Sharing Culture Through Play

The Iowa Children’s Museum is a place where children learn by doing, and that includes learning about the world around them! We invite community members and organizations to partner with us and co-create cultural experiences for young children and their families.

These experiences might include hands-on activities, music, storytelling, or celebrations that reflect your traditions. Examples of past collaborations include hosting a Lunar New Year Celebration with the Midwest Chinese Academy and a Powwow Preview event in collaboration with the University of Iowa Native American Student Association. 

What Matters to Us

• Children engage through participation and sharing
• Culture is shared with care, accuracy, and respect
• Community partners guide what is appropriate to share
• Experiences are welcoming, accessible, and joyful for families

What We Offer

• A supportive, flexible space to bring your ideas to life
• Collaboration on setup, materials, and flow
• Clear and respectful promotion (with your input and approval)
• A team that listens first and builds with intention
• We value your time and expertise and aim to offer compensation when possible

We value these partnerships and view them as a collaboration. You bring your knowledge, traditions, and ideas. We’ll work alongside you to shape an experience that fits our space and supports meaningful, joyful engagement for families.

If you’re interested, we’d love to learn more about what you’d like to share and how we can work together! Complete the interest form below to start the conversation.