Families
On-Site Programs
Stories in Art (Ages 4-7)
Stories in Art introduces children to artists through careful looking, storytelling, and hands-on experimentation. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children’s book, exploring one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. Each program is approximately 60 minutes.
The summer series is presented in a four-year cycle—Explore Italy, Discover Dutch Art, Tour de France, and American Adventure—where each topic highlights a different part of the West Building permanent collection. The winter series investigates modern art in the East Building.
These free drop-in programs are designed for individual families, and we cannot accommodate groups. Space is limited. There is no advance registration; participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. As a courtesy to the group, we will only accept sign-in for children in the age ranges listed.
Summer 2013 Story Series:
American Adventure
Would you like to take a road trip across the United States this summer? Pack your imagination and travel to the National Gallery of Art! Explore the nation’s coasts, forests, farms, and mountains through works of art. After investigating paintings to learn about American artists, make a souvenir to document each adventure. You will receive a passport to the Summer Story Series and a stamp for each program attended. Collect three or more stamps to receive a prize!
Multiple-Visit Program
The Gallery offers a series of programs—Stories in Art (ages 4-7) and Artful Conversations (ages 8-11)—designed to engage families across the developmental spectrum of their child. Both programs aim to inspire curiosity and strengthen observation and thinking skills, which develop over time and through multiple encounters with works of art. By slowing down and closely examining one work of art during each program session, families deepen their understanding of art. The programs aim to provide models for families to explore art together on their own in the museum.
Stories in Art and Artful Conversations are organized into a summer series (four consecutive weeks in July and August) and winter series (monthly programs from January through March). Over the course of eight years, a child has the opportunity to participate in seven programs a year, for a total of fifty-six different topics.
Contact
For information, email family@nga.gov.