A new year is right on the horizon, and so is a whole new schedule of programs and classes for youth and families! Take a look at what’s coming up in January and February, 2018, and reserve your spots today! Watch our online calendar for more programming, including lectures and talks, classes for adults, culinary programs, parties, and more! Sign up for our monthly eNews to get regular updates about programming and events delivered right to your inbox!
To provide busy parents with more options, this winter Crystal Bridges is offering programs for toddlers and preschoolers at two different times: Wednesday afternoons or Saturday mornings. Choose the class that best suits your schedule.
Photo by Marc F. HenningFamily Sunday Father’s Day event on June 18, 2017, at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark.
Drop-In Artmaking
Saturdays and Sundays, 1 to 4 pm
Drop in our studios every weekend between 1 and 4 p.m. for creative artmaking all ages will enjoy.
Free. No registration required.
Winter Break Wonders
Monday, January 1, and Wednesday, January 3, through Friday, January 5, 1 to 4 pm
Join us at the museum over your school break! We’re planning special family-friendly activities each afternoon, including artmaking, music, puppets, dance, and more. See our Youth and Family calendar for details.
Sponsored by Nice-Pak Products, Inc.
Preschool Playdate
Bring your little ones to Crystal Bridges for artmaking, music, movement, and more inspired by a creative theme. Playdate begins with an 11:30 a.m. performance in the Great Hall.
Sponsored by the Segal Family Foundation and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.
Free, no registration required.
Thursday, January 11, 11:30 am to 2 pm
Let it glow, let it glow! Enjoy puppet storytime, glow-in-the-dark play, and lantern painting inspired by nighttime artworks in our permanent collection.
Thursday, February 8, 11:30 am to 2 pm
One, two, tweet! Discover artmaking, creative play, and storytime inspired by our feathered friends.
Sunday, February 11, noon to 5 pm
Mark your calendars for our sixth annual I ♥ Art Family Sunday! Bring your loved ones to Crystal Bridges to enjoy music, hands-on fun, a photo booth, and more. You’ll LOVE what we have planned for this event!
Sponsored by Procter & Gamble, Rockline Industries, and the Northwest Arkansas Naturals. Transportation provided by Pinnacle Car Services.
Free, no registration required.
Photo by Marc F. Henning
Teen Night event on April 2, 2016, at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Ark.
Studio Squad
Ages 11 to 13. Designed for tweens without an accompanying adult.
Sponsored by Rui J.P. de Figueirdo, Jr. and Natalia Ferretti, and Nickelodeon.
Free, register online or with Guest Services.
Saturday, February 10, 4 to 5:30 pm
What words inspire you? Check out artworks in the temporary exhibition Soul of a Nation, and then use paint and a large canvas to create a work of art.
Saturday, January 27, 7 to 9 pm
This exciting evening features a DJ, dancing, artmaking, and unique gallery experiences. Open to all area middle and junior high school students.
Sponsored by Rui J.P. de Figueirdo, Jr. and Natalia Ferretti, and Nickelodeon.
Free, no registration required.
It’s never too early to build imagination, creativity, and a love for art! Our youth classes are led at an age-appropriate level by artist educators. Learn about artwork in the permanent collection and temporary exhibitions, as well as new materials and techniques with hands-on art projects. All supplies are provided.
Homeschool Friday Fun
Ages 5 to 8 and 9 to 12
$45/3 sessions ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services at 479.657.2335
Friday, January 12, 19, and 26, 2 to 3:30 pm
Create masterful drawings, big and small, as you use a variety of drawing tools and techniques.
Friday, February 9, 16, and 23, 2 to 3:30 pm
Create collages, assemblages, and paintings inspired by the temporary exhibition Soul of a Nation.
Afterschool Art Class
For ages 5 to 12.
$45/3 sessions ($36/members), register online or with Guest Services.
Thursdays, January 11, 18, 25, 4 to 5:30 pm
Create your own sketchbook and explore the permanent collection through drawing.
Thursday, February 8, 15, 22, 4 to 5:30 pm
Explore the portraits, expressive colors, and assemblages of the temporary exhibition Soul of a Nation.
Mini Masters
For Ages 4 to 5 with an adult.
$10 ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.
» Hip to be a Square!
Wednesday, January 17, 1:30 to 2:30 pm
Saturday, January 20, 10:30 to 11:30 am
Your preschooler will find shapes all around the museum and create a masterpiece using shapes made with a variety of materials and texture.
» Color Abstraction
Wednesday, February 14, 1:30 to 2:30 pm
Saturday, February 17, 10:30 to 11:30 am
Discover colorful abstract art featured in the temporary exhibition Soul of a Nation. Your preschooler will experiment with scrape paintings to create their own abstraction!
CB Babies
Saturdays, January 27, February 24, March 24, and April 28, 10 to 11:30 am
Oh baby! Join us for this special program for the museum’s youngest visitors: infants ages 3 months to 24 months with a caregiver. You’ll spend time in the galleries talking to your baby about art before enjoying sensory playtime.
$10/session ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.
Toddler Tots and Tales
Enjoy two opportunities for this new class for toddlers! The same class is offered on both Wednesday and Saturday—you choose which day works best for you. For ages 1.5 to 3 with an adult.
$10/session ($8/members), register online or with Guest Services.
» Shape It Up!
Wednesday, January 10, 1:30 to 2:30 pm
(OR) Saturday, January 13, 10:30 to 11:30 am
Go on a scavenger hunt with your toddler to find shapes in our permanent collection. Enjoy storytime, and then create a collage using shapes of all sizes and materials.
» Messy Masterpiece
Wednesday, February 7, 1:30 to 2:30 pm
(OR) Saturday, February 10, 10:30 to 11:30 am
Get inspired by the colorful paintings in the temporary exhibition Soul of a Nation and have fun as you experiment with different painting methods.
Crystal Bridges has partnered with the City of Bentonville to offer art classes for ages 2-12 at the Bentonville Community Center. All classes, including My Grownup and Me, Preschool, Homeschool, and Afterschool Art, are taught by our talented art instructors and inspired by works that can be seen at the museum. To learn more and register, click here.