Family Programs

Special Family Programs | Family Festival | Community Celebration | Yoga Flow | Storytelling |

Art Projects to Make at Home

The museum's interactive Family Programs allow parents and children to explore the many aspects of Asian art and culture together. Listen to lively storytelling in the galleries, watch a video or performance, or create a piece of original artwork—these are just a few of the entertaining activities the whole family can enjoy. So bring the kids and have some fun learning about art!

Unless indicated otherwise, all Family Programs are FREE with museum admission, and kids 12 and under always get in FREE!

For more information on Family Programs, e-mail familyprograms@asianart.org or call 415.581.3666. All dates and times are subject to change; please check our calendar for the latest updates.

Special Family Programs

Year of the Tiger  

Sunday, February 7

Lion Dance

12:00–12:30 pm

Hands-on activities

1:30–4:00 pm

Author Reading

2:00–2:45

Samsung Hall

Part of the Target First Free Sunday program

Ages 3 and up

Celebrate the Lunar New Year and the Year of the Tiger at the Asian Art Museum! Students of the Chinese American International School (CAIS) present Chinese classical music and dances from Chinese ethnic minorities, ending with a playful lion dance arranged by the students. The lion dance is an important part of every new year celebration and is believed to scare away evil spirits and insure a bright new beginning.  After the performance, listen to Oliver Chin read the newest book from his Tales from the Chinese Zodiac series, The Year of the Tiger, a charming tale about Teddy the tiger and his human friend, Su. Stick around and color pictures from the book, illustrated by Justin Roth, have your face painted like a tiger, create your own red envelopes (hung bao), decorate them with auspicious symbols, and fill with chocolate coins to give to friends and family.

"Target First Free Sundays"—free admission on the first Sunday of every month and the family programs offered on that day—is made possible by Target. Free admission to Target First Free Sundays is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to capacity restrictions, admission is not guaranteed.

Family Festival

Spring Family Festival

Sunday, May 9, 2010

10:30 am—4:00 pm

Museum-wide

Ages 3 and up

Families throughout the Bay Area are invited to celebrate Mother’s Day and the richness of the San Francisco Chinese American community at the Asian Art Museum’s Spring Family Festival. Among the many talented groups presenting at the festival, the China Dance School (http://www.chinadancetheatre.com/) will demonstrate two popular Chinese dances, the ribbon and fan dance, which visitors can practice themselves. After the interactive demonstration, watch members of the school perform dances from Shanghai and other parts of China. A biannual museum-wide event during which the cultural and artistic traditions of Asia come alive, the festival celebrates the parent-child relationship with a fun-filled day of engaging programs—all FREE with museum admission—that promise to delight and excite the imaginations of both young and old. From performances to hands-on activities and storytelling, there’s something for the entire family. You won’t want to miss the special exhibition, Shanghai: The Art of a City, featuring contemporary artwork from this dynamic city.

Learn about Asian festivals and cultural traditions, such as Chuseok, Diwali, Pasko and more, through hands-on activities, games, performances, workshops and storytelling.

YogA Flow

First Sunday of every month

2:00–3:00 pm

Education Studios. Check at the Information Desk upon arrival.

Part of the Target First Free Sunday program

Ages 5 and up

Get centered with Yoga Flow. Learn basic poses (asanas) for balance, flexibility and strength as you move your body into positions inspired by sculptures in the museum collection. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a yoga mat.

Storytelling

Every Sunday

1:00 pm

FREE with museum admission

Ages 4 and up

The museum’s storytellers bring the galleries to life telling tales from Asia’s most beloved myths and folktales. From “How Ganesha Got His Elephant Head” to the “Inch High Samurai”, visitors of all ages delight in the richness and wonder of these classic stories.

art projects to make at home

Learn more about Asian art and cultural traditions with these fun, hands-on art projects you can make at home.

New Activity! Make a Thai Style Shadow puppet (pdf) and Thai Spirit House (pdf)

Mempo Mask (pdf)

Kimono Doll Finger Puppet (pdf)

Stencil (Katazome) Kimono (pdf)

Katazome is a traditional Japanese method of dyeing fabrics using a resist paste applied through a stencil. Try designing fun kimono using different patterns and colors.

Samurai Helmet (Kabuto) (pdf)

Template One (pdf)

Template Two (pdf)

Template Three (pdf)

Chashitsu: Japanese Teahouse Model (pdf)
Make your own three dimensional Teahouse and decorate with colors and fun materials.

Samurai Armor Instructions (pdf)

Template One (pdf)

Template Two (pdf)

Samurai Sword Instructions (pdf)

Make a tsuba (sword guard) and a sword at home with paper, ribbon and other simple materials.

Haiku Instructions

Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry made of three lines (5 syllables, 7 syllables, 5 syllables) that is commonly a meditation on nature. Make an image using colorful paper and ink, and then write a haiku inspired by your creation.

Lead funding for the Asian Art Museum’s education programs and activities is provided by the Bank of America Foundation.

Major support provided by the Freeman Foundation, the Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation, and the Atsuhiko and Ina Goodwin Tateuchi Foundation.

"Target First Free Sundays"—free admission on the first Sunday of every month and the family programs offered on that day—is made possible by Target. Free admission to Target First Free Sundays is granted on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to capacity restrictions, admission is not guaranteed.

Additional support provided by the William Randolph Hearst Foundation, the Louise Rosenberg & Claude Rosenberg Jr. Family Foundation, the San Francisco Foundation, the Mary Tanenbaum Fund, the Robert and Helen Odell Fund, the United States-Japan Foundation, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, the Joseph R. McMicking Foundation, Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Dodge & Cox, the Stanley S. Langendorf Foundation, the Mervyn L. Brenner Foundation, Inc., and the Joel E. Ferris Foundation.

Support for AsiaAlive is provided by the Walter & Elise Haas Fund.

The Art Speak teen program made possible in part by a grant from Pacific Gas and Electric Company.