Collaborate and Create!
The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (MFA), invites families to meet and make art together with other families. Artists have always collaborated for inspiration and to create art. Along with art making, enjoy a dance performance, go on a family art walk, and listen to children’s stories. Enjoy free drop-in activities all week, supported by the Cogan Family Foundation.
All ages and abilities welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult. No registration required. FREE admission for kids all week. (Kids 6 and under always get FREE admission to the MFA, and kids 7 to 17 are free during non-school hours. See Visiting with Kids for more information.)
Programs
Family Art Walk
Sharf Visitor Center | Every 15 minutes from 10:15 am–Noon
ASL interpretation Wed at 10:15 am and 11 am
Join MFA guides to explore art objects made in the spirit of collaboration. Tours are 30 minutes. Fun for all ages!
Story Hour
Gallery 171 | 10:30 am and 1:30 pm
ASL interpretation Wed at 10:30 am and 1:30 pm
Drop by to hear cool stories about people working together to make something beautiful. Stay for one story or for the whole hour.
Music and Dance
Alfond Auditorium | 11:30 am and 1:30 pm
ASL interpretation Wed at 11:30 am
Wiggle, shake, and sing along in these 30-minute collaborative music and dance performances.
Tuesday, April 18 | Chinese Folk Art Workshop
Watch the graceful, exuberant movements of the young performers in traditional costumes as they dance and share their Chinese heritage.
Wednesday, April 19 | SambaViva
Be dazzled by the lavish costumes and beat of samba. With a troupe of dynamic dancers, Brazilian dance ensemble SambaViva immerses you in the culture of Brazil, from Rio to Bahia and everything in between.
Thursday, April 20 | Benkadi Drum and Dance
Come enjoy the infectious spirit of Benkadi Drum and Dance, a multicultural company presenting rhythms and dances from Mali, Guinea, and other West African countries.
Friday, April 21 | Triveni School of Dance
Delight in the exquisite beauty and complex movements of classical Indian dances presented by the Triveni School of Dance.
Art-Making Activities
10 am–4 pm (to 8 pm on Wednesday)
Color, Shape, Collaborate!
Shapiro Family Courtyard
Visit the Gund Gallery, LG31, to explore the colorful paper cut-outs made by Henri Matisse. Walk upstairs to Shapiro Family Courtyard and work with a family member or friend to create a collaborative cut-paper masterpiece.
Outside In
Education Center in Druker Family Pavilion, Room 159
ASL interpretation Wed at 1 pm
Travel to “Making Modern” where you can see the work of many artists who learned from each other. Look closely at the different prints of either bull by Pablo Picasso in Gallery 328. Return to the art studio to make two prints of your own. Add to our collaborative print wall or take your work home to enjoy!
Many Eyes, One Vision
Education Center in Druker Family Pavilion, Room 160
Walk through Gallery 253 to soak up the color and sunlight of the paintings. These artists painted outside or in plein air. This group of painters, called the Impressionists, were inspired by each other. Return to the art studio, or to create your own oil pastel landscape.
Sewing Together a Family
LG34
Native American button blankets touch the lives of many people. They are often designed and made by more than one person and passed down through families. Look closely at the button blanket handmade by Maxine Matilpi and her husband. Can you see the orca whale in the center that is their family crest or symbol? Together with a friend or family member, design and sew your own miniature felt button blanket.
Always Available
Art Connections Activity Cards | Sharf Visitor Center
Pick up an Art Connections card and explore birds, powerful figures, bugs and other themes throughout the Museum. Some cards available in Spanish.
A Guide to Family Fun at the MFA | Sharf Visitor Center
Available in English, Spanish, and Chinese. Pick up one of our free pocket-sized informational guides on visiting and exploring the Museum with kids. Includes tips, gallery games, and ideas for looking at and discussing art together.
Behind the Scenes Galleries | Galleries 125 and 225
Peek behind the scenes to learn about all the hidden work that happens every day at the MFA. Watch a video, explore the interactive kiosks, or just relax and enjoy views of Boston.