Although San Antonio's The DoSeum is guided by a commitment to imaginative play, it takes its role in education seriously. Now, its work in digesting race and equity for a young audience has earned it a pair of hefty grants.

On September 9, the local institution announced a $285,000 cash infusion to bring its 2022 exhibition, Uniquely Us: Understanding Race and Building Unity, to a national audience. The total includes $250,000 from the Institute of Museum and Library Sciences (IMLS) and a $35,000 Smithsonian Institution Program Grant, which also supports DoSeum's Beyond Limits Sensory Friendly programming.

Uniquely Us was conceived in the aftermath of the 2020 George Floyd murder that sparked a nationwide reckoning with racism. According to DoSeum Chief Creative Officer Meredith Doby, families were eager to find ways to discuss race with their children.

The staff sought community input to develop an exhibit that addressed challenging questions related to the issue and celebrated diversity and those who fight against injustice. Keeping to its learning-through-play model, The Doseum developed Uniquely Us to engage young audiences in age-appropriate conversations for kids up to 7 years old.

The exhibit became a blockbuster, welcoming nearly $75,000 guests in 2022. With the IMLS grant, Uniquely Us is expected to reach more than 500,000 visitors nationwide as a traveling exhibit. An expanded version of the exposition will also open in San Antonio in February 2025.

The Smithsonian funds will further that work by supporting teacher resources, classroom activities, and an educator guide to accompany Uniquely Us. It will also finance a resource fair and guide for families participating in The DoSeum's Beyond Limits, which supports families with special needs.

"Being awarded these grants from the IMLS and The Smithsonian is a powerful affirmation of the impact Uniquely Us is having in fostering understanding, empathy, and unity among our youngest learners," said DoSeum CEO Dan Menelly in a release. "This vital support equips us to extend the reach of this socially innovative exhibition. Our team is committed to making the highest and best use of this funding."

More information about the DoSeum is available at thedoseum.org.