Here’s a list of the top things to do with children at the DIA. Bonus: they’re all included with the cost of admission! And remember, Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne County residents and DIA members enjoy free, unlimited general admission to the DIA.
1. A New Digital Interactive Experience
Come and play at the DIA with the museum’s first-ever large-scale digital installation. Dance, wave your arms, or strike a pose—three 13-foot-tall displays will mirror your movements in real time with light, shadow, and sound. Check out this fun experience for all ages and abilities, between now and September 21.
2. Drop-in Artmaking Workshops
Did you know that free drop-in workshops are held every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday — and sometimes on weekdays — in the DIA’s Artmaking Studio? These no-experience-necessary projects are available during a two-and-a-half to four-hour window and include fun activities like Sun Prints and Drawing with Scissors. And our Sensory Friendly Saturdays are held quarterly in a quiet, structured environment for neurodivergent children—and adults—of all ages!
3. Creative Corner
Right outside the Artmaking Studio near the John R entrance, littles will find a quiet nook filled with art-themed books, a child-sized table and chairs, and engaging toys. Get ready to play with magnets, blocks, and a weaving loom. This space is perfect for keeping younger children busy while parents pop into the Studio for an artmaking workshop.
4. Family-friendly Public Programs
Puppet shows, music and dance performances, and family-friendly movies are just some of the many public programs included with museum admission almost every weekend! Check out upcoming events like Detroit Multicultural Dance Festival on June 12 and a Using Color to Celebrate Identity workshop with Detroit artist Ijania Cortez on June 27.
5. Drawing in the Galleries
Each weekend, our talented and helpful Gallery Teachers set up easels, paper, and pencils in a pre-selected gallery for visitors ages 6 and up to come draw their favorite DIA artworks! So, whether it’s Rivera Court or the Dutch Golden Age, there are plenty of details to sketch. No experience is necessary. It’s all about having fun and interacting with art in a new way.
Add more fun to your visit and picnic on the DIA’s lawn. Grab carry out from a Midtown restaurant and enjoy the gorgeous landscape and breathtaking sculptures as you lounge on a blanket on the museum’s expansive lawn. Then take a stroll in front of the museum to take in the beauty of the fountains and Auguste Rodin’s iconic statue, The Thinker.
Discover the DIA’s full calendar of current happenings and exhibitions. We look forward to seeing you soon!