The Please Touch Museum's new exhibit "America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far" will open Saturday, Feb. 2.
There are five major sections of the exhibit, including a global marketplace, immersive 3D replicas of Middle Eastern architecture and mosques and an American home area.
The exhibit includes historic artifacts on loan from the Free Library of Philadelphia and the Penn Museum, as well as newly commissioned artwork by Philadelphia-based Muslim artists and home objects from local Muslim families.
RELATED: Prepare for slime at "Double Dare Live," coming to Philly in March | Marvel superheroes exhibit coming to Franklin Institute this spring
"America to Zanzibar" was developed by the Children's Museum of Manhattan, then the Please Touch Museum customized it to reflect Philly's Muslim communities.
"To ensure Please Touch Museum’s approach to customizing the exhibit is authentic and sensitive to Muslim cultural traditions and requirements, a community advisory council made up of more than two dozen local Muslim community leaders was appointed to inform its modification," states a press release on the exhibit.
This is the first project under the museum's new initiative, which is to represent the diversity of the families and communities in Philly and to address contemporary social issues. The exhibit aims to foster dialogue around diversity and acceptance.
It's designed for children age 2-12 and their families. The exhibit will be open through Labor Day.
"America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far"
Saturday, Feb. 2, through Monday, Sept. 2
$19 museum admission
Please Touch Museum
4231 Ave. of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131
Follow Sinéad & PhillyVoice on Twitter: @sineadpatrice | @thePhillyVoice
Like us on Facebook: PhillyVoice
Add Sinéad's RSS feed to your feed reader
Have a news tip? Let us know.