We offer wide-open spaces to explore and play on cold wintry days. With 10 indoor exhibits, that include a new anthill climber and fire extinguishing activity, children will be delightfully engaged for your whole visit. In February, several guest teaching artists will host workshops for visitors. Also, in honor of Black History Month, visitors will be creating art inspired by sculptors, Edmonia Lewis and Augusta Savage, and painter, Lois Mailou Jones, in the Weekend Walk in! Workshop. Participants will create face portraits using dimensional board, paper, or modeling compound.
The month starts with a Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 4 at 4:00 pm with artists from the New York Chinese Cultural Center performing beloved folk dances and demonstrating Kung Fu. On Sunday, February 5 & Sunday, February 19, the ShopRite Kidz Cook workshop will highlight vegetable-based dishes as participants learn about different kinds of food and cooking concepts, and build dexterity with utensils. ShopRite Kidz Cook is held at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm, and 3:30 pm.
On Sunday, February 12, Brocton Pierce, actor and teaching artist from Illuminart Productions, will lead theater workshops in honor of Black History Month. Pierce will guide participants to explore their feelings around identity through improv for an opportunity to incorporate essential parts of themselves when delivering a performance. This workshop will be held at 11:30 am, 12:30 pm, 2:30 pm and 3:30 pm
Luv on a Leash from the Staten Island Pride Center will bring their therapy dogs to the Practice Reading to a Pooch session on Sunday, February 18 from 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. They are well-trained, registered, and insured dogs who love literature and will listen without judgement or comment. The dogs hope to help children improve their reading ability, build confidence and develop a life-long love of books. Spots are very limited; event passes can be picked up at the front desk on day of the event.
We will be open for two sessions every day during the NYC public school Mid-Winter Recess from Monday, February 20 through Friday, February 24 with special programming. On Monday, February 20 and Friday, February 24, dancer and choreographer, Walter Rutledge, will lead visitors in celebrating Black history and culture through singing, music, and dance in Walter’s Black History Month Dance Party Studio. In addition to a child-friendly music repertoire, the dance party will feature important contributions from the African American experience. This will include music from Scott Joplin, Cab Callaway, Chubby Checker, and more. Workshops will be held at 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 2:30 pm 3:30 pm and are included with $8 admission. Children will practice sitting for and shooting a photographic portrait in a workshop with representatives from The Alice Austen House Museum on Tuesday, February 21 at 2:45 pm and 4:25 pm. Dr. Marcia Greene, from Bayview Dental, will lead a dental health art workshop in honor of Children’s Dental Health Month on Wednesday, February 22 at 12:00 pm and 2:15 pm. Musician and museum educator, Renaps Parisi will lead rhythm workshops throughout the day on Thursday, February 23. Visitors are invited to join in with provided instruments and make their own beats and music.
On Sunday, February 26 at 4:00 pm, astronomy comes to life through a fascinating living history performance by Mike Francis as Galileo Galilei the Starry Messenger in the time of 1612. Through storytelling, this interactive presentation will bring the audience back in time and into space to make new discoveries about the universe.
