Grow With Me
Transforming Muse Knoxville into a once-in-a-generation investment in children
Grow With Me!
Through the expansion of our campus, we aim to provide even more families with access to high-quality, play-based STEAM learning experiences. Increased space will allow us to welcome more school field trips, host additional camps, and offer expanded educational programming, opportunities we’re currently forced to limit due to space constraints.
This campaign is not just about square footage; it’s about creating more moments of wonder, discovery, and joyful learning in our community. Through a transformative partnership with the City of Knoxville, including a landmark lease agreement for the Jacob Building, a city-owned facility valued at $33 million, alongside the $25 million committed by the Clayton Family Foundation, this vision is becoming a reality.
- Reaching Our Goal — One Gift at a Time! 55%
Goal #1 | Expand Our Physical Space to Meet Growing Demand
Muse Knoxville is committed to becoming a right-sized museum – one that truly reflects and serves the needs of our growing community. We are consistently operating at or beyond capacity, turning away visitors, school groups, and community partners due to space constraints. By expanding our physical footprint, we will better match the scale and vibrancy of East Tennessee’s families, educators, and learners. This growth will allow us to welcome more children and caregivers, eliminate waitlists, and fulfill our vision of being an accessible hub for innovative, play-based STEAM education across the region.
Goal #2 | Deepen Our Roots in East Knoxville
Muse Knoxville is proud to grow in place. Our continued investment in East Knoxville is an intentional and values-driven choice – affirming our belief that innovative, high-quality learning experiences should be accessible to every child, in every neighborhood. As we expand, we are not relocating – we are reaffirming our long-term commitment to this vibrant community. By staying rooted in East Knoxville, we honor our mission to break down barriers to access, partner meaningfully with local families and schools, and ensure that our core value “Muse for All” remains central to everything we do. This commitment shapes how and where we grow, ensuring that the children who need us most continue to be at the heart of our work.
Goal #3 | Build a Multigenerational Science Center Fueled by Exploration, Discovery, and Community Collaboration
As children grow, so should their opportunities to explore, question, and discover – and Muse Knoxville is growing with them. Our vision is to create a dynamic, multigenerational science center where learners of all ages, from toddlers to teens to grandparents, can engage in meaningful, age-appropriate STEAM experiences. This expansion allows us to “age up” our exhibits and programming to reflect the evolving needs and curiosities of our community. With countless community partners and stakeholders at our side, we are co-creating a space that fosters lifelong learning, ignites innovation, and celebrates shared discovery. Families will return year after year not just to visit – but to grow, together, with Muse.
A Message from Allison Comer, President & CEO
At Muse, we see it every single day — curiosity ignited, confidence growing, futures taking shape through play.
We also see the limits of our space.
Since 2021, thousands of children and caregivers have been waitlisted, and school groups from across East Tennessee have been turned away — not because they didn’t want to come, but because we didn’t have room. The need is clear, and we are stepping into an incredible new chapter of our story.
We are transforming the Jacob Building into a vibrant, multigenerational hub for hands-on STEAM learning — expanding access, eliminating barriers, and creating experiences that will inspire children for years and years to come.
This vision is already becoming reality thanks to the extraordinary leadership and investment of the City of Knoxville, the Clayton family, and so many generous partners who believe deeply in this work. With more than $28 million committed, this is a true community-powered effort — and we are incredibly grateful. We are also honored by the opportunity to welcome even more partners into this work, as the need to fully realize this vision is significant and will take all of us.
This is more than an expansion. It’s an investment in the future of East Tennessee and the limitless potential of every child.
Now, we invite you to be part of it.
Grow with us!
– Allison Comer
President & CEO, Muse Knoxville
Growing Together!
The future of Muse Knoxville is already in motion, and it’s being
shaped by our community every step of the way.
Through listening sessions and ongoing conversations with students, educators, industry partners, and nonprofit leaders, we’re gathering ideas, insights, and inspiration to guide our expansion.
This input is directly influencing how we design our spaces, programs, and experiences, ensuring they reflect the needs and dreams of the families we serve. This isn’t just about growing our building, it’s about growing alongside our community to create something meaningful, inclusive, and built to last.
Non-Profit Stakeholders
Technology
Student Advisory Board
Construction & Engineering
Healthcare
Muse Staff
Energy
Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Report!
Thank you to our
Lead Partners
We extend our deepest gratitude to our first donors for their extraordinary leadership and generosity in supporting our expansion, helping bring this vision of growth, access, and joyful learning to life for our community.
Thank you to our
Founding Partners
To our visionary founding supporters, thank you for your generosity and belief in our mission to expand Muse Knoxville and bring high-quality, play-based learning to even more children and families in our community.
Want to get involved in this landmark expansion project? Contact Katie Mixon at Katie@themuseknoxville.org
Award-winning & Nationally ranked
