Release Date: January 5, 2011

National Gallery of Art Welcomes 2011 with Films and Offerings for Children and Teens

Washington, DC—The National Gallery of Art Film Program for Children and Teens will kick off the new year with an assortment of films including animation, live action, and historical classics. This unique program will present films from the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Norway, promising exciting adventures and charming food stories, including the tale of two bakers competing to win the World's Greatest Cake Contest in the acclaimed Crema Suprema. Young audiences will also learn how Francisco de Goya drew inspiration from the world around him.

These innovative films enhance enjoyment of the Gallery’s collections and exhibitions and foster an understanding of film as an art form. The program aims to represent a broad range of recently produced foreign and domestic films, selected for their appeal to youth and adult audiences. Age recommendations are intended to guide parents in selecting emotionally and intellectually stimulating films for their children.

Families may also explore the galleries together using the children’s audio tour, which highlights masterpieces from the West Building’s Main Floor galleries, or a family guide and activity booklet to the Italian and Dutch collections, also in the West Building. With an ongoing schedule of family-friendly activities and shopping—including family workshops, special family weekends, storytelling programs, teen studios, exhibition discovery guides, the Children’s Shop, the Sculpture Garden Ice Rink, and casual dining in the Cascade’s Café—visitors of all ages may enjoy the Gallery’s many offerings.

For more information about family programming, visit www.nga.gov/programs/family.

Film Program for Children and Teens

All film programs are shown in the East Building Auditorium. Seating is offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Groups are welcome. Food and drink are not permitted. Programs are free and subject to change without notice. No advance registration. For up-to-date information on the current month’s films, please call (202) 789-3030. Feature films are in English, unless otherwise noted.

Animated Adventures
Saturday, January 8, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, January 9, 11:30 a.m.
ages 7 and up
This series of recent award-winning animations explores the themes of adventure and self-discovery, taking viewer on journeys from the depths of the cosmos to the interior realm of the imagination. The program includes The Ballad of Davy Crockett in Outer Space (Ru Kuwahata and Max Porter, U.S., 2008); Space Travels According to John (Jamie Stone and Andres Jedenfors, Scotland, 2008); Vistas: Little Thunder (Nance Ackerman and Alan Syliboy, Canada, 2009), the retelling of a legend from the Canadian Mi'kmaq tribe about a boy’s first solo canoe journey; Higglety Pigglety Pop! or There Must Be More to Life (Chris Lavis and Maciek Szczerbowski, Canada, 2010), based on Maurice Sendak’s story of a dog who dreams of becoming a theater star; and Lost and Found (Philip Hunt, Great Britain, 2008), a touching story of a child who helps a misdirected penguin return to the South Pole. Approximately 60 minutes.

Food Glorious Food
Saturday, February 5, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, February 6, 11:30 a.m.
ages 5 and up
This delicious collection of live-action and animated short films whips up a program full of satisfying stories crammed with delectable and juicy characters. Films include the award-winning stop-motion animation Crema Suprema (Ellenora Ventura, Canada, 2008) about two bakers competing to win the World's Greatest Cake Contest; a sweet recipe from Puppy's Super Delicious Valentine’s Day Biscuits (Annie Poon, U.S., 2009); the computer animation Fishing with Sam (Atle S. Blakseth, Norway, 2009) that explores creative ways some animals compete for food in the North Pole; Ormie (Rob Silvestri, Canada, 2010), the tale of a pig’s quest for cookies; and the investigative How Do They Put the Centers in Chocolates? (Don White, Canada, 1997)Approximately 50 minutes.

Goya: Awakened in a Dream
Saturday, March 19, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, March 20, 11:30 a.m.
ages 7 and up
Goya: Awakened in a Dream tells the story of Francisco de Goya’s friendship with Rosarita, an aspiring artist.First Painter to the King of Spain for many years, Goya was at times a cartoonist, a portrait artist, and a satirist. In his later years, he went on to defy the king and the inquisition, abandoning the royal court in favor of a simple life in the countryside. This biographical film depicts the artist in touch with the world around him, inspired by everyday people even after having reached success and notoriety.(Richard Mozer, Canada, 1999) Approximately 55 minutes.

Stories in Art

This series of programs uses storytelling to introduce children ages four to seven to works of art. Led by museum educators, each program includes reading a children's book, looking at one work of art in the galleries, and completing a simple hands-on activity. The summer series features works in the West Building, white the winter series explores works in the East Building.

