The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to Transform into Chinese Immersion Experience

Indy Chamber News Archives

More than $1.3 billion worth of Indiana exports made it to China in 2013, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce. That’s a lot of chemicals, transportation equipment and machinery the Hoosier state sent to Indiana’s 6^th largest trading partner.

As our business opportunities with the most populated nation in the world rapidly develop (boosted by recurrent trade missions focused on manufacturing, agriculture, education and culture), interest in a country so vastly different from ours is naturally piqued.  But you need not travel 7,000 miles to gain deeper knowledge of China.

On May 10, 2014, The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis transforms into a rich, cultural Chinese immersion experience when two extraordinary exhibits, one ancient and one modern-day, open to visitors of all ages.

Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army, directly from China’s Shaanxi Province presents a rare opportunity to see what many consider “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”  For the first time ever, a museum will push beyond showing the warriors as an art display and will engage families in real science being used to piece together this 2,200 year-old mystery. Terra Cotta Warriors offers an up-close experience with real and rare objects, including eight warriors, a “painted” warrior head from the Xi’an dig pits, and 100 other artifacts. The exhibit will explore how the warriors were made—each uniquely hand-painted in rich colors. Interactive displays will encourage families to become part of the archaeology team investigating the real scientific research underway helping us imagine what made this painted army so vibrant.

Opening simultaneously, Take Me There: ® China, explores modern-day China.  Visitors will explore daily life and the celebrations of Chinese families through art, music, food, tea culture, calligraphy, ancient Chinese medicine and the preservation of giant pandas. In a special immersion experience, families will participate in a shadow puppet performance or martial arts training program in the setting of the famed Shaolin Temple.

It’s hoped the one-of-a-kind cultural immersion experience will serve as a catalyst to foster awareness, acceptance and respect for people from other societies and their traditions.

Terra Cotta Warriors: The Emperor’s Painted Army is presented by Eli Lilly and Company Foundation.

Take Me There:®China is made possible by lead gifts fromLilly Endowment Inc., Eli Lilly and Company Foundation, The Lilly Family, Mrs. Yvonne Shaheen, Sarah and John Lechleiter, the U.S. Institute for Museum and Library Services, Jane and Steve Marmon, Susan and Jim Naus, and Polly Hix.

For ticket information, please visit http://www.childrensmuseum.org/china2014