Families
Fun for the Whole Family
Explore a variety of engaging programs for toddlers, teens, and everyone in between. Make cool art, see live performances, or take a family-friendly tour of the Museum. Our programs and in-gallery materials invite you to look, talk, and interpret works of art together.
PARTICIPATING SPONSORS
NCMA Camps
Children have never experienced the Museum’s galleries, expansive park trails, and vibrant studio spaces the way they will during Camp at the NCMA.
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Weekend Family Tours
Every Saturday and Sunday | 10:30 am
Join a Museum guide for a lively discussion and activities in the galleries. Each free tour lasts 30 minutes and is designed for kids age 5 to 11 and their adult companions. Themes change monthly. Meet at the West Building Information Desk. No reservations are necessary, but space is limited.
View Tours
What’s in the Box?
Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers
45-minute workshop on select Thursdays
Sign up that day; first come, first served.
Discover fun and engaging ways of looking at art together in the Museum and at home. Each session introduces a work of art through one of six themes: animals, people, places, seasons/nature, movement, and parts of art. Collect “What’s in the Box?” cards (provided at each session or downloadable; cards also in Spanish).
What's in the Box? Cards: Animals
What's in the Box? Cards: Places
What's in the Box? Cards: People
What's in the Box? Cards: Parts of Art
What's in the Box? Cards: Movement
What's in the Box? Cards: Seasons/Nature
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Family Fun Saturday Workshops
Families with children ages 5–11
Two-hour workshop on select Saturdays
Registration required
Gallery tour plus studio workshops for families. Kids and adults explore the Museum’s collection and create projects together in the studio. A different theme each time means there’s always something new to discover.
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Pop-Up Art
Free drop-in activities for all ages; children must be accompanied by an adult
Family-friendly art-making activities inspired by works of art in the galleries and Museum Park. Pop-Up Art is supported by the Duke Energy Education Endowment Fund.
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Family Festivals
Spend time connecting with your family at the NCMA. Make art, explore the galleries or Museum Park, and watch demonstrations or performances. Family days are free and are held seasonally.
Family days are sponsored by the Mebane Charitable Foundation, Edith S. Shepherd and Paul E. Castelloe, and the List Family Endowment.
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Explore on Your Own: African Art Activity Guide
A free activity booklet for self-guided exploration. Take a closer look to discover patterns, animals, and materials in the African art gallery. Pick up the guide and a pencil in the African gallery (East Building). Recommended for children ages 5 to 11. Available in English and Spanish.
Explore on Your Own: Tour-in-a-Tote
A free lending resource to encounter works of art in West Building in a kid-friendly, hands-on way. Borrow a tote at the West Building Information Desk. Best for ages 5 to 11. Available in English and Spanish.
Explore on Your Own: Park Packs
A free lending resource for families exploring the Park together. Park Packs are filled with activity guides and materials to use on your Park adventure. Recommended for pre-K through elementary school age. Park Packs can be reserved at the Museum Box Office in East Building. (Park Pack Activity guides are available in English and Spanish.)
Related Events
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What's in the Box?: Movement
Thursday, December 20 | 9:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Movement
Thursday, December 20 | 10:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Movement
Thursday, December 20 | 11:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Vacation Time
Saturday, December 22 | 10:30 am
Where in the world do you want to go? Travel to a vacation destination without leaving the Museum.
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Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Vacation Time
Sunday, December 23 | 10:30 am
Where in the world do you want to go? Travel to a vacation destination without leaving the Museum.
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Vacation Time
Saturday, December 29 | 10:30 am
Where in the world do you want to go? Travel to a vacation destination without leaving the Museum.
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Vacation Time
Sunday, December 30 | 10:30 am
Where in the world do you want to go? Travel to a vacation destination without leaving the Museum.
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Saturday, January 5 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Sunday, January 6 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Seasons/Nature
Thursday, January 10 | 9:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Seasons/Nature
Thursday, January 10 | 10:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Seasons/Nature
Thursday, January 10 | 11:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
Exhibition Related Events
Family Fun Saturdays: Painting Places
Saturday, January 12 | 10:15 am
Gallery tour and studio workshop best for families with children ages 5–11. A different theme each time means there’s always something new to discover! All participants...
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Saturday, January 12 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
Exhibition Related Events
Family Fun Saturdays: Painting Places
Saturday, January 12 | 1 pm
Gallery tour and studio workshop best for families with children ages 5–11. A different theme each time means there’s always something new to discover! All participants...
