1, was the best quarter in the history of the museum for attendance. The exhibit will be extended past its January 31 closing date and is already being booked to travel to other cities after it closes.

A new exhibit on American presidents, called I Approve This Message, opened on Oct. 1 to coincide with the U.S. elections. That exhibit is attracting crowds as well. Ackerman said the museum services over 350,000 visitors a year in its fairly small space.

“We are probably the most densely visited museum,” Ackerman said. “It shows the demand for family-based programs in the city.”

Read article on Crainsnewyork.com»

CRAIN’S: Record attendance is driving the need for a larger space
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is once again on the lookout for a new home.

The Upper West Side museum, which has been around since 1973, has pulled out of negotiations with Delancey Street Associates to move to Essex Crossing, the mixed-use development under construction near the Williamsburg Bridge. The new space would have allowed the 37,000-square-foot institution to double in size.

Andy Ackerman, CMOM’s executive director, declined to specify why talks broke down. “We had a wonderful conversation, but at the end of the day it didn’t work out,” he said. “Location, financing, timing—all those things have to line up.”

A spokesman for Delancey Street Associates declined comment.

The museum is in active discussions about two other potential sites—one on the Upper West Side and one in the Wall Street area. The new space will be a minimum of 70,000 square feet and the museum is looking at both existing buildings or new construction. Ackerman said once they secure the site, the museum will begin a capital campaign. Denham Wolf, a real estate advisory firm that specializes in nonprofits, is overseeing the search.

The Children’s Museum, located on West 83rd Street, has long been a favorite spot for Upper West Side families, but a number of popular exhibitions and programs have been attracting record visitors and pushing the current space beyond capacity.

Last February, CMOM opened an exhibit on the Muslim world called America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far. The show took six years to develop and focuses on the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the United States and the rest of the world. During its development, the museum received warnings that the subject matter was too controversial for the current political environment.

But since it opened, attendance has been up 13% year over year. The first quarter of the current fiscal year, which began July 1, was the best quarter in the history of the museum for attendance. The exhibit will be extended past its January 31 closing date and is already being booked to travel to other cities after it closes.

A new exhibit on American presidents, called I Approve This Message, opened on Oct. 1 to coincide with the U.S. elections. That exhibit is attracting crowds as well. Ackerman said the museum services over 350,000 visitors a year in its fairly small space.

“We are probably the most densely visited museum,” Ackerman said. “It shows the demand for family-based programs in the city.”

By Miriam Kreinin Souccar

THE NEW YORK TIMES, By LAUREL GRAEBER
A recreated Oval Office in “I Approve This Message,” a new exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

In one of the country’s most fraught, contentious and bitterly polarizing presidential election years, it’s hard to imagine a situation in which the person about to enter the Oval Office inspires unequivocal support.

But that’s happening now, though not on Pennsylvania Avenue. On West 83rd Street in Manhattan, a presidential desk awaits a member of a group almost all Americans love: their children.

Complete with a photographic backdrop of the Oval Office, this desk adorns “I Approve This Message,” an exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan that centers on the autograph collection of Fred B. Tarter, a businessman who died last year. His family has lent the museum his documents, including the signatures of all 44 presidents, from Washington to Barack Obama, as well as those of some first ladies.

“We wanted to get our visitors — parents and children — excited about the election,” said Ellen Bari, the show’s curator. “And to do it in a different way, one that wasn’t political.”

The challenge was to make the material accessible to those ages 2 to 10. Ms. Bari introduced the recreated Oval Office, where small visitors can “sign” and stamp laminated papers and talk on a strange instrument: a rotary telephone. The exhibition also offers a “Wall for Autographs of Future Presidents,” a White House jigsaw puzzle and a miniature voting booth for deciding such momentous questions as cheese versus pepperoni pizza. It’s not exactly citizenship, but “there’s a sense of making a choice,” Ms. Bari said.

Yet this is a show whose greatest rewards are for young readers. The artifacts, often framed with presidential portraits or photographs, include a handwritten document by Lincoln from his days as a lawyer, and one by Jefferson — in English, Spanish, French and Dutch — granting a ship permission to sail. A wall text explains that a James Madison document is unusual because it concerns land sold to a woman. Sharp-eyed children may notice that John Tyler could have used spell check.

One of the most historic presidential letters on display is also the tersest: Nixon’s resignation. A text succinctly explains Watergate, with Ford’s pardon of Nixon below it.

The artist Leah Tinari has contributed a less weighty highlight, presidential portraits inscribed with sometimes quirky facts. Did you know that Woodrow Wilson was dyslexic, or that Calvin Coolidge had a raccoon?

Amid the humor, though, the show reveals that the presidency is a position of the utmost seriousness. That’s a message that we can all approve.

(Through Dec. 31 at 212 West 83rd Street; 212-721-1223, cmom.org.)

A version of this article appears in print on October 14, 2016, on page C26 of the New York edition with the headline: ‘I Approve This Message’.

Read on nytimes.com»

RED TRICYCLE

If the current political climate is making you feel a bit weary (we can’t imagine why), we’ve got the perfect antidote to lift the spirits of everyone in the house. The Children’s Museum of Manhattan just debuted “I Approve This Message” a fun, educational (and non-partisan) exhibit featuring historic docs, fun facts and loads of activities and amazing photo ops. We approve!

Signed, Sealed, Delivered
In the works since way back when there were well more than a dozen people vying for the highest office in the land, “I Approve This Message” is efficiently staged on the lower level of the museum in a relatively small space. However, they pack a lot in, and the exhibit allows for myriad  entry points for kids (and adults) of all ages, interests and abilities.
One of the anchors of the exhibit is an impressive display of presidential autographs from the collection of the late Fred B. Tarter, who began amassing the signatures at the age of 14. With fascinating examples from some of the country’s earliest leaders to the most recent, the collection shows not only the individual “hands” of our presidents, it is also a timeline of innovation, reflecting advances in printing, imaging mass production and more. (Presidential geeks take note: highlights include a two-page document handwritten by Abraham Lincoln, as well as President Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon, the latter of which there are several copies.)

For kids interested in getting more info on each president, mini bios with fun facts about each one, excerpted from Jeopardy! “genius” Ken Jennings’ Junior Genius Guides: U.S> Presidents are found directly below the display. (If they need even more, you can find the book in the museum shop.)

The Money Shots
So, there are literally money shots here, in the form of a dollar bill and a penny, to which kids can provide their face. (Both paper and coins are, the exhibit points out, “Presidents in your pocket.”)

But the killer photo op is at the diminutive presidential desk set against a backdrop of the Oval Office, complete with giant pencil, big stamp (for vetoing and approving, presumably) and a hot red phone. (We know, D.C. is not Gotham, but how can you resist?)

Signing, Voting, Silhouetting and More
That’s very fun, but there are more ways to learn about the presidents and our democracy. Each week a voting booth will invite kids to cast their ballot on one of the important issue of the day (chocolate vs. vanilla ice cream, dog vs. cat, etc.); an autograph area will allow kids to offer up his or her signature as a “future president”, and an area dedicated to the White House features a puzzle of the residence and fun facts about its evolution. (For example, no bathrooms for our early presidents.)

