You want some art, you want some culture, but you have young children. Lucky for us Angelenos, many LA museums have a wide array of hands-on activities for the children making it a great experience for everyone. Here are a few you can choose from, at some of the biggest museums in the city:
LACMA
1. STORY TIME IN THE GALLERIES: For a little language art to go with the artwork, this story time at LACMA happens every Friday at 2 p.m. It’s free, open to the public, and gives your little ones the chance to relate an artwork back to a story.
2. KIDS ART CLASS: This art class, for children ages 6-9, dives into the elements of art, including lines, shapes, color, patterns, and texture. The perfect chance for your young artists to create their own masterpieces!
3. FAMILY ART CLASS: Sometimes the museum activities you take your kids to look so fun you want to participate yourself – and you can in LACMA’s Family Art Class. In this workshop, you’ll either create side-by-side artworks with your kid, or collaborate on one. For kids 8 years and older.
4. KIDS ART CLASS: WINTER ART WORKSHOPS - CHRISTMAS EVE: For a Christmas Eve activity, head to this art class from 9 am to noon at Smidt Welcome Plaza, where kids will use discarded and recycled materials to create art. For children ages 6-9! **Note that this is at Smidt Welcome Plaza
*LACMA also offers several off-site workshops, so you can browse around the museum’s events page to see if one is in a neighborhood near you!
MOCA
5. TOURS FOR FOURS: On Saturdays and Sundays at 10:20 a.m., take your 4-year-old little one to the Lewis B. and Dorothy Cullman Education and Research Building for “Tours for Fours,” where kids and parents get to participate in the tour and discussion together. The museum runs the event each month with a different theme!
6. A CLOSER LOOK FOR KIDS: For children ages 5-10, this program is also on Saturdays and Sundays at 10:20 a.m. Activities and discussion included, as you and your kid(s) take a look at the coolest contemporary art.
7. ART TALKS: For a little more education behind the artwork, you can take your children (ages 7 to 14) to MOMA’s “Art Talks,” where artists and designers speak about their creative processes, inspiration, and tools and techniques used in their artwork.
THE GETTY
8. FAMILY ROOM: The Getty offers an ongoing gallery designed specifically for children – music to any parent’s ears. This is an especially nice chance to get even your most active kids to head to the museum. In the Family Room, they can create their own art or participate in hands-on exhibits!
9. ART DETECTIVE CARDS This is another ongoing activity offered by the Getty, for your budding detective. These cards are designed to provide a mystery for kids to solve as they go through the museum’s galleries. This works better for kids over 5.
By: Aspen the Docent
Docent by day and sometimes night, avid creator always. And yeah, I’m a peg person.
Email me at aspen@cityspotsonline.com with any thoughts!
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