Children enjoy art activities during the museum's Family Days
Remember! Museum admission for children 12 and under is always FREE.
Summer Family Programs 2013
Art Lab
Thursdays and Fridays from 9:30AM–12:30PM from June 6–August 9
Dell Classroom, Smith Building
All ages
Drop by the Art Lab, an open studio that invites you to experiment with enticing materials and explore your own creative process.
Story Time Tours
Thursdays and Fridays at 10:30AM from June 6–August 9
Meet in the atrium
Recommended for kids age 3–7 and their adult companions
Encourage young art lovers to look carefully and make connections between art, story, and life on these 30-minutes thematic tours. Space is limited. Tour tickets available at the Visitor Services Desk.
Deeper Dives: Lifelike
Thursdays and Fridays at 1PM from June 27–August 9
Meet in the Atrium
Recommended for families with kids age 8–13
Explore Lifelike, the Blanton's special exhibition of contemporary art intended to fool the eye. These 90-minute experiences combine close looking, conversation, and the making of related art projects. Check the calendar for each week's art project. Practice your own sleight of hand! Space is limited to 15 participants. Tickets available at the Visitor Services Desk.
*Note: The Blanton will be closed on Thursday, July 4.
Support for the Blanton is provided in part by individuals, corporations, foundations, and Blanton members. Additional support is provided by a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts. Education programs are supported by The Brown Foundation Inc., Education Endowment.
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Tips for Parents
Here are some helpful tips for talking to children about art at the museum.
Take your time and limit what you see to one part of the collection or exhibition. Don't feel like you have to see the entire museum in one visit.
Remind your child not to touch the art. There are a few exceptions to this, so just ask one of our gallery assistants to be sure.
Let the child choose art he or she finds interesting, then, look at and talk about the work together. Here are some ideas for discussion:
- Name everything you see in this painting (or drawing, print, etc.).
- Without naming it, describe something you see in the works of art by its shape, color, and location. Can someone in your group guess what it is?
- Have you seen anything like this before?
- What is going on in this picture?
- What do you like best about this art?
Don't hesitate to go back to the same works. As with a favorite book or song, a child can see an artwork over and over again and discover something new about it each time.
Buy something like a postcard or art magnet at the end of your visit as a souvenir of your child's experience. This can enhance his or her memory of the works of art and can improve your child's comfort with looking at art.
And remember, it's okay not to know about a work of art. Just have fun and discover what you see together.