Other activities include making a silhouette portrait, creating a presidential seal, crafting a slogan button to promote a kid’s candidacy and going on a presidential-related scavenger hunt.

A Colorful, Modern Take, Too
To make sure kids don’t leave with the impression that there’s a certain way presidential portraits have to be, the museum enlisted artist Leah Tinari to create contemporary portraits of each president. Fun and funky, Tinari began the project when she wanted to introduce her son to presidential history and was less-than inspired by existing depictions of the statesmen.

Special events, programming and drop-ins
Themed special events and programming will take place throughout the run of the exhibit.

CMOM ComicCon will take place October 8-10 and feature Drawing History with Comic Book Artist Phil Jimenez
Meet comic illustrator Phil Jimenez responsible for Illustrating Wonder Woman and the Amazing Spider-Man #583 Barack Obama Variant featuring Spider-Man and Barack Obama written by Mark Waid. Create your own comic book about someone important to you.

The Children’s Museum Halloween Celebration will take place October 25-30
Kids are encouraged to come dressed as their favorite president or historical figure and take part in a Find That President! scavenger hunt, searching the museum for costumed former Presidents and First Ladies to collect their autographs.

Additional projects with prior sign-up required as well as drop-ins are scheduled; see the museum’s calendar for information.

BY Mimi O’Connor

See PDF

CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF “I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE,” AN EXHIBIT FEATURING THE FRED B. TARTER COLLECTION OF PRESIDENTIAL AUTOGRAPHS, INCLUDING A 2-PAGE LEGAL DOCUMENT HANDWRITTEN BY ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND RICHARD NIXON’S RESIGNATION LETTER

New Interactive Exhibit Opens October 1, 2016 and Runs through Year’s End

New York, NY – October 1, 2016 – With the race for the White House in full swing, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced the opening of I Approve This Message, an interactive new exhibition featuring a 40-foot display of framed historical documents with authentic autographs from the American presidents. These notable objects are part of the private collection of the late Fred B. Tarter. The collection includes two original pages of Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting covering a legal settlement, Richard Nixon’s letter of resignation, personal checks signed by Harry Truman, Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt and more! The exhibit, on display at the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street) from October 1 through December 31, 2016, also includes autographs from several First Ladies.

Opening just weeks before the United States elects its 45th president, this interactive display is designed for children ages 2-10 and their families. Using the historical documents for inspiration, children can practice their own signatures, sit at a child-sized Oval Office Desk, learn the joy and practice of collecting, participate in mock elections, and engage in election- and American history-related activities.

“We’re thrilled that the Tarter family is willing to share this extraordinary collection with the children and families of New York” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “So far, we’ve had six presidents from this great state. Who knows what the 2016 election will bring? Our young visitors may be inspired to be America’s next great leader one day.”

Fun for all ages, the exhibit also features high school yearbook style presidential profiles and fascinating factoids, brought to life by the charming illustrations of Mike Lowery, from “Ken Jenning’s Junior Genius Guides: U.S. Presidents” (used with the permission of Little Simon – an imprint of Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing Division).

Along with the framed Presidential autographs, renowned artist Leah Tinari’s President Project series, contemporary presidential portraits with a splash of color and whimsy, will also be on display. Readers may recognize her work from the illustrations in the popular children’s book, “The Magical Fantastical Fridge” (Penguin Random House – Dial Books).

I Approve This Message is full of fun, history and inspiration. Our youngest citizens can, among other things:

•  Feel the power of the Oval Office, and enjoy a photo-op while sitting at a pretend-play presidential desk and signing documents similar to those featured in the display
• Add a signature to a wall-hanging for potential future presidents
• Cast a vote in a faux voting booth
• Participate in presidential-related scavenger hunts
• Create a presidential seal
• Make a snazzy slogan button to promote their candidacy

###

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) — The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is teaching kids with hands-on political history.

Its new exhibition features documents with authentic autographs from U.S. presidents. They’re covered in plastic glass, and some are hung low enough for children to touch.

Highlights of the “I Approve This Message” interactive exhibition include two original pages of Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting covering a legal settlement, one of Richard Nixon’s resignation letters and personal checks signed by Harry Truman, Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt.

Young museum-goers can sit at a child-sized Oval Office desk, use a pretend voting booth, participate in presidential scavenger hunts, participate in mock elections and even create their own campaign slogan button — perfect for any pint-sized politician.

“So far, we’ve had six presidents from this great state. Who knows what the 2016 election will bring?” Children’s Museum Executive Director Andrew Ackerman said in a statement. “Our young visitors may be inspired to be America’s next great leader one day.”

The exhibit also features presidential profiles with original art from Mike Lowery, author of “Ken Jenning’s Junior Genius Guides: U.S. Presidents.”

Organizers say the exhibit’s contemporary presidential portraits feature “a splash of color and whimsy.”

The documents are from the private collection of the late Fred B. Tarter.

The exhibit is open for children ages 2-10 and will run from Oct.1 through December 31.

For more information on the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, click here.

AP: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is teaching kids with hands-on political history.

Its new exhibition features documents with authentic autographs from U.S. presidents. They’re covered in plastic glass, and some are hung low enough for children to touch.

Highlights include two original pages of Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting covering a legal settlement. The exhibit also has one of Richard Nixon’s resignation letters and personal checks signed by Harry Truman, Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt.

Young museum-goers can sit at a child-sized Oval Office desk, use a pretend voting booth and participate in mock elections.

Organizers say the exhibit’s contemporary presidential portraits feature “a splash of color and whimsy.”

The documents are from the private collection of the late Fred B. Tarter.

© 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Learn more about our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

1010 WINS: In this presidential campaign season the Children’s Museum of Mahattan on West 83rd opens a special exhibit today . . .

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NY1 News: A new exhibit opens this weekend at the Children’s Museum of Manahttan. It could get the kids interestd in the presidential election.

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NY1 News: The race for the White House is in full swing and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan hopes to capitalize on that with a new exhibit. Roger Clark is there . . .

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RENOWNED ARTIST LEAH TINARI’S ONE-OF-A-KIND PRESIDENTIAL PORTRAITS TO BE DISPLAYED IN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN’S “I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE” EXHIBIT OPENING OCT. 1

New Interactive Exhibit Features The Fred B. Tarter Collection of Presidential Autographs Including a 2-Page Legal Document Handwritten by Abraham Lincoln and Richard Nixon’s Resignation Letter

New York, NY – Sept. 26, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is pleased to announce that noted artist Leah Tinari’s “A President Project” will be on display in

I Approve This Message, an interactive new exhibition featuring a 40-foot display of framed historical documents with authentic autographs from the American presidents. The exhibit at the museum (212 West 83rd Street) will run from October 1 through December 31, 2016.

Tinari’s “A President Project” features contemporary portraits of each U.S. president with a splash of color and whimsy. Readers may recognize her work from the illustrations in the popular children’s book. “The Magical Fantastical Fridge” (Penguin Random House – Dial Books). This is the first time “A President Project” has been publically displayed.

