Family Sundays at the National Gallery of Canada: children and their families can have fun discovering the national collection

OTTAWA, Jan. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - The National Gallery of Canada (NGC) invites children and their parents to have fun while discovering the national collection as part of the new program Family Sundays, starting this Sunday, January 17, at 11 am. On the program for the day: Art Moves Me!, with dance and puppet making activities in English and French .

Family Sundays are an opportunity for children to learn about art and be creative. Specially designed for children ages 12 years and under and accompanying adults, the program consists of three thematic days over the next several months that offer fun ways to explore the national collection. Participants will experience art through dance, film and mystery. Parents can also bring their babies ages 2 and under for song and story time, and sensory-based play.

Family Sundays are held from 11 am to 4 pm and are free with Gallery Admission. Admission is free for Members. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Art Moves Me! January 17, 2016 – This first Family Sunday offers various dance-themed activities throughout the day. Participants of all ages will watch an inspiring dance presentation by Luv2Groove, then get up on their feet and feel the beat in a 30-minute dance workshop. In the day's art-making workshop, kids and adults will pose for pictures, then use scissors, glue and a little imagination to create a family of dancing puppets. Children aged 3-12 can visit the galleries with interpreters to look for works of art that sway, shimmy and change with time.

Art, Actors, Action!  March 6, 2016 – Get into character during this film-themed Family Sunday. Participants will explore how visual artists use facial expressions and body language to tell a story. Kids and adults working together as a family will build a story featuring a character they have seen in an artwork. They will then participate in an acting workshop and bring their character to life. In the Gallery's screening room, they can draw inspiration from the work of Canadian filmmakers. In the studio, they will build props, then take their turn in the spotlight and film a mini-movie.

Mystery at the Art Gallery. April 10, 2016 – In this fun exploration of the national collection, clues are hiding here and there. Kids and adults will need to look closely at artworks to discover where to go next, and then solve the mystery. Characters encountered along the way may choose to help – if given the password. One mystery not enough? Participants can play a round of "Clue" with board games in the Baroque galleries. Fingerprint art will be the next step, where each artwork will be as unique as its maker. Then, participants can take a break and watch a few mystery movies in the film screening room.

To stay informed about Family Sundays, visit www.gallery.ca/Family Sundays and subscribe to the Gallery's e-newsletter.

Family Membership
With a family membership, visitors can enjoy family activities at the National Gallery of Canada throughout the year, with unlimited access to Family Sundays, Artissimo, the national collection and temporary exhibitions. Other advantages include a 15% discount at the Bookstore and 10% off summer camps, workshops and events. A family membership includes two adults and their children aged 12 to 19, residing in the same household. Children aged 11 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult, and do not require membership cards.

About the National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada is home to the most important collections of historical and contemporary Canadian art. The Gallery also maintains Canada's premier collection of European Art from the 14th to the 21st century, as well as important works of American, Asian and Indigenous Art and renowned international collections of prints, drawings and photographs. In 2015, the National Gallery of Canada established the Canadian Photography Institute, a global multidisciplinary research center dedicated to the history, evolution and future of photography. Created in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada has played a key role in Canadian culture for well over a century. Among its principal missions is to increase access to excellent works of art for all Canadians. For more information, visit gallery.ca and follow us on Twitter @gallerydotca.

SOURCE National Gallery of Canada

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