Exhibit Experiences
You can follow along with the both the building construction and the new exhibit experiences with these archived newsletters. Click on the topic to read more!
Watermelon Seeds
Step into Central Florida’s agricultural fields as infants and toddlers start as seedlings and develop into ripe, bright, sweet fruit. This gallery is for the Museum’s youngest visitors. Children and their families will understand the importance of farming to our area and understand where our food comes from. Inside Watermelon Seeds will be the new home of Family Fundamentals, a United Way of Central Florida initiative to provide free early learning opportunities to low-income families. 50% of the Museum attendance is under the age of 5 and yet the current Museum only dedicates 200 square feet to their specific learning needs. Watermelon Seeds will be 15 times the amount of space they currently have and designed using current research in developmentally appropriate practices.
Design Park
High tech and low tech come together to practice design thinking with open-ended, child-designed building projects. From cardboard to kinnex, a variety of materials are available for kids to tinker, fail, redesign, and try again.
Harrell Family Charities Front Yard
This 7,000 square foot outdoor, enclosed gallery will celebrate the Florida under our feet as kids travel through time to dig up marine fossils and follow how Central Florida’s iconic alligator got here. The centerpiece of The Front Yard is a 100 foot long, 23 foot wide Blinky, a climbable alligator made possible by Greg and Ansley Masters. Relax in calming sensory swings hung throughout the body, slide down the tail, or make music in hidden spots along the way.
St. Christopher’s Project City Play
Step into the whimsical world of dramatic play. Everyday, local storefronts will have a comic-book intrigue to their look and children will explore the world around them. Shop at Publix and be a Spectrum meteorologist, and so much more. Almost 80% of the brain develops before age 6 and the dress and the dress-up, pretend play that happens here directly influences each of those neural synapses or brain connections. Scientists have shown a direct link to mastering this type of play and learning how to read and write.
Blackbox Theatre
A mixed used space intended for performance art, traveling exhibits, special events, and rentals. It features sprung wood floor for dance performances, AV room for professional controls, and a room divider to break up into two medium rooms. This fully flexible space will be used for everything from children’s theatre to professional development trainings.
To Be Determined
To Be Determined is a gallery for the YouTube and Tik Tok generation to explore their emotional intelligence and strengthen their communication skills. Step up to the Lunz Group Green Screen Landscape for a group video shoot or design a stop motion animation. Want to feel the beat? Find the found sound booth and explore traditional and non-traditional percussive instruments.