“Working on “A President Project” was a challenge, as well as labor of love. I knew I wanted all of the portraits to feel fresh and modern. I gave all the presidents equal value, using a gouache grey scale before adding a splash of vibrant, florescent color to accent each portrait for a graphic, playful feel,” said Leah Tinari.

She added: “I also wanted the text included in the portrait to be hand painted, so I decided to I used old fashioned stencils. It was fun to put a modern spin on the old, while also embracing an old technique to create the modern. Much like the project itself, it was a walk thru history from past to present.”

“Tinari’s portraits capture personal insights into each President and, in some cases, historical context. The use of traditional stenciling and black and white shading create a welcoming entrée for adults and children alike. The portraits are a wonderful complement to the original historical autographs and images of I Approve This Message.” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “We believe the juxtaposition of the autographs and the portraits will pique children’s curiosity in both our history and the arts.”

The centerpiece of I Approve This Message is The Fred Tarter Collection of Presidential Autographs including two original pages of Abraham Lincoln’s handwriting covering a legal settlement, Richard Nixon’s letter of resignation, personal checks signed by Harry Truman, Calvin Coolidge and Theodore Roosevelt and more! The exhibit, which opens just weeks before the U.S. elects its 45th president, also includes autographs from several First Ladies.

The interactive exhibit is designed for children ages 2-10 and their families. Using the historical documents for inspiration, children can practice their own signatures, sit at a child-sized Oval Office Desk, learn the joy and practice of collecting, participate in mock elections, and engage in election- and American history-related activities.

###

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org

THE NEW YORK TIMES: ‘Dynamic H20’

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS They may not all be about beating the heat, but if you’re looking around for some fun stuff to do this weekend, we’ve got you covered.

1. Who ya gonna call? Love it or hate it — the much talked about “Ghostbusters” reboot is in theatres this weekend nationwide.

2. Saturday July 16th is Hudson River Park’s first annual music festival, Hudson RiverStage, from 2-9 p.m. at Pier 97. Musical acts include Americana favorites such as Deer Tick, Margo Price, Anais Mitchell, and more.

3. Have some fun exploring PlayTimesSquared, a free public festival of games infused with technology created by students from NYU MAGNET (Media and games network) 12-4 p.m. today or 2-6 p.m. Saturday at the Broadway pedestrian plazas between 42nd and 43rd Sts. and 44th and 45th Sts.

4. Check out the new Dynamic H2O exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan where kids can cool off and play in the new 800-foot space featuring interactive and colorful exhibits. Suitable for all ages.

5. Remember legendary jazz musician Louis Armstrong this weekend at the 3rd Annual Louis Armstrong’s Wonderful World Festival this Saturday at Flushing Meadows Corona Park in Queens, the site of the 1964 World’s Fair. Enjoy music performances, activities and an indoor beer garden all for free while walking around the park’s famous structures and museum attractions.

6. New York burger lovers rejoice! Shake Shack opens a new location in Fulton Center today at 200 Broadway.

By Tracy Brock

NY1 NEWS: Children’s Museum Exhibit Dynamic H₂0 Teaches About Watersheds and Conservation

Sun bathe ignore the squirrels, you’ll never catch them anyway, and bleghbleghvomit my furball really tie the room together slap owner’s face at 5am until human fills food dish human give me attention meow. Meowzer! jump around on couch, meow constantly until given food, you call this cat food? and lick arm hair scratch the furniture but climb leg howl uncontrollably for no reason. Behind the couch sleep on dog bed, force dog to sleep on floor. Kick up litter scratch the furniture ignore the squirrels, you’ll never catch them anyway but lick the other cats so hate dogkitten is playing with dead mouse. Sit by the fire hunt anything that moves mew but licks your face for attack dog, run away and pretend to be victim. Pooping rainbow while flying in a toasted bread costume in space. Meowing non stop for food hide from vacuum cleaner, yet spread kitty litter all over house, run in circles, so mrow or russian blue. Inspect anything brought into the house. Eat grass, throw it back up lick yarn hanging out of own butt. Poop in the plant pot meow loudly just to annoy owners yet climb leg, or pee in human’s bed until he cleans the litter box, somrow cough furball yet lie on your belly and purr when you are asleep. Flop over.

The dog smells bad purr for no reason chase ball of string climb leg. Destroy couch put butt in owner’s face. This human feeds me, i should be a god sun bathe, but meow all night having their mate disturbing sleeping humans, rub whiskers on bare skin act innocent hide head under blanket so no one can see lick the other cats curl up and sleep on the freshly laundered towels. Claw drapes lies down groom yourself 4 hours – checked, have your beauty sleep 18 hours – checked, be fabulous for the rest of the day – checked! asdflkjaertvlkjasntvkjn (sits on keyboard)for unwrap toilet paper paw at beetle and eat it before it gets away or flop over. Swat turds around the house and sometimes switches in french and say “miaou” just because well why not,thinking longingly about tuna brine get video posted to internet for chasing red dot but stretchplease stop looking at your phone and pet me. Plan steps for world domination. Mrow eat the fat cats food, yet put butt in owner’s face. Throwup on your pillow then cats take over the world lay on arms while you’re using the keyboard shove bum in owner’s face like camera lens for sleep on keyboard hide at bottom of staircase to trip human destroy couch. If it fits, i sits purr for spread kitty litter all over house. Purr while eating meow for food, then when human fills food dish, take a few bites of food and continue meowing so jump launch to pounce upon little yarn mouse, bare fangs at toy run hide in litter box until treats are fed thinking longingly about tuna brine.Howl uncontrollably for no reason and sometimes switches in french and say “miaou” just because well why not so swat turds around the house.

NEW YORK, NY: Today, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan (212 West 83rd Street) announced it has been awarded a grant from Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) for $250,000 as part of Target’s ongoing youth wellness efforts.

The grant allows the Children’s Museum to expand its “health and learning hub” model to ten additional homeless shelters across the city in partnership with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). The Museum’s health and learning hubs bring permanent museum-quality installations, graphics, and hands-on education programs focused on developing healthy lifestyles and literacy to underserved communities. To date, the Museum has installed 14 hubs in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan: eight in Head Start daycare centers, five in homeless shelters, and one at NYC’s Administration for Children’s Service intake office in downtown Manhattan. The additional ten health and learning hubs will bring the total to 24.

Over the next year, with Target’s support, in addition to transforming 10 DHS shelters, Children’s Museum staff will conduct professional development workshops for parents and shelter staff utilizing the Museum’s EatPlayGrow™ curriculum and free web resources created in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health. The curriculum emphasizes strategies for affordable, healthy living. Museum educators will conduct programs at the shelters for parents and children featuring hands-on art, literacy, music and dance that teach about good nutrition, physical activity and the importance of sleep. In addition, the Museum will host two family festivals at the Museum for all program participants.

