Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago in Chicago, IL 60637

Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago050

in Chicago, IL 60637

about Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago:

The Smart Museum of Art is a museum with a mission to educate and engage visitors. Through its permanent collection as well as special exhibitions and programs, the Smart is a memorable excursion for the entire family.

Located on the Hyde Park campus of the University of Chicago, it proudly displays over 10,000 items in its permanent collection, spanning five thousand years of eastern and western civilization. The vast collection includes sculpture, paintings, photography, glass, furniture, and decorative arts, by familiar artists such as Degas, Matisse, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Mark Rothko.

Several programs and festivities provide kids and families with educational and hands-on experiences. smART Explorers is an intensive course for 5th graders where they are immersed in art through discussions, activities, and museum visits. Art Afternoons offer a different hands-on art activity each week in the summer. Family Days are filled with art activities, family tours, and gallery games.

Family memberships are available for $50, and ensure invitations to special exhibits, lectures, and workshops.

The Smart Museum Café offers sandwiches, salads, pasta, bagels scones, coffee, juice, and soda. Dine inside amidst the art, or outside in the Elden Sculpture Garden.

And don't forget the Museum Shop, where you can pick up a catalogue on any of the exhibits.

message from Smart Museum of Art, The University of Chicago:

Join in the Smart's free family activities on the first Saturday of every month! Each drop-in program features hands-on art activities and tours that encourage children and parents to engage in some creative looking.

Saturday, April 6, 2013, 1â??4 pm
Family Day: Dance and Postcards for Peace
Get inspired by Sahmatâ??s Postcards for Gandhi project and create your own postcards for peace using an array of mixed media and stencil techniques. Then, join the Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts for an interactive performance and workshop centered on the community dance Raas Dandiva, which celebrates the equality of all and peaceful ways of co-existing.

Saturday, May 4, 2013, 1â??4 pm
Family Day: Imaginary Cityscapes
Create an imaginary cityscape using paper and pop-up art collage techniques inspired by Delhi-based artist Gigi Scariaâ??s large installation City Unclaimed.

Saturday, June 1, 2013, 1â??4 pm
Family Day: Shapes and Paper and Sculpture, Oh My!
Get inspired Louise Nevelsonâ??s Sky Sentinels and then use a variety of colored paper and folding techniques to create your own free standing take-home sculpture.

Family programs at the Smart are free and open to all. Art-making supplies and other materials are provided. Family programs are best for kids 4â??12. Children must be accompanied by an adult at all times.

tips:

The Smart offers free family activities on the first Saturday of each month. Drop in between 1 and 4 pm and join in the art-making fun! Family guides are available and free at the front desk. Check out a smARTkids Gallery Guide, a hands-on kit for parents and kids to explore the galleries, and learn how the art was made.

getting there:

From Lake Shore Drive, take the 53rd Street exit and follow signs to the University of Chicago. Parking is available in the University's parking garage located on the south side of 55th Street between Greenwood Avenue and Ellis Avenue. The garage is free after 4pm on weekdays and all day on weekends.