American Folk Art Museum: Family Outing

By Catherine Patwell January 12, 2016

Learn about America’s rich historical, social, and artistic culture at this Upper West Side art museum.

Folk art is utilitarian and decorative, made by self-taught talents that reflect historical, social, and artistic culture. The American Folk Art Museum is devoted to showcasing these great works of American creative expression from the past and present. The museum’s permanent collection encompasses approximately 8,000 works of traditional American folk art spanning from the 18th century to the 21st century, including more than 1,200 paintings, 1,500 drawings, 1,000 sculptures, textiles, ceramics, and furniture.

An interactive discussion-based tour during Families and Folk Art introduces children ages 4-12 to the museums collections.

Year-Round Fun

The first Saturday of every month is Families and Folk Art day, the museum’s signature intergenerational program, when children ages 4-12 are introduced to folk art through interactive discussion-based tours of the galleries, and a hands-on studio workshop inspired by the exhibits. Registration is required.

The museum hosts two ongoing music series, Free Music Fridays, weekly from 5:30-7:30pm, and Jazz+Wednesdays, from 2-3pm. Check the website for weekly schedule and musicians.

Dialogue in Studio is an ongoing workshop series. It ties specific works and themes from the exhibits to an expert-led discussion about technique, medium, and methodology. This is an immersive and intensive experience geared toward teens and adults. This is a ticketed event, and the cost includes material fees.

Annual Events

During July and August, the museum hosts youth camps from across the city to explore the exhibitions and permanent collections with interactive tours. Through discussions and studio work, each student creates their own portfolio of gallery drawings.

mom and daughter look at art