Planning a Day at the IMA for Adults and Children

The IMA encourages people of all ages to discover and learn about art all year round! As you explore the museum, grounds and Lilly House, enjoy your time together talking about each experience. You may discover new ways of seeing the world around you.

With so much art to see, there probably won’t be time to see it all in one day. When you arrive, consider asking one of our front desk staff to help you find specific types of art, artists or materials that your group would enjoy.

Things to consider when visiting the IMA with young children

Discovering art with children can be fun
Have children in your group? Consider letting children make some of the decisions about their visit. Children may appreciate the experience and remember more of what they see if they participate in the discovery.

Make your visit to the IMA fun for everyone
Make your visit to the IMA memorable by encouraging children to talk about what they see. You might be surprised at what they notice.

Sharing and caring for our art
Sometimes we loan works of art to other museums, repair them in conservation or move them to storage and bring out new works. So, in some cases the works may be here today and gone tomorrow. Taking care of our art can also mean protecting it from bright lights too. In order to take care of the art, some rooms are a little dark.

Please touch with your eyes, not hands
Help us remind young children that the oils in our hands damage the art over time.

No need to rush
Young children may enjoy a shorter art experience focusing on one gallery or floor at a time. You can always come back and create new memories.

Self-guided learning and art making activities
The IMA offers a number of spaces designed for people of all ages. For example, visit Star Studio to explore art up close. In Star Studio adults and children can make a work of art to take home or leave behind for others to see. Or…check out the Education spaces in some of our galleries designed to unearth more information about works in the museum.

Here are a few things Adults and Children can do together:

  • Create stories about the art you see around you
  • Use the “Eye Spy” games to learn about Asian Art (look for Eye Spy boards on special stands in the Galleries of Asian Art)
  • Bring or buy a sketchbook (pencils only please!)
  • Check out Art in the Digital Age to see how technology and art work together.
  • Explore the gardens and grounds to discover the art of nature
  • Make sure to get our Art For You publication to see what else is happening at the IMA

Take a closer look!

We encourage people of all ages to explore the entire museum. Here are a few objects that might work especially well to generate discussion between adults and children.

Strollers + wheelchairs

Complimentary strollers and wheelchairs are available at the coat check on the Ground Level.

Restrooms and drinking fountains

Restrooms are located on every level. Family and handicapped-accessible restrooms are found on the Ground Level across from The IMA Store and inside the Deer Zink Events Pavilion. Drinking fountains are found outside restrooms and in the Garden for Everyone.

Food

IMA Café offers a selection of sandwiches, salads, soups, sweets and beverages. For a more formal dining experience, families are always welcome at Puck’s. Vending machines with snacks and ice cream are available on the Ground Level in the Multi-Purpose Room. Or if it’s nice outside, bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds.