Beginning on Sept. 1, 2016, the High Museum of Art will expand the hours of its signature early-learner program, Toddler Thursdays, to 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Thursday. The refreshed program will also feature new toddler tours to engage and educate young children ages 15 months to 4 years old.
“Toddler Thursdays is one of our most popular family programs, so we always strive to ensure it’s compelling and convenient,” said Nicole Cromartie, manager of family programs. “This update is just one of the many initiatives we are working on to provide meaningful museum experiences for our young visitors.”
The High worked with faculty from Georgia State University’s College of Education to evaluate the Toddler Thursday program over the past eight months. Following observations, interviews with caregivers and instructors, and an in-depth content analysis, the College of Education presented recommendations for how to better serve families with young children, which the High is implementing.
During Toddler Thursdays, High Museum of Art teaching artists encourage families’ creativity and visual literacy while introducing new vocabulary and artistic concepts. The revamped program will feature a new monthly theme, which will be woven into art-making projects, story times and toddler tours, offering developmentally appropriate ways for caregivers to interact with their children and engage in the museum.
September’s theme is “Fall Into Color.” Toddlers will watch leaves change color on the Sifly Piazza and discover warm tones like gold, orange and red in artworks. Art projects will include creating leaf prints and treasure boxes and experimenting with warm-colored paints.
Toddler Thursdays are free with Museum admission and free for members. For more information and weekly programming details, visit high.org.
About High Museum of Art
The High is the leading art museum in the southeastern United States. With more than 15,000 works of art in its permanent collection, the High Museum of Art has an extensive anthology of 19th- and 20th-century American art; a substantial collection of historical and contemporary decorative arts and design; significant holdings of European paintings; a growing collection of African American art; and burgeoning collections of modern and contemporary art, photography, folk and self-taught art, and African art. The High is also dedicated to supporting and collecting works by Southern artists. Through its education department, the High offers programs and experiences that engage visitors with the world of art, the lives of artists and the creative process. For more information about the High, visit high.org.
