Family Programs
The Museum offers a wide variety of programs both within the galleries and offsite. Programs are designed to reach a wide variety of audiences from children to seniors and from beginner to art expert.
The Museum creates programs in collaboration with other organizations and tailored to the exhibitions on view. The format varies and can include other art forms such as music, film, performance, special tours and lectures and art making. Visit the Museum Calendar for specific dates and times for each program.
Family Drop-In
Recommended for families with children 6 to 12 years of age, this monthly program encourages participants to explore and learn about the art on view through activities designed to help families look at and think about art in new and different ways. Activities include games and touchable objects, Search-and-Find activities, family-friendly, docent-led tours, and art-making. This program takes place in the Museum’s newly renovated IMAGE Gallery and exhibition galleries. Each drop-in day has a unique theme, art project, and tour that focus on a specific part of our collection.
Join us for Family Drop-In every third Sunday of the month from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
ARTivities
This summer program invites participants of all ages to explore art making in the Museum’s newly designed IMAGE Gallery. Participants view artwork using the technology provided in the Gallery, enhanced by visual tools to inspire them as they create their own works in response.
ARTivities includes a theme-based art project in the IMAGE Gallery and a Search & Find activity sheet (see below) to use while exploring other Museum galleries. New themes are introduced each week, and visitors are invited to return again and again to grow in their artistic appreciation and expression.
ARTivities is a drop-in activity, and no reservations are necessary. Space is limited to 12 participants at a time inside the IMAGE Gallery, but the activity can accommodate larger groups who choose to explore the galleries using the Search & Find as their guide.
All children must be accompanied by an adult, but adults need not have children to attend.
Search & Find
The Museum’s Search & Find activities are designed to encourage participants of all ages to roam and view the Museum galleries. Search & Find activity sheets contain short clues on a central subject matter such as line, color, or nature, and describe works of art on view as well as a map for the general location of the works. For each work found, participants are directed to answer a question about it. When all works are located and all questions answered, participants return their completed sheets to a staff member for a prize.
Target Free Family Day & Festival
Families and visitors to Balboa Park are invited to the Museum to participate in a free day of outdoor and indoor art-making activities, performances, artist demonstrations, and docent-led tours inspired by a chosen featured exhibition.
Three to four art-making stations offer insights into artist techniques and ideas about making art. These all-ages art-making activities are led by Museum educators and professional artists. The Festivals are held on Sundays from 12:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. and admission is complimentary.
Performances at the Family Day & Festival feature music, dancing, spoken word, storytelling, and demonstrations. Performers are mostly local and represent the immense talent of our diverse San Diego communities. This program is made possible by a generous grant from Target.
