Wilmington, DE – The Delaware Art Museum is thrilled to announce three new initiatives for families: Family 2nd Sundays, the DE Creative Kids passport partnership, and a new installation in Kids’ Corner, the Museum’s popular space for families and children.
Family 2nd Sundays (F2S), sponsored by the Delaware Art Museum Council, is a monthly drop-in day of art-making, story time, movement, music, and sensory play for children ages 0-12. The pay-what-you-will model allows greater access for even more families. Additional programming and performances are included at 1:00 p.m. on select second Sundays. Regular programming includes the following activities:
9:00 a.m. Ages 4+ and their grownups.
Family Yoga — Practice a pose with your little in the sculpture garden, led by Petite Yogi. Weather dependent. March-October only.
10:00 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Ages 0-2 and their grownups.
Art Museum Babies — Join us for circle time with songs, sensory play, and a baby-friendly visit with a special work of art.
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. Ages 2-6 and their grownups.
Young Artist Storytime — Begin with a story reading in Kids’ Corner followed by an interactive tour through two galleries and the opportunity to create a work of art.
11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. All families.
Lunch Bunch – Drop into the café for lunch to meet other Museum families. Enjoy kid-friendly food options, and a shared table reserved just for families. Food available for purchase.
Noon – 3:00 p.m. Ages 6+ and their grownups.
Sunday Studio — Create art together and learn about new materials and techniques from a professional teaching artist.
Kids’s Corner Reinstallation: In June, the all new Kids’ Corner will welcome its first visitors. “Who Hears Twell Van Dunder?”(Who here is twelve and under?) is an immersive art-as-play experience designed by the Smiths, a local family who also installed the beloved 2017 installation, “Lenny the Ice Cream Man.” Work will begin in mid-May to transform Kids’ Corner into an interactive magical forest–creating an immersive celebration of childhood and a place for older people to rediscover the wonder of play.
The kid-sized woodland of “Who Hears Twell Van Dunder” will include an enchanted forest with a gigantic bird’s nest for kids to curl up in, plush logs, rocks, and lily pads, a life-sized sheepdog named “Twell Van Dunder,” trees with hidden surprises, and more.
“Who Hears Twell Van Dunder” will be available to visitors for two years as part of our Family-in-Residence program began at the Museum in 2016.
The DE Creative Kids Passport is a partnership among the Delaware Art Museum, the Biggs Museum of American Art, the Delaware Contemporary, and Winterthur Museums, Garden & Library. Passports, which can be picked up for free at any of the four participating sites, offer a special prize for participants who complete all the stamps. Each location includes a range of child and family-friendly activities, including Winterthur’s Enchanted Woods children’s garden, First Saturdays at the Biggs, and Discover Cart during the Delaware Contemporary’s First Fridays.
Over the past several years, the Museum has made significant investments in advancing the cultural literacy of young children in Delaware. These three new initiatives, which have been developed for children of all abilities, demonstrate the Museum’s commitment to serving as a vital hub for the even the youngest community members; thereby developing the next generation of creative individuals.
“Everyone has an imagination that they are growing and maturing into,” says Sam Sweet, Executive Director and CEO of the Delaware Art Museum. “Too much of the world is trying to stamp it out. Every child is an artist and the trick is to keep them an artist. It’s our job to create space so that they have the freedom to express themselves.”
About the Delaware Art Museum
For over 100 years, the Museum has served as a primary arts and cultural institution in Delaware. It is alive with experiences, discoveries, and activities to connect people with art and with each other. Originally created in 1912 to honor the renowned illustrator and Wilmington-native, Howard Pyle, the Museum’s collection has grown to over 12,000 works of art in our building and sculpture garden. Also recognized for British Pre-Raphaelite art, the Museum is home to the largest and most important Pre-Raphaelite collection outside of the United Kingdom and a growing collection of significant contemporary art.
Under the leadership of our Board of Trustees, the Delaware Art Museum is implementing a comprehensive approach to community and civic engagement. This exciting new strategic direction requires that we increase our value and relevance to all audiences. Visit delart.org to for the latest exhibitions, programs, and performances or connect with us via social media.
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~ Delaware Art Museum