This summer, Saturdays and Sundays become even more kid-friendly at the Detroit Institute of Arts {DIA}. The museum is rolling out a new program called “Detroit Institute of Awesome!” which will feature a variety of art and activities tailored to ages 3–10. Activities are free with museum admission, which is free for residents of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties. How fun, right?
Detroit Institute of Awesome will have family-friendly tours, art-making, artist demonstrations and a special kid-friendly menu in Café DIA every Saturday and Sunday, and some weekends will feature animated movies and puppet shows, too.
My girls absolutely love art museums, and the DIA is simply the area’s best. I know many parents may not consider the DIA for young children, but I encourage you to think otherwise! My oldest {5.5} especially loves going, and I enjoy watching her little eyes dart around and get excited.
Art is such a wonderful way to stimulate creativity, foster curiosity, and entice discussion. My kids always ask a TON of questions when we visit {lots about Jesus and nudity if I’m being completely honest}, and are always amazed at how old many of the paintings are. It truly is a solid learning opportunity and I highly recommend giving it a shot if you have a child with an inquisitive mind.
To get started, mark your calendar for these special days in the months ahead:
Puppet Shows
- July 9 & 10, 2 p.m., North Lawn: Luigi Bullooney’s Circus Menagerie | The whole family can spend the afternoon in the Big Top with Jesse Mooney-Bullock Puppets. This playful show features specialized hand puppets that dexterously perform hilarious feats. Following the show, kids can meet the puppets and create circus-character masks of their own.
- July 30 & 31, 2 p.m., Lecture Hall : Puppet Kabob’s The Snowflake Man | Science and little-known pieces of American history combine to magical effect in this show featuring Czech-style marionettes, pop-up book scenery and a whimsical sense of humor. After the performance, audience members can create their own pop-up theater.
- August 6 & 7, 2 p.m., North Lawn: Play with Your Food | Detroit-based Interstate Art mixes hilarious and bizarre live performers with sweet and spectacular puppets of all sizes to tell stories that celebrate the universal human experience of eating.
Detroit Film Theatre Animation Club
Tickets are $5; free for DIA members
- June 18 & 19, 2 p.m., My Neighbor Totoro
- July 16 & 17, 2 p.m. Only Yesterday
- August 27 & 28, 2 p.m. The 90 Second Newbery Film Festival
Artist Demonstrations
- June 25 & 26, Noon–4 p.m., North Lawn: Music Charity Inc.’s Musical Instrument Connection Scene | All ages will enjoy this opportunity to see, hear, play and learn an array of musical instruments.
- July 23 & 24, TBA
- August 20 & 21, TBA
Drop-In Art-Making
June | Saturdays, Noon–4 p.m.: Weaving; Sundays, Noon–4 p.m.: Uchiwa {Uchiwa is a style of paper fan that is common in Japan}
July | Saturdays, Noon–4 p.m.: Paper Flowers; Sundays, Noon–4 p.m.: Paper Dolls
August | Saturdays, Noon–4 p.m.: Photograms — Make a photogram, which is a picture produced with photographic materials, such as light-sensitive paper, but without a camera; Sundays, Noon–4 p.m.: Altered Books — Change a simple recycled pamphlet or book into your own work of art.
Additional Ways To Explore the DIA with Kids
1. Play Eye Spy
Many of the galleries have an Eye Spy game on the wall. Flip it for a clue and then find the piece that is featured. My girls LOVED this game…and so did I! Such a cool way to explore.
2. Listen for secrets about works of art using an audio tour just for kids {ages 8-14}. There is a $2 fee – available at the Farnsworth entrance.
3. Light up the symbols on an ancient Mayan Chocolate Jar {ages 8+}. Located on Level 1 in the Native American Galleries.
4. Climb the spiral staircase like kids have done since 1927 {all ages}. Located on Level 1, near Kresge Court and Level 2, European Medieval Gallery {one of my kid’s favorite galleries}.
5. Explore the virtual ancient Egyptian scroll for spells that led a man safely info the afterlife {ages 8+}. Located on Level 1 in the Egyptian Galleries.
6. See a life-sized video of African masks in action {all ages}. Located on Level 1 in the African Galleries.
7. Discover legendary African Americans in Hale Woodruff’s painting The Art of the Negro {ages 8+}. Perfect for discussing famous African Americans that have helped build our country. Located on Level 1 in the African American Galleries.
8. Play a quiz to determine if 2,000-year-old gladiator helmets were worn in battles or parades {age 6+}. Located on Level 2 in the Ancients Greek and Roman Galleries.
9. Pet the donkey — the only work of art you can touch! {all ages}. Located on Level 2, near the south elevators.
10. Sit down at the virtual banquet table for an elaborate three-course meal {all ages}. Located on Level 3 in the European Fashionable Living Galleries.
11. Stop for a snack or a meal. The DIA has a variety of food options available at Cafe DIA and in the Kresge Court, and there’s even kids items on the weekend menu. Learn more here.
Museum Hours and Admission
The DIA is open 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesdays–Thursdays, 9 a.m.–10 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. General admission {excludes ticketed exhibitions} is free for Wayne, Oakland and Macomb county residents and DIA members. For all others, tickets are $12.50 for adults, $8 for seniors ages 62+, $6 for ages 6–17 and free for 5 and under. For membership information, call 313-833-7971.
Learn more about how to visit with family here.
Have you taken your kids to the DIA? What was their favorite area?
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