Denver Art Museum

The Denver Art Museum is ever changing and growing, with exhibits and collections that will take you around the world in search of cultural art from many periods in human history. If you think you’ve seen it all, think again. From the Western frontier, cowboys and Indians and the works of Remington and Russell to the Far East and the intricate ancient artwork of a Chinese Dynasty four thousand years before the time of Christ, you will see amazing things at the Denver Art Museum.

Some people may mistakenly think that art appreciation is for grown ups only. At the museum, you’ll see how they cater to the curiosity of young minds. Games and hands on learning tools are always available to children. Every second Wednesday of the month, parents are encouraged to bring their 3-5 year olds for art making, story time, scavenger hunts and more on what they call “Create Playdates.” Admission is always free for kids age 5 and under, and there is always something fun for families in every gallery and on every floor, every day.

For children a little older, there are mobile activities in a Family Activity Cart which include Family Backpacks (A different adventure pack each visit with games, puzzles and art for kids to make) and Art Tubes (Smaller than a backpack, there are “bite-sized artmaking activities” you’ll love) The cart will be out every day from June 2 through August 2. The “Just for Fun Family Center” is where you can get hands-on and play, dress-up and enjoy the family experience. There’s even an Architecture Viewmaster game for kids to play throughout the museum.

For people interested in cultural art including painting, sculpture, textiles and mixed media, you can enjoy the African art collection which has over 1,000 things to enjoy. The American Indian collection with over 18,000 art objects to see, is one of the most acclaimed collections in the United States and represents the heritage of all native cultures and tribes across the U.S. and Canada. You can take as much time as you like in every area of the museum and really soak in the experience at your own pace. There is an Asian art collection from the fourth millennium B.C. to present day, showcasing the amazing artwork of the entire Asian continent. The European and American collection has paintings from the masters in the 19th century French and Renaissance era. You can see oil paintings that date back well over 200 years. The Berger Collection of British paintings is currently on loan to the Denver Art Museum as well. The Modern Art area is pretty wild and fun for all ages, and is ever changing too. You just might need a few days to take it all in.

There are many more areas of this extraordinary museum experience that really must be seen to be believed. And, as you might expect, there are a few rules that the museum wants you to remember; unless it’s a designated area, don’t touch the artwork, don’t eat or drink in the galleries and photography is limited. Many things are available for a wonderful family outing, including shopping and dining, education and FUN! Check it out and see for yourself.

The Denver Art Museum is part of the Civic Center Cultural Complex, located on 13th Avenue between Broadway and Bannock in downtown Denver.

Closed on Mondays, Open 10 am – 5 pm Tues. through Sat. and Noon till 5 pm on Sundays. Also closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
For more information about family and kids programs, call 720-913-0048.