The Bishop Museum of Science and Nature, located in Bradenton, Florida, recently celebrated the grand opening of the Mosaic Backyard Universe with a ribbon cutting.

The Mosaic Backyard Universe is an immersive exhibit for kids to explore, experience, and have fun. Fully ADA accessible and designed for kids of all ages, the Backyard includes scale models of the solar system, a freshwater pond with turtles, a science shed, and more – with a mighty oak tree towering over it all.

The Mosaic Backyard Universe is housed in the new wing of the Museum, the North Education Center (NEC). In addition to the Backyard, the NEC features new classroom space, a lobby, multi-purpose spaces and an outdoor setting for programming and events. The NEC expansion was financed through the New Markets Tax Credit Program, with Florida Community Loan Fund providing tax credit allocation. The NMTC Program encourages economic development in distressed census tracts.

The Museum has a priority goal of targeting schools in Bradenton’s low-income urban core and serving 11,350 Title I students each year after expansion − a 77% increase compared to before the NEC addition. Low-income visitors to the Museum are also expected to more than double, from 15,626 in 2016 to a projected 37,000 annually after expansion. All school programs are based on Florida Standards for STREAM: science, technology, reading, engineering, arts, and math; and are created with the input of local educators from both public and private schools.

Learn more at the Bishop Museum website: https://bishopscience.org/mosaic-backyard-universe/
Learn more about FCLF and Bishop Museum here. 

Read about the opening of the Bishop Museum Mosaic Bacykard Universe in these news articles:
Bradenton.com: Bishop Museum aims for fall opening of new exhibit designed for children
Business Observer: Museum marks opening of education center

Pictured above, ribbon cutting at the Bishop Museum Mosaic Backyard Universe. Below, the interior of the Backyard.