Making the Arts a Family Affair

The Saint Louis Art Museum knows a thing or two about making fine art more accessible to youngsters. Its Family Sunday series combines famous works with fun activities designed to get families thinking creatively together.

By Natalie-Elizabeth Tan

Are you a museum aficionado, but find it challenging to bring your kids along? Have we got an event for you. This Sunday, July 14, Saint Louis Art Museum is hosting a Baroque-themed Family Sunday event. It is free and open to everyone and, most importantly, has plenty of activities to keep your little ones entertained.

The theme for the event draws inspiration from the many 17th- and 18th-century artworks on exhibit at the museum, like Francisco de Zurbarán’s St. Francis Contemplating a Skull (1635), which utilizes the period’s characteristic chiaroscuro technique to create the illusion of depth. For a fun memento to take home, head to the selfie station to contemplate a replica skull, just like in the artwork. Kids and parents also get to dabble in creating their own chiaroscuro artwork with the drawing activity available. 

“There is such value in creating together as a family and engaging in parallel play,” says Erica Richard, Associate Educator of Youth and Family Learning at SLAM. “Creating together creates a pressure-free moment to share a side of you that your young ones might not get to see regularly. These moments make way for bonding and memory making.”

Another artwork highlighted at this event is Jacob Ochtervelt’s Street Musicians at the Door (1665). In connection with it, Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G Major will be performed by a Baroque orchestra from Orchestrating Diversity, a non-profit championing accessible music education for anyone and everyone.

“We’re going to have ten or so players and a soloist to accompany each piece,” says Mark Sarich, Executive Director of Orchestrating Diversity. “We have both community members and students [playing], the age range is currently 15 to 71.”

Families also can embark on a tour of related artwork in the museum’s collection. On the tour, no need to worry about your kids being too noisy—laughter and discussion is encouraged! Registration is required but can be completed at the event itself.

The event aims to pique children’s interest in art and have them learn through play, as young minds take in so much through playful exploration.

“My goal with family programming is to introduce young people and families to inspiration and intrigue through the artwork, less so about harping on art history dates and time periods,” Richard says. “If we are engaging with artwork and creative ideas through playful activities like artmaking and games, the learning is inseparable.”

Mark your calendar for this Sunday for the opportunity to immerse your family into art and listen to Baroque music. But if you can’t make it, museum admission is always free, and on Free Fridays the museum offers free admission to ticketed exhibitions, programming, and events.

All photos courtesy of Saint Louis Art Museum

For hundreds more events, visit Missouri Life’s Event Calendar.