“We are committed to helping all children thrive,” said Andrew Ackerman, executive director, Children’s Museum. “Through our many research partnerships, we strive to translate the latest discoveries in health, wellness and early learning into engaging experiences for all families. Target’s generous support allows us to expand and share this work with the city’s most vulnerable families.”

“We are grateful for our dedicated partners who share in our commitment to supporting homeless New Yorkers and strengthening access to education for children in shelter. The colorful graphics, fun interactives and programming provided by the Children’s Museum help bring to life essential messages about healthy eating, exercise, sleep and learning. We thank Target for its generous grant, allowing us to expand the Children Museum’s extraordinary program to reach even more New Yorkers in need,” said NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks.

“At Target, we are committed to helping make wellness a way of life for our team members, guests and communities,” said Laysha Ward, chief corporate social responsibility officer, Target. “That’s why we are excited to partner with an impressive array of organizations who are already doing such important work to make an impact in the wellness space. Together, we will help remove barriers to wellness in our communities, working to increase the consumption of nutrient-dense food and physical activity of kids and families across the country.”

The grant is part of Target’s ongoing efforts to help make wellness more affordable, accessible and inspirational for its team members, guests and communities. Target also is partnering closely with local leaders and organizations in communities around the country who are experts in youth wellness and actively working to close the wellness gap for children. These efforts are part of Target’s long history of giving 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million every week.

Initial installation of the health and learning hubs, and related programming will begin in fall of 2016. All ten hubs are expected to be complete by spring 2017.

About Children’s Museum of Manhattan
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula built on evidence-based early research and the museum sciences. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals.  www.cmom.org

About Target
Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,792 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals more than $4 million a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter.

Contacts
Children’s Museum of Manhattan
Adam Miller (Rubenstein Communications), 212-843-8032, [email protected]

NYC Department of Homeless Services
Lauren Gray, 917-790-3890, [email protected]

Target Corporation
Jessica Stevens, Communications, (612) 761-6351
Target Media Hotline, (612) 696-3400

BRONXNET: Bob Lee talks with Nellie Chaban from the Children’s Museum of Manhattan about the 10th Annual Family Pride Night

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FOX 5: New York Presbyterian and the Children’s Museum of Manhattan teaming up today to give kids a lesson in healthy eating.

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN LAUNCHES “NYC SOUVENIR DESIGN STUDIO”

New Studio Open through August 31 Gives Children the Chance to Create One-of-A-Kind Souvenirs from Iconic Big Apple Designs and “Only in New York” Wildlife Moments

New York, NY – June 15, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today opened its NYC Souvenir Design Studio, where children of all ages can create souvenirs from iconic New York City designs and “Only in New York” wildlife moments including “Pizza Rat” and “Bagel-Wearing Pigeon.” The design studio will take place in classrooms or on the NYC Souvenir Cart at the museum (212 West 83rd Street) daily from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm.

The NYC Souvenir Design Studio will include the following activities:

• NYC Subway Map Design Challenge: The New York City Subway map is the best tool to find your way around town, but it is also one of the most recognizable maps in the world. From household products to fashion, people have been inspired to reimagine the NYC Subway Map into works of design and art. Children will become the designer and build amazing creations using real NYC MTA Subway maps.
• MetroCard Design Challenge: In 1994, the MetroCard changed the way New Yorkers got around the city, and its iconic blue lettering and golden background has inspired t-shirts, mugs and other types of souvenirs. Children will be challenged to create their own iconic design from real MetroCards.
• NYC Wildlife Keychain Maker: There is nothing more New York then seeing a pigeon eating a bagel or popcorn, or a rat carrying a slice of pizza into the subway. Children will turn these hilarious “Only in New York” moments into plush stuffed animal key chains. Kids will use fabric, markers, glue and beads to recreate a slice of NYC wildlife.

NYC Souvenir Design Studio programs are made possible with the generous support of the NYC Metropolitan Transportation Authority and Materials for the Arts.

Participation is free with admission. For more information about the Children’s Museum’s programs and exhibits, please visit www.cmom.org.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children thrive at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, with over 350,000 visitors annually, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula through an alchemy of fun, research and museum science. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers, and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offering through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. For more information, please visit www.cmom.org.

FOX 5: It was a perfect day for kids to make a splash while learning how New Yorkers get their water.

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF SPLASHY NEW OUTDOOR WATER EXHIBIT, “DYNAMIC H2O” IN ITS SUSSMAN ENVIRONMENTAL CENTER

New Interactive Exhibit Set to Open Memorial Day Weekend Celebrates Water, and Explores the Remarkable Story of How New York City Gets its Supply from Upstate

New York, NY – May 16, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced the opening of Dynamic H2O, a new outdoor water exhibit offering children of all ages and their families a fun place to chill while they explore water’s importance to a healthy lifestyle and learn about its role in our New York City environment. The wet and wonderful exhibit in the Sussman Environmental Center at the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street), featuring hands-on interactives and cool, colorful graphics, will open May 28, and run through September, weather permitting.

Dynamic H2O dives into NYC’s water supply system, which delivers about 1.1 billion gallons per day to 9.5 million New Yorkers, and whose world-class drinking water travels downhill from upstate watersheds extending more than 125 miles from the city in what is widely considered an engineering marvel.

The exhibit features a 16-foot interactive water table that will enable children to investigate the path of NYC’s water as they play and explore. The experience begins with the water cycle up in the clouds. With the press of a button, kids become rainmakers. Small floating droplets allow them to follow the currents as they progress downstream, flowing past lily pads and an area where kids can pretend to fish. Continuing along the stream, there are many hands-on opportunities for fun and discovery. Children can experiment with flow, pressure, and even plumbing! As the water reaches the city, kids can build their own hi-rise towers from Duplo Lego Blocks on mini-NYC’s priceless waterfront property!

“Our municipal water system is one of New York City’s greatest treasures,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “Dynamic H2O offers our guests a chance to have fun and stay cool while learning about the important role water plays in the city and our lives.”

Dynamic H2O supporters Carolyn Tisch Blodgett and Will Blodgett agree, saying: “As a New York City family, we are proud to support the Children’s Museum’s singular efforts to help children learn about the wonders of our city’s water system in such a charming way.”

Additional highlights of the 800-square-foot, three-level exhibit include:

• An interactive of NYC buildings designed to help children understand how gravity and pumps are essential in providing water to houses and skyscrapers across the city
• Magnetic tubes that can carry water allow visitors to create the aqueducts and tunnels that transport the water from upstate to NYC. Children will be challenged to piece together enough pipes to span the “100 miles” from the Catskills to the city.
• Outdoor laboratories, where children can enjoy inquiry-based exploration, assuming the roles of some of the people involved in maintaining NYC’s water supply including marine biologists, ecologists and other scientists.

A wide range of educator-led workshops will take place throughout the exhibit’s run. Participation is free with admission.

In addition to Carolyn Tisch Blodgett and Will Blodgett, the exhibit was also made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Additional support for education programs was provided by the Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection.

Dynamic H2O replaces the Children’s Museum’s City Splash exhibit.

