STT State Street Corporation

Opening to the public on May 14, 2008, Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China is an exhibition designed to engage children and families in learning about one of the oldest civilizations � and now among the most modern � in the world through some of its young people. Created by Boston Children�s Museum (BCM) and sponsored by State Street and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the exhibit will be at the Museum through 2008 before traveling throughout the United States and Canada. With breathtaking speed China has become a global power. Global transportation and telecommunications have facilitated the fast flow of goods, services and ideas around the world. But now we need to get behind the glare of the headlines. Children of Hangzhou is devoted to expanding knowledge, understanding and appreciation of contemporary China through life in Boston�s Sister City, Hangzhou. In distinctively Chinese settings, visitors will �meet� children with different interests and in different environments and learn what makes them tick. The exhibit will dispel stereotypes and �demystify� China. At this moment when international eyes are focused on China for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, BCM is seizing the opportunity to help visitors find out more about China. Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China presents four children from Hangzhou at home, at school, in the library, in the theater, and in the countryside. The Hangzhou young people will introduce themselves through media and the activities of their daily lives. Visitors will discover that Chinese life today mixes ancient traditions with modern lifestyles and that life in China is both similar to and different from life in North America. The young Chinese in the exhibit will be a bridge to learning about China and building cross-cultural understanding. The exhibit features original artwork created to present a unique Chinese aesthetic that delivers an immediate and unmistakable impression: You are in China. The exhibition is organized into several components: Bus Stop, where visitors �enter� Hangzhou, China, and �meet� the four children; Wu Lin Men Apartments, where visitors �meet� Weicheng and his family in their apartment, and learn to cook a birthday meal for his grandmother; Yellow Dragon Theater, where visitors �meet� Qianyun, who is studying Chinese opera, and join in a performance of White Snake Lady or play traditional instruments; Bao Chu Ta Middle School, where visitors �meet� Gangzheng at school, learn about the Great Wall, and count on the abacus; Pavilion, where visitors learn about Chinese writing, poetry, and yin and yang, the traditional worldview of balance and dualities in nature; Hangzhou Children�s Library, where visitors can check out the latest software and learn about China; Huang Tian Fan Village, where visitors �meet� Doudou, help her plant rice seedlings with her grandfather, and learn how two thirds of people in China live � on the land. Throughout the summer, Boston Children�s Museum will host Chinese performances, including martial arts, folk sports demonstrations, dance, music and acrobats. For a complete calendar listing, please visit www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org/china. Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China was created in collaboration with a distinguished advisory board of Chinese community members, academic specialists and artists. Colleagues in Hangzhou, Boston�s Chinese sister city, helped prepare the exhibition. The content developer of the exhibition is Gail (Gangliu) Wang, Asia Program Manager at Boston Children�s Museum, a native of Hangzhou and an experienced teacher, curriculum developer and artist. The project director is Leslie Swartz, a Vice President at Boston Children�s Museum, who has led China education programs for many years and was one of the founding members of the Boston-Hangzhou Sister City Association. Software for the Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China exhibition was developed by the State Street Technology Center in Hangzhou, China, a joint project with Zhejiang University, one of China�s leading universities. The State Street Technology Center held a competition to select a team that would volunteer to develop the software for Boston Children�s Museum. This software will engage visitors in the following: learning to speak Chinese; exploring the geography of China; playing a traditional game; and comparing and contrasting attitudes and opinions of children in China and North America. Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China will be at Boston Children�s Museum May 14, 2008 � January 4, 2009 before embarking on a three-year, 8-city U.S. and Canadian tour. Hours and Admission The Museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m. � 5:00 p.m. and Fridays until 9:00 p.m. Children (2-15) and senior citizens, $8; other adults, $10; one year olds, $2; Fridays 5:00pm � 9:00pm, all visitors $1. Infants under one and Museum members are always free. About Boston Children�s Museum Boston Children�s Museum exists to help children understand and enjoy the world in which they live. It is a private, non-profit, educational institution that is recognized internationally as a research and development center and pacesetter for children's exhibitions, educational programs and curriculum. Boston Children�s Museum incorporates two strategies � engaging families and building communities � to impact five outcome areas for children: Creative Kids, Curious Kids, Global Kids, Green Kids and Healthy Kids. More information about Boston Children�s Museum can be found at www.BostonChildrensMuseum.org. About State Street State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is the world's leading provider of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $15 trillion in assets under custody and $2 trillion in assets under management at March 31, 2008, State Street operates in 26 countries and more than 100 geographic markets worldwide. For more information, visit State Street�s web site at www.statestreet.com. A long-time supporter of Boston Children�s Museum, State Street has contributed $750,000 to support the �Children of Hangzhou: Connecting with China� exhibit. For more information, visit State Street�s web site at www.statestreet.com. About National Endowment for the Humanities Created in 1965 as an independent federal agency, the National Endowment for the Humanities supports learning in history, literature, philosophy, and other areas of the humanities. NEH grants enrich classroom learning, create and preserve knowledge, and bring ideas to life through public television, radio, new technologies, museum exhibitions, and programs in libraries and other community places. Additional information about the National Endowment for the Humanities and its grant programs is available on the Internet at www.neh.gov.