The New Day Initiative (NDI) is a planning grant proposal to lay the groundwork for the “Nowruz Around the World” exhibition for children and families about the ancient Persian festival of Nowruz. This exhibition holds potential to build connections among the many nationalities and cultures that trace their heritage to Persian roots, while also educating others about Persian culture. CDM has partnered with a nationally-known designer of cultural exhibitions, MIIM Designs llc, to engage our region’s diverse communities in design/development of an authentic, experiential 2,500 sf traveling exhibition highlighting what it means to be Persian through the festival of Nowrooz.
“At this moment in history, the hope of building greater understanding with respect to immigrants and refugees may seem like a distant dream. Leveraging core competence in exhibit design/development, Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose (CDM) is to set the stage for creation of a transformational traveling exhibition that addresses demographic trends and national challenges. Exhibition Design Partner Maryam Eskandari, principal of the architectural firm MIIM Designs, brings highly relevant expertise, having worked with Children’s Museum of Manhattan to create America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far.”
~ Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose
“The Nowruz festival offers a uniquely cross-cultural contribution to rebuilding a more trusting landscape in our nation. This exhibit will lay the ground work for children to learn more about inclusivity, celebration of various cultures under one theme – Nowruz (the first day of Spring), global citizenship and the nuances of various steps to in mitigating climate change and healing Nature.”
~ Maryam Eskandari