For more information about Dynamic H2O and to check out a video of its water table, please visit www.cmom.org, and https://www.facebook.com/cmom.nyc/videos/10154134102741941/, respectively.

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About Children’s Museum of Manhattan The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is the vibrant home to 350,000 visitors a year from all segments of the NYC community and tourists from around the world. The museum’s educational mission in early childhood education, creativity, health and culture thrives within our home on 83rd Street and in dozens of communities across the city as well as through national initiatives with leading authorities and government agencies. Child development is at the core of the museum’s values and mission and our vision is to be the bridge that connects children and adults in the community, school and home in order to prepare our children for the global world in which they live. For details regarding all of the Children’s Museum programs and initiatives, please visit www.cmom.org.

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AL JAZEERA ARABIC: The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, in New York City, opened a special exhibition on the cultures of Muslim communities around the world. The exhibition is organized under the slogan, “From America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far. It is expected to be on display for two years.”

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FOX 5: Find out what’s going on at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan for this Easter weekend.

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FOX & FRIENDS: Children’s Museum educator Julie Marie Siebert shares how to make egg dye from common household fruits and vegetables.

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MANHATTAN SIDEWAYS: All parents throughout New York, locals and tourists alike, should know about the educational and transformative experience of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. The 83rd Street institution, although it opened in 1973, has been at its current location since 1989. It is an extraordinary (not to mention really fun!) resource for both kids and adults.

I happened to visit during the week that constitutes winter break for New York schools, and so I witnessed an incredible amount of excitement and enthusiasm on each of the floors. Children as young as a few weeks old were in their mother’s arms or being pushed in a stroller while their siblings were running around, checking out the interactive exhibits. Almost every aspect of the museum had something to push, touch, or listen to, giving children a tactile way of learning and remembering.

I received an eye-opening tour from David Rios, the Director of Public Programs, who guided me from the fifth floor back to ground level. An exhibit called Playworks, designed for early learning, is located upstairs. For more than ten years, the museum’s team worked side by side with child development experts to create a space where little ones can enhance their motor skills and problem-solving abilities. I enjoyed standing on the sidelines and observing children climbing in and out of a large wooden FDNY truck, a NYC bus, and a deli with plastic foods. As David explained, “Some museums have a supermarket, but we’re in New York, so we have a deli.”

I was amazed by how often the museum catered to varying age levels within the same space. For example, in the Movers and Shakers section, older children could learn math and physics by building mini roller coasters while younger siblings could crawl through tunnels and slide down slides. I was delighted to see parents participating with their children: this is definitely a museum where entire families can enjoy themselves, and children’s learning is enhanced by parental guidance. Though there are plenty of buttons that encourage children to learn on their own, there is also signage so that parents can provide a further explanation to their kids. The museum is designed so that parents and older children do not feel intimidated or shy about trying out the different exhibits. As David stated so nicely, “This is a fun, non-judgmental environment for all ages to learn.”

Continuing on, I entered The Lab, where children can read stories, sing songs, and learn more about art and science. All of the writing and sound bites are bilingual, since Spanish-speaking families make up such a significant portion of New York City’s population. David told me that The Lab sometimes holds special events, such as a visit from members of Alvin Ailey, who danced with the children in an effort to teach them about movement. The next room took Peek-a-Boo to a whole new level with a digital version of the game and in the following room, I had to laugh out loud as I explored the digestive system, complete with a talking toilet.

The grand finale of the tour was the America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far special exhibit that is running from February 2016 – February 2017. The visually compelling exhibit is a multimedia exploration of the diversity of Muslim cultures within the United States and abroad. It is a collaboration between the museum’s staff and members of the Muslim community and is an ingenious way of introducing children to topical cultural differences in an age-appropriate way. For example, there is a section where kids can press buttons to smell a variety of fruits and spices, as well as a collection of “Objects and Stories from American Muslim Homes.” Some other highlights included a life-size camel, musical instruments, and a virtual reality room that allows visitors to explore the architectural styles of different mosques. I was pleased to find out Mayor Bill de Blasio supports the exhibit. He has stated, “With America to Zanzibar, children will have the chance to learn about Muslim cultures in an engaging and thoughtful way. We only grow stronger when we embrace and celebrate the multitude of cultural backgrounds that make up New York.”

NEWSDAY: Hussein Rashid, who grew up in Elmont surrounded by friends from across the globe, is using his American experience to bridge the gap between Muslim and Western societies in a new museum exhibit.

“Elmont was really very diverse,” said Rashid, 42, who teaches Islamic studies at Hofstra University in Hempstead and is a consultant for “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” a new exhibition at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan.

Rashid, who was born in Rego Park, Queens, said his New York multiethnic and cultural experience had him reflect on his own Muslim heritage that inspired a career in Islamic studies.

“I grew up in the ’70s and ’80s in a time when people had boundaries, but where there was this intermingling of people that is ideal when growing up. I had friends from Trinidad, Haiti, Jamaica, Colombia and friends from traditional Irish and Italian families. Today they are still my friends,” Rashid said.

The museum’s interactive exhibition exposes schoolchildren to different Islamic cultures through the colors, smells and century-old artifacts that recreate the Muslim world. Life-size photographs of an Egyptian market set the scene of a local bazaar where children can smell spices and fruits commonly sold.

Sadie “is at the perfect age for this exhibit,” said her grandmother Cynthia Beck of Manhattan, who put Sadie, 2, in a Senegalese dress. “She is curious and it’s a hands-on experience. She may not see or know the differences now in the culture, but she gets to see the bright colors and that it is different.”

The children not only play dress up but get to serve tea in an Islamic designed tearoom with replica Turkish ceramic dishes.“Our goal is to have children deal with differences in a healthy, positive way and encourage them to be inquisitive while exploring the world instead of running away from its differences,” Rashid said, an experience not so different from his years growing up in Elmont.

Visitors also hear the stories of Muslims living in America, such as Puerto Rican urban artist Jorge “Fabel” Pabon, 50, who tells his story of growing up Catholic in Spanish Harlem and who became a follower of Islam at age 24.

“My story is that you can still be an individual and have your own identity, and that being Muslim doesn’t mean you have to adapt to an Arab culture,” Pabon said. He is a member of the Alianza Islamica in Manhattan, an organization that recognizes the cultural influence of the Moors, who conquered Spain in the 700s and were Islamic in faith.

Leyla Hamedi, 30, of Manhattan, is half Turkish and half Iranian. A museum employee, she donated her grandfather’s lapel pin that depicts the profile of Turkey’s first President Mustafa Kemal Ataturk.

