For Families
A young family reads a BMA Family Guide together.
Visit the BMA for exciting family programs throughout the year—hands-on art workshops, special gallery tours, and more! Admission and activities are free, so bring the whole family and stay for as long or as short a time as you like.
Tips for visiting with Families
The following visitor policies will help ensure your experience is a positive one:- Strollers are welcome in the Museum
- All restrooms are equipped with baby changing stations
- A Family Restroom is located in the East Entrance Lobby
- Soft baby carriers may be carried on the front, but not on the back. Hard baby carriers are not permitted
Free Family Sundays
Join us every Sunday from 2-5 p.m. for free art-making workshops. Drop-in for hands-on fun the entire family can enjoy. No registration required. All materials are provided. Generously sponsored by Wilmington Trust.
Fun Things to do with Your Child at the BMA
Imagine that a painting or sculpture could come alive. What sounds would it make? How would it move? What would it do or say?
The eyes have it. Family members - take turns describing a detail from a painting aloud while the other(s) stands in the center of the gallery with eyes closed. When eyes are opened, can the painting with the detail described be found?
Pretend you’re a team of detectives. Find a work of art or an object from long ago. Examine the visual clues to determine WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY, and HOW. Like any good sleuths, you’ll need to make guesses based on evidence and hunches.
Take a trip around the world without leaving Baltimore. “Visit” a landscape painting to take a swim in a lake, hike up a mountain, or enjoy a tropical holiday.
Act it out! Find a painting that depicts more than one person. Take roles. What are the characters saying to one another? How are they related?
Tell a tale. Can you find a work of art that tells a story? Maybe it tells about everyday life or the person who made it or used it. It could illustrate a legend or myth. Some artworks are mysterious, whimsical, or fantastical - try making up a tall tale!
Fun for the very young. Find simple shapes, favorite colors (name everything blue you see in one gallery, red in the next), or an array of animals. Try counting numbers, making up a rhyme, or striking a pose!
Children might enjoy the Museum more if you look at just a few objects, or one special exhibition. An hour - or even half an hour - may be enough time. Remember, you can always come back - admission to the collection is free.
Family Activity Guides
Pick up a free activity booklet in the African, Modern, and American galleries, or ask a Visitor Services Associate about our Five Things to Gently Touch guide.
Matisse for Kids Online Activity (Requires Adobe Flash)
Meet Raoudi (pronounced 'Rowdy'), artist Henri Matisse's perky schnauzer, in Matisse for Kids, a delightful on-line exploration of the beloved 20th century master's bold, bright paintings. Along the way, you'll earn props, patterns, and colors to use in creating your own Matisse-inspired artwork.
Artful Stories: A BMA Family Audio Tour
The voice of Raoudi narrates this imaginative family tour of 20 objects in the collection.
Download from iTunesU and bring your own smartphone or device, or borrow a complimentary device at the Welcome Desk. Available in English only.
Contact
For more information about visiting the BMA with children, call 443-573-1818.