Feb 5, 2012
Also Visit NY State Arts
Parents
Welcome to NYCkidsARTS, created to help parents and caregivers bring the arts into the lives of young people with whom they are connected.
The organizations listed on this site, found by browsing the A-Z list, by category or discipline or using search, all have programs that are appropriate for young people.
Many of the groups found on this site have developed special programs for afterschool activities and programs for families. Programs, events and activities can be found by using the calendar or search features.
The lessons and activities on NYCkidsARTS are designed so that they can be enjoyed by everyone. They may be used with or without making a trip to the cultural organizations that provided the material—no specialists are required for the lessons.
However, we encourage you to take advantage of all that the cultural groups on this site have to offer by going and doing. Wherever possible, we highlight free or low-cost programs, as well as discounts that these groups offer. To see a list of current discounts, click here.
We also provide information to help you plan your cultural activity, including nearest subway information and whether a venue has onsite food service.
We are continuing to develop additional features and content tailored to parents and caregivers. Please check back for updates.
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Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater
Manhattan
Ailey performances are family-friendly, and some offer discounted family matinee tickets. The Ailey Extension offers classes for children and teens.
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Bard Graduate Center: Decorative Arts, Design History, Material Culture
Manhattan
The BGC is an international study and exhibition center focusing on the study of the cultural history of the material world, drawing on methodologies and approaches from art and design history, economic and cultural history and history of technology, philosophy, anthropology and archaeology.
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Brooklyn
A menagerie of resident animals and a permanent collection of more than 20,000 natural science objects and cultural artifacts enliven exhibits and presentations at the Brooklyn Children's Museum.
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Children's Museum of Manhattan
Manhattan
Through a unique environment of interactive exhibitions and programs, the museum aims to inspire children and families to learn about themselves and a culturally diverse world.
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Early Morning Bird Walk: Backyard Birds
Brooklyn
Start your Sunday morning surrounded by nature and see the birds that call Prospect Park home during the winter. Learn about the Great Backyard Bird Count and search for your favorite "backyard bird." You'll see woodpeckers, chickadees and nuthatches eating from feeders along Prospect Park's nature trails!
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Manhattan
Michael Mao Dance is an acclaimed modern dance company with an international corps of accomplished dancers. Rooted in the traditions of American modern dance, Mao’s works reveal the choreographer’s Asian heritage in their spare yet expansive choreographic means.
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Rachel Kneebone: Regarding Rodin
Brooklyn
Rachel Kneebone: Regarding Rodin features 15 iconic works by 19th-century French master Auguste Rodin, selected from the museum's collection by British artist Rachel Kneebone and shown alongside eight of her own large-scale porcelain sculptures.
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Staten Island Children's Museum
Staten Island
With nine permanent exhibits, walk-in Up4Art weekend workshops, Kidz Cook workshops, as well as Tot's Time Plus and more, the Staten Island Children's Museum has been exercising children's minds, bodies and imaginations since 1974. It's located in the Snug Harbor campus of arts attractions.
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Staten Island Conservatory of Music
Staten Island
Modeled on the finest European conservatories of music, this community school offers high-quality music education by world-class instructors to all, regardless of age or origin.
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Manhattan
These hands-on workshops for the entire family focus on the physicality of “making” and the sensual and tactile qualities of materials. Appropriate for children ages 4-12.
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Kids' Events
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King Manor Museum's Collection
QueensOngoing
The museum's collection includes 1,400 King family objects and 4,000 artifacts from ongoing archeological excavations on site.
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ManhattanOngoing
This exhibition, seen at the Museum of the City of New York in 2009, explores what the island of Manhattan (or Mannahatta, as it was known by the Native Americans) looked like when Henry Hudson arrived with his crew in 1609.
Parent Resources
- New York Public Library
- Brooklyn Public Library
- Queens Public Library
- WNYC
WNYC offers Arts & Ideas online.
- WNET
Channel 13 has online resources for kids which includes TV programming, activities -- including those specific to the arts.
- High 5 Tickets to the Arts
High 5 allows junior high and high school students to purchase discounted tickets to performances of theater, dance, music and film.
Curriculums, Lesson Plans & Activities
Suggest a Resource
Parents, know of a resource you find helpful in bringing the arts into the life of your children?