“My grandfather wore that pin to honor Ataturk’s belief in a progressive and modern society,” she said. “The exhibit shows the difference between religious views and cultural views and that they are not always the same. ”

By Maria Alvarez Special to Newsday

NEWSWEEK: At the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on the Upper West Side in New York City, children and their parents can explore “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far,” a recently opened exhibit featuring performances by contemporary Muslim artists, and other programs. Farther downtown, the PEN American Center is developing a Writing While Muslim series of events featuring Muslim and non-Muslim writers of fiction, comedy, film and other genres discussing unity, identity and self-expression. Just across the river, the Brooklyn-based Mark Morris Dance Group will create, perform and foster engagement through a new work, Layla and Majnun, based on a love story told across the Muslim world. View video

Learning Hub Installation is the 14th by Children’s Museum at Community Sites across the City

New York, NY – March 1, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan, in partnership with the City’s Administration for Children’s Services (ACS), today announced it has replicated its successful early childhood health and literacy learning hub model inside the ACS Division of Early Care and Education (ECE) offices on the 7th floor of 66 John Street in Lower Manhattan. The Children’s Museum and ACS will unveil the learning hub, which will be open to visitors during ACS’ regular business hours, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony today.

This collaboration brings hands-on exhibit components and colorful wall graphics to the Division of ECE to interest and engage both parents and children in health and literacy information. To date, the museum has installed 14 learning hubs in underserved communities in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan: eight in Head Start daycare centers, five in homeless shelters, and one with ACS.

The Children’s Museum, with a New York Community Trust grant of $87,000 and a $10,000 grant from Chaparral Foundation, will also conduct professional development training for 150 ACS home-based care providers and offer two free family events at the museum.

“Through this collaboration with the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, we will be able to use this installation to engage our families when they come to our Early Care and Education (ECE) Office, “ said ACS Commissioner Gladys Carrión. “I am proud of this partnership and also of the professional development training for our staff that will ultimately enhance the services we provide for our families.”

“Each learning hub is designed to contribute to a sustainable citywide impact on the long term health and success of New York City’s children,” said Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director of the Children’s Museum. “Partnering with ACS, a vital city agency, on this installation and arts-based professional development training will help us reach both families and professionals with important health and literacy information.”

About the Children’s Museum of Manhattan
The Children’s Museum of Manhattan – a citywide resource for children, families and educators – works to ensure children flourish at home, at school and in the community. Based on West 83rd Street, the Museum creates hands-on learning environments, programs, and curricula built on evidence-based early research and the museum sciences. In addition to its commitment to delight and educate visitors, the Museum offers resources and strategies for parents, caregivers and educators to help children become lifelong learners. Thousands more New Yorkers also benefit from the Museum’s offerings through its outreach programs at schools, Head Start centers, shelters, libraries and hospitals. Website

As the city’s key cultural institution committed to the well-being of NYC families, the Children’s Museum has partnered with many city agencies to provide shared resources that connect home, school and community. Partnerships include: the Administration of Children’s Services to provide professional development training for caregivers; the Department of Education to engage parents and children in school readiness; the Department of Health to create parent engagement training model for teachers; and the Department of Homeless Services to deliver health and literacy programs for adults and children.

Through its cutting-edge collaborations with academic institutions such as New York University, Barnard College and Johns Hopkins University, its partnerships with local and national government agencies including the NYC Administration for Children’s Services, the National Institutes of Health, and the National Endowment for Humanities and the support of forward-looking funders including the Laurie M. Tisch Illumination Fund, the Institute for Museum and Library Services and W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Children’s Museum is a trusted partner of local and national cultural, academic, arts, governmental and civil society organizations committed to the welfare and advancement of children and families.

About NYC’s Administration for Children’s Services Division of Early Care and Education
The Administration for Children’s Services (ACS) Division of Early Care and Education (ECE) currently provides publicly funded services to 110,000 children through its contracted care and voucher system. Currently, the ECE contracted care system, named EarlyLearn, partners with 151 center-based early childhood education providers and 31 Family Child Care Networks to offer 38,800 center and home-based seats. In the contracted care system, 29,294 children ages six weeks to five years old are served in center-based settings and 9,546 children primarily ages three and under are served in home-based settings. Website

About The New York Community Trust
Since 1924, The New York Community Trust has been the home of charitable New Yorkers who share a passion for the City and its suburbs – and who are committed to improving them. The Trust supports effective nonprofits that help make the City a vital and secure place to live, learn, work, and play, while building permanent resources for the future. The New York Community Trust ended 2015 with assets of nearly $2.5 billion in more than 2,000 charitable funds, and made grants totaling $165 million. The Trust welcomes new donors. Information

FOX 5: From architecture and art to food and music, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s new exhibit “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far” introduces children and their families to multifaceted Muslim communities around the globe and right here in New York. View video

REUTERS: Journalist Jade Barker offers views an in-depth look at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s newest exhibition, America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far. View video

4 NBC: Lizzy Martin of the Children’s Museum of Manhattan joins us to discuss a new interactive exhibit that explores diversity of Muslim cultures worldwide. View Video

WALL STREET JOURNAL, URBAN GARDNER: Ralph Gardner Jr. gets a taste of Muslim cultures from around the world
There are few occasions when I wish I was 3 years old. But I did during a visit to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s new exhibit called “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far.” One of the attractions is a vividly decorated Pakistani bus that you can hop into and go for a pretend ride.

There’s also a replica of an Indian Ocean dhow, a boat with steering wheels that you can spin and a conveyor belt that moves its cargo of coconuts from the hold to the deck.

I was told the vessel also boasted something described as a “multisensory exploration” of the cargo hold. But I was too large and feeble to attempt to enter the space where it was located. Plus, I’d probably have traumatized all the kids I’d have to push out of the way.

The show is the fourth in the Upper West Side museum’s Global Cultural Exhibition Series, intended-as the name suggests-to create global citizens. And I can attest, from both observation and ancient personal experience, that the best way to broaden horizons isn’t by lecturing kids about being better people but by letting them climb into, over and through things.

Also, letting them play dress up, a pastime I never embraced but that my daughters were crazy about. The exhibit includes a Senegalese fashion nook where you can don all sorts of colorful fabrics, inspired by the West African tailors of West 116th Street.

It’s part of the exhibition’s souk, or marketplace, where you can pretend to buy and sell spices, ceramics from Turkey and rugs from Morocco.

If I have any criticism of the exhibit, it’s that nowhere can you learn how to haggle. And in my travels to that part of the world, haggling was an indispensable skill.

And for parents and caregivers convinced their children would prefer to stay home playing computer games, there’s an eye-popping interactive architectural experience. It allows you to visit mosques around the world, inside and out, as their images are projected onto a 21-foot curved screen.

I feared the place might be deserted late on a weekday afternoon. That just goes to show how out-of-tune I’ve become with the rhythms of New York City childhood. The place was packed, probably because the city’s public schools were on midwinter break.

“It’s educational for parents, for children, for everybody,” said Nissim Chekroun, who was tagging along behind her daughter, Sarah.

The show includes lots of stuff for grown-ups, too. The “American Home” area is filled with objects donated by American Muslims. Among them is a photo of a group of children with Muhammad Ali at Chicago’s Sister Clara Muhammad School in the early 1980s.

“I remember him doing all kinds of little magic tricks for the children,” remembered Precious Rasheeda Muhammad, an author and historian, on her wall text.

Arwa Gunja, executive producer of Freakonomics Radio, included her soccer cleats, the bejeweled headpieces she wore as a young girl on holidays at her Islamic Center, hair straightener and her jean shorts.

