Families

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.