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The “Year of the Snake” struck with a colorful and enthusiastic celebration as The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis announced the creation of two new extraordinary exhibits coming next year that will not be seen anywhere else in the world!
In May 2014, the entire museum will transform into an immersive and authentic Chinese experience via two blockbuster exhibits—Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army is expected to draw thousands as is Take Me There:® China.
The Shaanxi provincial government is planning with the world’s largest children’s museum to create Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army, the first experience featuring real Terra Cotta Warriors that is designed with hands-on activities for families to bring the incredible story life. Artifacts from the Terra Cotta Warrior site have only visited a handful of cities in the United States. The plan is for this one-of-a-kind exhibition about The Emperor’s Painted Army to ONLY be produced and seen in Indianapolis - nowhere else in the world!
The museum’s special relationship with the Shaanxi Provincial Government and the quality of The Children’s Museum’s work and international outreach led to the unique opportunity to create this extraordinary exhibit.
The museum expects to have more than 100 artifacts in this exhibit, including real Terra Cotta Warriors, some never before seen by the public. “Our vision of the exhibit will focus on new research and the real science behind the bright paint that once made the emperor’s painted army so vibrant and why these clay figures are a significant part of China’s history,” said Dr. Jeffrey H. Patchen, president and CEO, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis. “The museum’s strategic partnership with the Shaanxi Provincial Government is expected to bring extraordinary artifacts and hands-on archaeological experiences to more than a quarter million visitors next summer.”
The remarkable army of thousands of clay soldiers was created by the first and youngest emperor of China. The figures, dating from about 200 B.C., were discovered in 1974 by some local farmers digging for water.
Take Me There® China will be a separate exhibit, which will be one of the largest comprehensive exhibits on contemporary China (if not the largest) ever produced in the United States.
Visitors will board a modern Chinese airliner and fly over the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and other iconic and culturally significant sites in the world’s most populous country before “landing” in Beijing. Adults and children will be able to explore ancient customs and modern activities through art, music, food, tea culture and ancient Chinese medicine. In a special immersion experience, families will have the opportunity to learn first-hand about Chinese celebrations, traditions and even learn martial arts “basics” through the museum’s partnership with the famous Shaolin Temple, the home of Chinese Kung Fu.
”Learning exhibitions of this magnitude introduce residents and visitors to the rich culture and traditions of Hangzhou and strengthen our connection and friendship with this great sister city," said Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard. “It signifies that Indianapolis, is part of a global community and is significantly contributing to the world cultural sharing and learning,” said Sherry Dong, president, Indianapolis Sister City – Hangzhou. “It means a lot to our Chinese community. We are appreciative and excited that The Children’s Museum has such a visionary initiative to bring Chinese Cultural Experiences to the Midwest. We are very proud of our cultural heritage. More importantly, we are proud to be part of this journey. The museum has been engaging Chinese community for the project from the very beginning.”
These exhibits are supported in part by the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation. In anticipation of the announcement, Robert L. Smith, president of the Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, said, “Take Me There®: China and Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army are powerful experiences that will foster understanding in a way that goes far beyond textbooks, television or even the Internet. These hands-on immersive experiences offer a unique opportunity for families to learn about the diverse country that is rapidly becoming one of the most consequential nations in the world.”
The adventure begins on May 10, 2014!
The Children's Museum of Indianapolis is a nonprofit institution committed to creating extraordinary learning experiences across the arts, sciences, and humanities that have the power to transform the lives of children and families. For more information about The Children's Museum, visit www.childrensmuseum.org, follow us on Twitter @TCMIndy, Facebook.com/childrensmuseum and YouTube.