“My parents were traditional and insisted we cover our legs and dress modestly outside the house,” she wrote. “But I rebelled and would sneak out of the house with shorts underneath a pair of pants that I would tear off once I got to school.

I could relate. My parents forced me to wear short-pant suits to school long after my classmates graduated to trousers. So I’d sneak a pair of long pants in my book bag.

What unites us is greater than what divides us.

Nonetheless, Hussein Rashid, the exhibit’s lead academic adviser, agreed that much of the content in the “American Home” section would go over the head of the average toddler.

My final stop-I was hoping to visit, virtually, the Islamic Cultural Center of New York on the Upper East Side, but some little girl was hogging the controls in the architectural area-was a spice cart where children were grounding up cinnamon, coriander and mint and turning them into tea. It wasn’t bad. If only there had been a nice slice of baklava to go along with it.

By RALPH GARDNER JR.

RELIGION NEWS SERVICE: A first-of-its-kind exhibit is introducing young museum-goers to Muslim cultures around the world.

The Children’s Museum of Manhattan opened “America to Zanzibar” earlier this month, a 3,000-square-foot, interactive exhibit that invites kids to explore Muslim cultures across the world. Visitors can design buildings inspired by Islamic architecture, walk through a pretend Muslim-American home furnished with art and other objects donated by Muslim families and climb a life-size camel in a pretend journey across the desert.

The exhibit winds through a courtyard decorated with verses by Muslim poets and an art gallery featuring contemporary works by Muslim-Americans.

“New York City’s Muslim residents make up a vital part of our city’s rich and diverse communities and we’re proud to have this exhibit in one of our city’s important cultural resources,” said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio. “With America to Zanzibar, children will have the chance to learn about Muslim cultures in an engaging and thoughtful way.”

The exhibit, five years in the making, is funded by the the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, among others. It will also feature a host of festivals and live performances during its more than yearlong stay. It will then travel to other parts of the nation.

“America to Zanzibar” is the fourth in the museum’s Global Cultures Exhibition Series. Previous exhibits explored ancient Greece, China and Japan.

BY Lauren Markoe

FOX 5 NEW YORK MINUTE: There’s a new exhibit at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan on the Upper West Side aimed at teaching children about Muslim cultures worldwide. View Video

NY1: Press coverage on the opening of “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far”

Critical Mention View

Shelly Goldeberg View 

UWS Exhibit Showcases Diversity of Muslim Culture, View

Interview with Andrew Ackerman, Executive Director of the Museum. View

Interview with Lizzy Martin, Director, Exhibition Development and Museum Planning, View

VOICE OF AMERICA:

NEW YORK — Imagine a place where children can steer a dhow boat across the Indian Ocean, sell Egyptian spices and Moroccan rugs, hop on a camel and embark across the Sahara. “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far” is a groundbreaking interactive museum exhibit in the heart of New York City that lets kids do just that: explore the A-to-Z of Muslim cultures. View video

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CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN ANNOUNCES OPENING OF “AMERICA TO ZANZIBAR: MUSLIM CULTURES NEAR AND FAR”

New Interactive Exhibit Set to Open Feb. 13, 2016 Explores Diversity of Muslim Cultures Worldwide for a Family Audience

“America to Zanzibar” is the Fourth in a Series of Major Cultural Exhibitions by the Children’s Museum as Part of its Commitment to Help Prepare Children for Today’s Global Society

New York, NY – Feb. 10, 2016 – The Children’s Museum of Manhattan today announced the opening of America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far, a groundbreaking, new interactive exhibit for children and families that explores the diversity of Muslim cultures in New York City, the U.S. and abroad. The multimedia exhibit and programming at the Children’s Museum (212 West 83rd Street) showcases the cultural expressions of various Muslim communities around the world through age-appropriate experiences with art, architecture, travel, trade, design and more. It will open Feb. 13 and remain open for at least a year.

The 3,000-square-foot exhibit is the fourth in the museum’s Global Cultural Exhibition Series, following exhibits about the cultures of Ancient Greece, China and Japan. The series celebrates the diversity of cultural expression across our interdependent world. An important part of the museum’s ongoing commitment to nurture the next generation of global citizens, the series offers family-friendly, hands-on experiences designed to engage the senses and appeal to a wide variety of learning styles.

“Exposure to cultural differences at a young age, especially through the arts and everyday activities, helps children develop a more nuanced respect for diversity as they age,” said Andrew Ackerman, the Children’s Museum’s executive director. “This is vitally important in today’s world, particularly in New York, one of the most diverse cities in the world.”

“New York City’s Muslim residents make up a vital part of our city’s rich and diverse communities and we’re proud to have this exhibit in one of our city’s important cultural resources,” said Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York City. “With America to Zanzibar, children will have the chance to learn about Muslim cultures in an engaging and thoughtful way. We only grow stronger when we embrace and celebrate the multitude of cultural backgrounds that make up New York City.”

“I am looking forward to bringing my entire family to the Children’s Museum of Manhattan to see America to Zanzibar,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “We live in the most diverse city in the world – this exhibit builds upon our unique multicultural landscape, highlights how Muslim communities and cultures have enriched New York City and the world, and teaches our kids the importance of embracing diversity. I want to thank the Children’s Museum for curating this important exhibit for our city’s kids.”

“America to Zanzibar offers a compelling introduction to the great variety of Muslim visual art, architecture, and cultural experiences in the United States and globally,” said Bro Adams, the National Endowment for the Humanities chairman. “Guided by leading humanities scholars, this new exhibit reflects the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s ongoing commitment to exploring international history and culture, and exemplifies NEH’s support for educational exhibits on world cultures.”

The exhibit, designed for children ages 2-10 and their families, consists of five major sections: a Global Marketplace, Trade Routes area, Courtyard area, Architecture area and an American Home area.

The Global Marketplace features stalls from around the world brimming with sounds, smells and goods, where children can pretend to buy and sell spices from Egypt, ceramics from Turkey and rugs from Morocco. They can also weigh their fresh catch at the Zanzibari fish market, smell Indonesian fruits, serve Tajik tea, and design outfits inspired by the West African tailors on 116th Street.

Visitors learn about the exchange of culture across continents and centuries in the Trade Routes area. Children can climb aboard a replica of a multi-level Indian Ocean dhow (boat) and experiment with navigation techniques, travel to various ports, learn to bargain, and unload goods from around the world. Below deck, they can experience a multisensory exploration of the dhow’s cargo. Children can also decorate a Pakistani truck, then hop in the cab and embark on a pretend trip through the Western Himalayas. They can also climb on top of a life-size camel and journey across the desert.

The Architecture area virtually transports visitors into a series of magnificent, international mosque architectural styles. Breathtaking panoramic images are projected onto a 21-foot curved screen and explore the wide range of aesthetic styles from Asia to Africa and to America. Families can also try their hand at drafting their own structures, complete with domes and arches, while gaining insight into architectural traditions from around the Muslim world.

