Whether you are looking to get creative at home or planning a visit to the Walker or Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, these art-making activities, scavenger hunts, and interactive workshops for all ages will help you connect with art, artists, and the world around you.
New videos and downloadable activity instructions are added regularly, so be sure to return often to continue making art with your family!
Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Family Friendly Events and Opportunities
- The Hmong Museum offers many free downloadable activities for families to explore Hmong culture and art on their website.
- St. Paul Public Library has activities and resources for families on their website, including STEAM activities, story times, sing-alongs, and distance-learning support.
- Visit the new community garden at North Lyndale and North 23rd Avenue in Minneapolis, designed and built by Walker artist-in-residence Jordan Weber and Youth Farm.
- Artist Seitu Jones has shared instructions to create your own #blues4George stencils and artwork.
Anti-Racist Teaching Resources
- Black Lives Matter at School has an anti-racist curriculum guide with resources for all ages.
- D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice has resources for early childhood and elementary school-aged students.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture’s Talking About Race portal includes resources for parents and caregivers.
- Raising Race Conscious Children provides resources for talking about race with young children.
- The Southern Poverty Law Center’s Learning for Justice Project has resources for teaching about Black Lives Matter.
- The Anti-Defamation League has a guide for family discussions about racism and police violence available in English and Spanish.
- Watch this Act.TV video explaining systemic racism to kids who are elementary school aged or older.
- This New York Times article on explaining protest and racism to children includes recommendations and a list of books organized by developmental level.
- The Saint Paul Public Library compiled a list of picture books to use as a tool when talking about race with children.
- The Saint Paul Public Library has a storytime video that offers resources for talking to children about the trial of Derek Chauvin and the emotions children and adults may be processing.
- The Saint Paul Public Library offers an Asian American and Pacific Islander Resource list of books for all ages that provide context on Asian American experiences
Virtual Workshops and Performances
Pre-recorded videos in English.
-
Art Tour: Share Your Love With the World!
This interactive presentation of three pieces of art explores how artists share love with the world through their work. All you need is a camera, marker, paper, and your imagination. For ages 4 and up, approximately 12 minutes.
-
Art Tour: Express Yourself
This interactive presentation of three pieces of art explores how artists communicate through their work. All you need is a camera, pencil, paper, and your imagination. For ages 4 and up, approximately 12 minutes.
-
Workshop: Connect across Time and Space through Dance
Connect with friends and family through movement. Learn several short dance sequences by artists in the Walker’s collection, then create your own dance! For all ages, approximately 20 minutes.
-
Workshop: Tell Your Story through Dance
Explore how dancer/choreographer Maria Hassabi expresses her unique voice, then create your own original dance to share your story! For ages 5 and up, approximately 7 minutes.
Talleres y actuaciones virtuales
Videos pregrabados en español.
-
Tour de arte: ¡Comparte tu amor con el mundo!
Esta presentación interactiva de tres obras de arte explora cómo los artistas comparten su amor con el mundo a través del arte. Todo lo que necesitas es una cámara, marcador, papel y tu imaginación. Para niños a partir de los 4 años, aproximadamente 12 minutos.
-
Tour de arte: ¡Exprésate!
Participe de un recorrido virtual interactivo de tres obras para explorar cómo los artistas se comunican a través de su arte. Todo lo que necesitas es una cámara, lápiz, papel y tu imaginación. Para niños a partir de los 4 años, aproximadamente 12 minutos.
-
Taller: Conéctese a través del tiempo y el espacio por medio de la danza
Conéctese con sus amigos y familia a través del movimiento. Aprenda varias secuencias de danza por artistas en la colección del Walker, luego interprete su propia danza. Para todas las edades, aproximadamente 20 minutos.
Activities for Your Walker Visit
Get in touch with the world around you, from art in the Garden and the galleries to the plants and insects that live outside your door. For ages 3 and up, accompanied by an adult. Find out about visiting the Walker here. Algunas actividades disponibles en español.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Make Art at Home
Check out these fun art-making activities that you can make with materials from home. Algunas actividades disponibles en español.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
Watch: Short Films
For all ages.
-
Clyde Petersen, with music by Shenandoah Davis, 2008, 3 min.
We; Camera
This animated film features musician Shenandoah Davis encountering a bird on the trail. They become friends.
Keep Exploring:
What does the bird bring to Shenandoah? What is in the box? How do the characters show each other that they want to be friends? How do you show people you want to be their friend? What did you notice about the yellow bird? What about its home?Try It at Home:
Make a paper bird using scissors, a paper bag, pens, tape, and string. Hang your bird in a window to share with your neighbors or find a box to make it a birdhouse. -
Clyde Petersen, with music by Kimya Dawson, 2011, 3 min.
Solid and Strong
Musician Kimya Dawson and friends head to the neighborhood aquatics center for fun and synchronized swimming.
Keep Exploring:
What does it mean to be “solid and strong”? What do these words mean for a tree? What do these words mean for you and your family? What is your favorite part of the town you live in? Why do you like it?Try It at Home:
Watch the video again and make up your own dance to represent your favorite part of town! Use whatever objects you have in your home and move your body in a way that reminds you of that place.
Learn About The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang
Get to know the author and the illustrator of the picture book The Most Beautiful Thing through a Q&A and discussion with local partners. Then, download a pack of related activities and discussion guides. For all ages, approximately 32 minutes; pre-recorded videos.
-
Video in English with English closed captions
-
Video with Hmong open captions
We’d love to see what you made today! Don’t forget to share your artwork with us by using @walkerartcenter and #walkerartcenter on social media. You can also check out #walkerartcenter to see what other families are making.
Do you have some suggestions for our team? Please fill out this short survey to tell us about your experience. Thank you helping us make family programs even better!
If you are interested in receiving information about Family Programs, sign up for the biweekly Walker newsletter.
-
Family Programs are supported by the KHR McNeely Family Foundation, thanks to Kevin, Rosemary, and Hannah Rose McNeely.
-
Education and Public Programs are supported the Patrick and Aimee Butler Family Foundation and Susan and Rob White.