Led by Executive Director Jamie DeMent Holcomb, the North Carolina Children’s Museum, an evolution of Kidzu Children’s Museum in Chapel Hill, is an experiential children’s museum with an emphasis on accessible early childhood learning and research. The NC Children’s Museum will have a 100-county reach of informal education for all learners – from children, youth, and families to educators and researchers. With KIETS support, Kidzu has been gathering statewide stakeholders to develop the vision of the NC Children’s Museum. While North Carolina has a number of museums across the state, there is no museum devoted solely to the youngest citizens and to researching the short and long-term impacts of informal learning on young children in all 100 counties of North Carolina. KIETS Trustees Dr. Betsy Bennett and Dr. Charles Coble serve on the board of Kidzu, a children’s museum located in Chapel Hill, NC.
Significant accomplishments in FY 2023-24 include affirmation by the NC State House for official designation as the North Carolina State Children’s Museum. The Kidzu Children’s Museum (current operating name) was awarded $250,000 through the transfer of funding to the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR). Coupled with securing a grant from the Kenan Charitable Trust of $1.5 million, Kidzu was able to acquire 45 acres of land in January 2024 at 510 Mt.
Carmel Church Road in Chapel Hill for its new museum home. The property will be home to an early learning campus with indoor and outdoor programming for children – birth through teens, their caregivers, educators, and researchers. Unfortunately, in August 2024, due to a water main break at its current location, Kidzu’s facility was flooded and their exhibits are currently in a temporary space until the new museum is established.
Among the partners supporting the NC Children’s Museum initiative are the Kenan Charitable Trust, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, North Carolina Arts Council, Kohl’s National Giveback Initiative, Institute of Museum and Library Services – Museums for America, GlaxoSmithKline Ribbon of Hope, The Grable Foundation, Frances R. Dewing Foundation, and the Orange County Partnership for Young Children. Kidzu has also developed a partnership and collaboration with the Kenan Fellows Program for Teacher Leadership and is hosting a Kenan Fellow in FY 2024-25.