The Courtyard features warm light flooding through a lattice roof. Families can explore key elements of design, water and geometric patterns that are central to a traditional Muslim courtyard. At a central fountain, visitors can sample verses from renowned Muslim poets and share how they would make the world a better place–one drop at a time. Children are also encouraged to make music with digital instruments, and compete in a guessing game with authentic objects that illustrate the significance of geometric patterns in Muslim cultures.

The American Home area is a contemporary living room filled with objects donated by American Muslims. Visitors explore the wide variety of American and New York City Muslims’ stories through their unique objects, clothing, art and books. They can also learn to write “My name is…” in 21 of the languages spoken by New York Muslims, view artistic works by emerging local American Muslim artists, and follow the history of Muslims in the U.S. through a visual timeline.

America to Zanzibar will also feature a selection of art and artifacts from the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s renowned collection of Islamic art.

A wide range of workshops, programs, live performances and festivals will take place throughout the exhibit’s run. Participation is free with admission.

Over the past five years, the Children’s Museum has worked with an international network of advisors from academia, research, civil society, government and the arts in support of America to Zanzibar.

Funding has been provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, MetLife Foundation, Institute of Museum and Library Services, Robert Sterling Clark Foundation, Open Society Foundations, The Violet Jabara Charitable Trust, El-Hibri Foundation, The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation, Goldman Sachs Gives, National Endowment for the Arts, Maison de l’Artisan in Morocco, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan’s Board of Directors and scores of individuals.

Citywide program funding has been provided by the New York City Council under the leadership of Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Following its run at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the exhibit will travel to other cultural institutions around the country.

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About Children’s  Museum of Manhattan The Children’s Museum of Manhattan is the vibrant home to 350,000 visitors a year from all segments of the NYC community and tourists from around the world. The museum’s educational mission in early childhood education, creativity, health and culture thrives within our home on 83rd Street and in dozens of communities across the city as well as through national initiatives with leading authorities and government agencies. Child development is at the core of the museum’s values and mission and our vision is to be the bridge that connects children and adults in the community, school and home in order to prepare our children for the global world in which they live. For details regarding all of the Children’s Museum programs and initiatives, please visit www.cmom.org.

A girl pushes a toy penguin across melting ice as she skates at rink in Bryant Park on December 24, 2015 in New York City.(Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images)

By Deirdre Haggerty/Carly Petrone

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the holidays in NYC. From Christmas tree lightings to gingerbread house making, here are five of our favorites.

The Plaza Hotel

Fifth Ave. at Central Park South
10019
212-759-3000

Come see the festive Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at The Plaza Hotel on November 29th at 5 p.m. For the first time, the tree will be adorned from top to bottom with white and gold ornaments and lights. You may also spot jolly Christmas carolers singing throughout the hotel from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Make a day of it and reserve at able at The Palm Court for a premium tea and champagne celebration (plus it’s the best seat in the house for the ceremony). Can’t make it on Tuesday? Make sure to stop by the hotel on Christmas Eve to wish Santa well on his night of gift giving. See website for more details.

Children’s Museum of Manhattan

212 W. 83rd Street
New York, NY
https://cmom.org/

Let your children create a Winter wonderland of their own at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Using Tegu magnetic building blocks, kids can use their imaginations to build whatever their heart desires, while also learning about science, magnetics and construction. Exhibit runs from Dec. 10 through Jan. 8, 2017. Visit website for more details.

A replica of Yankee Stadium seen at the New York Botanical Garden Holiday Train Show. (credit: NYBG/John Peden)

Holiday Train Show

New York Botanical Garden
2900 Southern Blvd.
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 817-8779
www.nybg.org

Date: Through Jan. 16, 2017 

The Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden is celebrating 25 years of “holiday magic.” See model trains displayed throughout 150 landmarks, including several New York City favorites, like Grand Central Station and the Brooklyn Bridge. Advance reservations are recommended.

Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical

The Theater at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
4 Pennsylvania Plaza
New York, NY 10001
(212) 465-6741
www.rudolphthemusical.com

Dates: Dec. 1-18, 2016 

The classic Christmas television special has been transformed into a musical this holiday season. “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” is flying into The Theater at Madison Square Garden for a limited engagement — with beloved characters like Santa, Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf and Yukon Cornelius. There are no losers with these reindeer games — children will cherish the Christmas special and parents will fall in love with the story all over again.

Bryant Park Winter Village

Bryant Park
41 W. 40th St.
New York, NY 10018
(917) 438-5166
www.wintervillage.org

Dates: Through March 5, 2017 

The holiday shops at Bryant Park are open until Jan. 2, 2017, and feature artisan boutiques, food from local vendors, and a whole lot of fun. There is something for everyone this holiday season at Bryant Park.

The Radio City Christmas Spectacular

Radio City Music Hall
1260 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
(212) 247-4777
www.radiocity.com

Dates: Through Jan. 2, 2017, various show times

“The Radio City Christmas Spectacular” featuring the Rockettes has been entertaining New York and the world for nearly a century.  Truly nothing is as magical as entering Radio City to witness this annual event. From the first moment the Rockettes appear during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and perform throughout, to the first and tenth time you see them onstage, you know you have witnessed something spectacular.

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting

Rockefeller Center
30 Rockefeller Plaza
New York, NY 10111
(212) 332-6868
www.rockefellercenter.com

Date: Nov. 30, 2016

The Christmas Tree is first lit during a star-studded event on November 30. The annual Christmas Tree-lighting ceremony is free to all, and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis. This year’s Norway spruce comes from Oneonta, New York.

Gingerbread House Workshop

Davio’s Manhattan
447 Lexington Ave.
New York, NY 10017
212-286-9819

Have you always wanted to put together a gingerbread masterpiece? Now’s your chance, because Pastry Chef Luis Rojas will lead a demonstration and a one-of-a-kind workshop at Davio’s Manhattan on December 10. Guests can decorate their winter wonderland with marshmallows and all kinds of candy while sipping house wine, beer, or select holiday cocktails. Help spread a little joy and arrive at the workshop with a piece of gently used or new winter clothing for infants or children to benefit the Good+ Foundation. Tickets are $55 and the workshop goes from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.

The Story

144 10th Ave.
New York, NY
212-242-4853

Make sure to stop by the Home For The Holidays store every weekend this December to get your shopping and foodie fix. Their Snack ‘n Shop series kicks off on December 3, with Wafels and Dinges setting up — but make sure to check out their rotating list of vendors because Snow Day, Korilla BBQ, and Carpe Donut NYC will all be providing snacks during the busy holiday shopping season. his exciting retail space closes up shop on December 31, but keep your eyes peeled for what’s to come. Learn more here.

Mommy Nearest

On February 13, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan will open a new one-of-a-kind exhibit that celebrates Muslim cultures through hands-on activities. Children can visit a mosque and decorate its walls with colorful designs; test their skills in international trade by selling rugs, fish and ceramics in the market place; and explore ancient trade routes on a two story Indian Ocean dhow (boat) or on a camel. There will also be a ton of performances, workshops and demos held at the UWS spot in conjunction with the exhibit.

BY Stephanie Barnhart

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