These free drop-in programs are designed for individual families, and the Gallery cannot accommodate groups. Space is limited to 70 children per session. There is no advance registration; participation is on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign-in will take place in the East Building Atrium beginning at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays and will continue until all spaces are filled.

Each program lasts approximately 60 minutes and departs from the East Building Atrium at 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. on the dates listed below. For information, call (202) 789-3030.

Winter Story Series: Investigate Modern and Contemporary Art

How do you investigate a work of art? Learn to make careful observations, analyze artists’ choices, ask questions, and use your imagination while exploring works of art in the East Building. This winter, three imaginative stories pair up with three sculptures in the collection. After examining each sculptor's materials and techniques, you will create your own work of art inspired by the artist's process. You will receive a notebook to accompany the Winter Story Series and a stamp for each program attended. Collect all three stamps and receive a prize!

Investigate: Alexander Calder
January 16, 23, 30
Sophie's Masterpiece by Eileen Spinelli, illustrated by Jane Dyer
Meet Sophie, an artistic spider, and find out what inspired her wondrous creations. Then explore Alexander Calder's Spider and learn to weave your own wire mobile.

Investigate: Jim Dine
February 13, 20, 27
The Tin Forest by Helen Ward, illustrated by Wayne Anderson
Hear the story of an old man who followed his dreams, transforming a junkyard into a magical place. Examine the unique materials used by Jim Dine, and then create your own imaginary forest.

Investigate: David Smith
March 6, 13, 20
Half of an Elephant by Gusti
Join an elephant on a humorous journey to find his missing half. Discover the sculpture of David Smith, and then build a sculpture with wood and metal.

Children's Audio Tour: West Building Highlights

Explore 50 paintings in the West Building with an audio tour designed especially for children ages seven to twelve. Handheld digital audio players allow children to move at their own pace and choose from a list of stops that include works by Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt van Rijn, Peter Paul Rubens, Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Winslow Homer. The audio tour is available free of charge and may be picked up at the Acoustiguide desk located in the Rotunda, on the main floor of the West Building. For group reservations for audio tours (10 or more), call (202) 842-6592.The National Gallery of Art’s Children's Audio Tour is made possible through the generous support of the MSST Foundation.

Family Guide: Italian and Dutch Art at the National Gallery of Art

Pick up a free family booklet at one the Gallery’s information desks. Designed for families with children ages six and up, the booklet helps guide visitors’ exploration of the Gallery’s Italian and Dutch collection with activities and has questions to encourage group discussions. Explore a portrait by Leonardo da Vinci, paintings by Raphael, and Dutch landscapes and still lifes, and sketch on your own! The Family Guide is also available to download at www.nga.gov/kids/kids.htm. This family guide is made possible through the generous support of the MSST Foundation.

NGAkids Online

An entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history, NGAkids online (www.nga.gov/kids) offers a variety of art-making tools, games, and narratives suitable for children of all ages. Featuring highlights of the Gallery’s permanent collection, content related to special exhibitions, and Art Zone interactive features that encourage artistic exploration and creativity, this Web site, created especially for kids, provides hours of online enjoyment.

National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink

The 2010–2011 ice-skating season in the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden will continue through March 13, weather permitting. Located on the National Mall at 7th Street and Constitution Avenue NW, the ice rink is a favorite destination, attracting thousands of visitors every season. Group and private ice-skating lessons are offered for a variety of ages and experience levels.

Skating in a parklike setting, surrounded by the grand architecture of national museums and monuments, is enhanced by views of large-scale sculptures by renowned modern and contemporary artists such as Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, and Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, joined last year by a new work by Roxy Paine.

Visit www.nga/gov/skating for up-to-date information about hours, admission, rental fees, and lessons.

The Children's Shop

The Children's Shop on the Concourse offers an array of art-inspired items for children, including books, games and puzzles, toys, artists' supplies, and DVDs. To browse a small selection online, visit http://shop.nga.gov.

Cascade Café

With a view of the cascade waterfall on the East Building Concourse, the Cascade Café offers a variety of soups, salads, specialty entrées, wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, daily Chef's Table specials, and a selection of fresh pastries and desserts. A selection of Value Meals is available at several food stations, including sandwiches, pizza, hamburgers, and chicken tenders. For those with limited time, the Café offers boxed lunches containing a sandwich, chips, cookie, and a beverage, which may be ordered in advance. For information about boxed lunches and group lunch vouchers, please call (202) 712-7458. Hours of operation are Monday–Saturday, 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., and Sunday, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.