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Families

Description

The MCA is a great place for families to connect with contemporary art. We offer experiences that redefine the way that kids and families explore and create art together.

Upcoming Family Events

Family Days

Family Days are back this year as a virtual program!

Virtual Family Days feature special artist-created activities for all ages and will be presented starting at 10 am on October 10, November 14, and December 12. Activities are led by MCA teaching artists and occasional guest artists from around Chicago.

Family Day is always free for kids and anyone they call family.

Stay tuned for information about Family Days happening in January through May 2021. Subscribe to our monthly Family Programs Newsletter to stay up-to-date on upcoming Family Days and receive additional learning activities for kids and their families to do at home!

Stroller Tours

Experience a stimulating hour of art with your little one in tow every first Wednesday of the month. These tours are free with museum admission.

Park Voyagers

The MCA is excited to be one of 11 Chicago cultural institutions that make up Museums In the Park. Through this partnership and generous support from the Chicago Park District, the MCA participates in the Park Voyagers program, which provides Chicago youth with after-school art programs and families with on-site programming at the museum. For further information, check out parkvoyagers.org.

Family Conveniences

Park your stroller and backpacks at our complimentary coat check.

Diaper-changing stations are located in the first-floor restrooms.

Fun books, games, and toys can be purchased in the children’s section of the MCA Store.

Deepen your relationship with the MCA. Our Household Membership ($85) is perfect for families, providing free admission for two adults and youth under 18 throughout the year. To enroll, call Member Services at 312-397-4040 or sign up online.

Funding

Support for Family Programs is provided in part by the MCA Women's Board Family Education Initiative.

Tips for Visiting as a Family

Exhibitions at the MCA are always changing, so there’s sure to be something new to explore each time you come to the museum. To help you make the most of your time, here are some tips for visiting the MCA as a family:

Pace yourself

Take your time. Choose a gallery, see which work of art catches your eye, and slow down to take a closer look. Don’t worry about trying to see everything in one visit.

Make it fun

Bring some paper and a pencil to sketch in the galleries. Become your own expert. Invent titles and stories about the art. Move your body: imitate a work of art's shapes, lines, or images. Find other shapes and lines that are similar throughout the building and in other artworks.

Talk it out

Sometimes people think they have to be quiet in a museum. That’s not the case here! We invite you to talk, laugh, and share ideas about what you see and notice. Use our resource, Asking Art: 10 Questions as a way to spark conversations while you’re here.

Rules of the Road

Talk through these helpful guidelines together before you take to the galleries.

Can you touch the art?

Look with your eyes, not with your hands. Salts and oils on people’s hands can damage the artwork. But sometimes we do invite you to touch—so watch out for signs.

Can you draw or write?

Feel free to draw or write. Use a pencil, please, and think of new ideas and images.

Can you run?

We prefer that you walk. There are lots of people and objects around you. We want them—and you—to be safe.

Featured image

A large group of children and adults gather around a freestanding doorway-like sculpture in a brightly lit gallery space.
Artist-led activities on Family Days invite families to explore contemporary art together. Family Day
Photo: Joshua Longbrake, © MCA Chicago
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