smART Family Weekends

Registration Information
Printable Registration Form
Return to Classes and Workshops Main Menu

Second Saturdays

On the Second Saturday of each month, the Art Center invites children along with an adult companion to learn more about art through a variety of cool activities in the museum.

Second Sundays
smART Family Workshops

Family workshops are designed for parents and children ages 5 and older. (Please plan for each adult to work with no more than two children.) All materials are furnished except where noted.

Please pre-register and prepay by calling the Education department at 515.271.0306 by the Wednesday prior to the workshop. ($)= fee for members. Each workshop begins promptly at 1 pm, except where noted. Please arrive on time.

Family Portraits

Experiment with simple and fun printmaking techniques to create unique impressions of your family. Learn how to ink a matrix and pull a print. Construct an accordion book to hold your collagraphs and relief prints.

C641 Sunday September 14 1 – 2:30 pm
Kelly Kentner Studio 1
Admission $5 ($4) per person
Limit 20 family groups

Private Universe

Explore the Downtown Art Center’s exhibit Private Universe, which features miniature worlds by artists Joseph Cornell, Betye Saar, Charles LaDray, and Yayoi Kusama. Design your own imaginary world in a box. Fill it with miniature people, animals, and nature objects you create.

C642 Saturday October 11 1 – 2:30 pm
C642 is FULL
Art Center Downtown
800 Walnut Street, corner of 9th & Walnut Streets
Street level in the Wells Fargo Financial Building
Admission $5 ($4) per person
Limit 20 family groups

Chinese Calligraphy

Chinese characters are little pictures. Learn stories behind some the characters used in this ancient text. Paint letters with a bamboo brush and sumi ink, just like a calligrapher.

C643 Sunday November 9 12:30 – 2 pm
C643 is FULL
Staff Studio 1
Admission $5 ($4) per person
Limit 20 participants

C644 Sunday November 9 2:15 – 3:45 pm
Staff Studio 1
Admission $5 ($4) per person
Limit 20 participants

Make Your Own Monster

Do you like scary or friendly monsters? Create your own cuddly and cute or scary and spooky monster out of fabric and fiber fill. Learn to sew by hand and stuff your monster friend.

C645 Sunday December 14 1 – 2:30 pm
Staff Studio 1
Admission $8 ($6) per person
Limit 20 family groups

Day of the Dead Celebration

Join our sixth annual Day of the Dead Celebration and create colorful paper flowers and make nichos — little shrines. This holiday remembers people who have died and celebrates their lives. Visit the altar in the lobby and enjoy the music and festivities beginning at 1 pm.

Sunday November 2 1 – 3:30 pm
Staff and Volunteers Studios 1, 2 & 6
Admission Free, no pre-registration necessary