Causes: Arts & Culture, Museums

Mission: The san diego museum of mans (sdmom) mission is inspiring human connections by exploring the human experience. Sdmoms vision is to be san diegos dynamic place to go to learn about each other, reflect on our place in the world, and build a better community. Sdmom is located in balboa park in the historic 1915 california building with its iconic california tower. Sdmom features five core exhibitions, including ancient egypt; kumeyaay: native californians; footsteps through time: four million years of human evolution; maya: heart of sky, heart of earth; and adventure kids in egypt. Sdmom also offers changing special exhibits featuring artifacts from their collections and around the world.

Programs: Collections and exhibitions:sdmom stewards and conserves a collection that contains approximately 400,000 ethnographic, biological, and archaeological objects, nearly 50,000 photographic images and 33,000 scientific publications, while serving approximately 170,000 visitors annually. Sdmom features five permanent exhibitions, including ancient egypt; kumeyaay: native californians; footsteps through time: four million years of human evolution; maya: heart of sky, heart of earth; and discover egypt. Sdmom also offers changing special exhibits featuring artifacts from their collections and around the world. During this time period, sdmom presented the following temporary exhibits to the public:* beerology: fascinating stories and phenomenal artifacts reveal the links between beer and culture throughout time and place* empowering women: artisan cooperatives that transform communities: conveys the stories of women-led cooperatives in ten countries, including displays of striking art pieces and other goods from each group. * instruments of torture, a gripping human rights exhibition featuring implements cruelly engineered to inflict unbelievable pain and suffering. By exploring why torture occurs, even in todays world, this exhibit aims to help us understand who we are as human beings.

education:sdmoms extensive standards-based education programs connect students to the history of humanity and the beauty of diversity through anthropology. Each year, sdmom serves over 17,000 students in class tours, summer camps and outreach. An additional 35,000 children come to sdmom through general admissions. Our calling is to educate not just children, but also adults in their quest for lifelong learning. In the past year, sdmom offered interdisciplinary panels that meaningfully engage adult community members in discourse about contemporary issues such as: microfinance: small loans, big change and folk art matters, exploring the importance of folk art and tradition in a modern world. Tower after hours is an evening series that celebrates san diegos vibrant cultural communities with ethnic food, music, dancing and artifacts. Responsive to current events and highly participatory, these compelling public programs attract a wide range of audiences, increase admissions revenues and deeply impact the community as a whole.

museum program events:sdmom offers a wide variety of supporting program services, including exhibit-specific opening receptions and events highlighting other anthropological areas of interest, such as the tower after hours, an evening series celebrating san diegos vibrant cultural communities with ethnic food, music, dancing, and artifacts. Additionally, sdmom offers museum and chapel rentals for corporate events, weddings, receptions, and other private events.