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Sunday, January 13 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
NCMA Camps
School’s Out Camp: Let's Create! Ages 6-10
Monday, January 14 | 9 am
Sculpture, collage, painting, and drawing! Discover the variety of media in our galleries and Park, and try them out in your own creations.
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Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Saturday, January 19 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Sunday, January 20 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
Pop-Up Art: Terrific Trophies
Sunday, January 20 | Noon
Take inspiration from sculptures in the Museum to create a winning trophy from found objects. Award it to yourself or give it to a friend.
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What's in the Box?: Places
Thursday, January 24 | 9:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Places
Thursday, January 24 | 10:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Places
Thursday, January 24 | 11:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Saturday, January 26 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: Moo, Chirp, Roar!
Sunday, January 27 | 10:30 am
Look for creatures big and small in the Museum galleries. Find out how artists were inspired by feathered, furry, or ferocious animal friends.
READ MORE -
Champagne and Chocolate
Thursday, January 31 | 7 pm
Treat yourself to a glass of champagne while indulging in a curated selection of fine chocolates with chocolate maker Sam Ratto of Videri Chocolate Factory and the NCMA's...
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Duke Energy Family Day: Musical Adventures
Saturday, February 2 | 10 am
Discover the rhythms and sounds of music at the Museum. Enjoy hands-on art- and sound-making activities, plus performances that bring works of art to life.
... READ MORE
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Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: We ♥ Art
Sunday, February 3 | 10:30 am
Find your new Valentine at the Museum. Discover a work of art you love!
READ MORE -
NCMA Camps
School’s Out Camp: Around the World in Five Days, Ages 6-10
Monday, February 4 | 9 am
This is your ticket for a whirlwind art-making adventure! Begin each day in a new country and create works of art inspired by the places you visit.
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What's in the Box?: Parts of Art
Thursday, February 7 | 9:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Parts of Art
Thursday, February 7 | 10:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: Parts of Art
Thursday, February 7 | 11:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: We ♥ Art
Saturday, February 9 | 10:30 am
Find your new Valentine at the Museum. Discover a work of art you love!
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: We ♥ Art
Sunday, February 10 | 10:30 am
Find your new Valentine at the Museum. Discover a work of art you love!
READ MORE -
Great Backyard Bird Count
Saturday, February 16 | 9 am
The four folios of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America are returning to view during the week of the Audubon Society’s national Great Backyard Bird Count, so we’re...
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Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: We ♥ Art
Saturday, February 16 | 10:30 am
Find your new Valentine at the Museum. Discover a work of art you love!
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: We ♥ Art
Sunday, February 17 | 10:30 am
Find your new Valentine at the Museum. Discover a work of art you love!
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: People
Thursday, February 21 | 9:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: People
Thursday, February 21 | 10:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
What's in the Box?: People
Thursday, February 21 | 11:15 am
Now at a new, earlier time! Preschoolers, ages 2–5, and their caregivers have fun while exploring art together. Each session introduces a work of art from the Museum and...
READ MORE -
Family Fun Saturday: Put a Bird on it!
Saturday, February 23 | 10:15 am
Celebrate the return of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America to Museum galleries. Look closely at the selection of bird engravings on view, and then create your own...
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: We ♥ Art
Saturday, February 23 | 10:30 am
Find your new Valentine at the Museum. Discover a work of art you love!
READ MORE -
Family Fun Saturday: Put a Bird on it!
Saturday, February 23 | 1 pm
Celebrate the return of John James Audubon’s The Birds of America to Museum galleries. Look closely at the selection of bird engravings on view, and then create your own...
READ MORE -
Weekend Family-Friendly Tours: We ♥ Art
Sunday, February 24 | 10:30 am
Find your new Valentine at the Museum. Discover a work of art you love!
READ MORE -
NCMA Camps
School’s Out Camp: Raiders of the Lost Art, Ages 6-10
Monday, February 25 | 9 am
Discover legends from the ancient and modern worlds, decode messages revealed in art, and create works of art that tell your own stories.
See Camp FAQs and details here.
... READ MORE -
NCMA Camps
School’s Out Camp: Spring Break at the NCMA
Monday, April 15 | 9 am
Spring is here, and there is no better time to explore the Museum Park. Get up close and personal with nature in the Park and in the galleries. See how nature inspires...
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