Families - Learn - Smart Museum of Art — The University of Chicago

Learn

Families at the Smart

The Smart Museum offers a suite of free family programs and fun resources designed to inspire children to think about and respond creatively to art.

Free family programs

The Smart offers a variety of drop-in family programs featuring hands-on art activities, gallery games, and other fun projects.

Family Days

Join in the Smart's free family activities on the first Saturday of every month! Each drop-in program features hands-on art activities and tours that encourage children and parents to engage in some creative looking. See what the fun is all about and view photos of our family days on Facebook.

Saturday, April 6, 1–4 pm
Family Day: Postcards for Peace
Create postcards for peace and enjoy a dance performance and workshop with the Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts.

Saturday, May 4, 1–4 pm
Family Day: Imaginary Cityscapes
Make an imaginary cityscape out of paper and pop-up collage.

Saturday, March 2, 1–4 pm
Family Day: Shapes and Paper and Sculpture, Oh My!
Create an abstract sculpture using color paper and folding techniques.

View our online calendar

For more information about family programs at the Smart, e-mail smart-museum@uchicago.edu or call 773.702.2362.

Family programs at the Smart are free and open to all. Art-making supplies and other materials are provided. Family programs are best for kids 4–12. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

Family programs are supported by the Harper Court Arts Council.

Creative resources

Use these kid-friendly, creative resources to explore the ideas and techniques behind the art on view in our galleries.

smARTkids website
Be an art detective and hunt for visual clues about an artwork, go on a studio visit with an artist, learn about art terms, and explore art materials and techniques on the interactive smARTkids website.

Artwork of the Month
Follow up on a visit to the Smart with one of our Artwork of the Month activities. The at-home projects are simple, inexpensive, and make use of easy-to-find materials.

Gallery Guides
Grab a kid-friendly gallery guide and wind your way through the Smart while learning about the artists, techniques, and works on view. Ask for a gallery guide at the Smart’s information desk or download one here in advance.