Release Date: May 22, 2014

Free Family-Friendly Films at the National Gallery of Art This Summer Highlight Degas/Cassatt

Film still from Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist (Richard Mozer, Devine Entertainment, Canada, 1999) to be shown in June and July at the National Gallery of Art.

Washington, DC—The summer season of the popular Film Program for Children and Teens celebrates the exhibition Degas/Cassatt from June through August. A free family guide, designed to help families explore the exhibition together, will be available at each screening.

With its broad range of recent films selected for their appeal to youth and adult audiences, the program helps foster an understanding of film as an art form. Age recommendations are intended to guide parents in selecting emotionally and intellectually stimulating films for their children.

Families may use the children's audio and video tours to take a closer look at the Gallery's own works of art. Designed especially for children ages 7 to 12, the audio tour highlights 50 masterpieces on display in the West Building Main Floor Galleries. Available online, the children's video tour encourages users to engage with these renowned paintings, both at the museum and at home.

With a full summer schedule of free activities, as well as creative toys and gifts in the Children's Shop and casual dining in the Cascade Café, the National Gallery of Art welcomes families to explore and enjoy great works of art.

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

Film Program for Children and Teens

Film programs are shown in the West Building Lecture Hall. Seating is available 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. For up-to-date information on the current month's films, please call (202) 789-3030. Feature films are in English unless otherwise noted.

Getting to Know Degas and Cassatt
Saturdays, June 7, 14, 21, 28, 11:00 a.m.
Sundays, June 8, 15, 22, 29, 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays, July 9, 16, 23, 30, noon
Saturdays, August 9, 16, 11:00 a.m.
Sundays, August 10, 17, noon
Ages 4 and up
Two animated films about Edgar Degas and Mary Cassatt are based on Mike Venezia’s Getting to Know the World’s Greatest Artists books. Learn about the life and work of these two artists who were friends and collaborators in later 19th-century Paris. (Mary Cassatt, Mike Venezia, US, 2008, 24 minutes; Edgar Degas, Mike Venezia, 24 minutes)

Degas and the Dancer
Sundays, June 8, 22, noon
Saturdays, June 14, 28, noon
Wednesdays, July 16, 30, 1:00 p.m.
Ages 8 and up
Edgar Degas is in a time of crisis following the death of his father. Saddled with debt, struggling to survive, he derives unexpected inspiration from Marie, a young aspiring ballerina who convinces Degas to persevere in the face of relentless criticism from the Parisian art establishment. At the same time, Degas helps Marie tap into the incredible talent she doesn’t believe she has, especially when compared to her beautiful and confident sister Pauline. In the hours they spend together as artist and model, they become friends and confidants, finding in each other what they most need to move forward and follow their dreams. (Richard Mozer, Devine Entertainment, Canada, 1999, 50 minutes)

Mary Cassatt: American Impressionist
Saturdays, June 7, 21, noon
Sundays, June 15, 29, noon
Wednesdays, July 9, 23, 1:00 p.m.
Ages 8 and up
This story finds American artist Mary Cassatt—intelligent, charming, and fiercely independent—living an ordered life in Paris until her brother arrives with his three unruly children. At first dreading the presence of the children, she soon finds herself inspired by them and even uses them as models. Her teenage niece Katherine, who believes that marriage is essential to positioning oneself in society, plays matchmaker between Cassatt and Edgar Degas. Though the match is not meant to be, Cassatt’s feminist ideals greatly influence Katherine and change her life forever and for the better. Likewise, the children soften Cassatt and inspire her to renew stronger contact with her family in Philadelphia. (Richard Mozer, Devine Entertainment, Canada, 1999, 56 minutes)

Children's Audio Tour: West Building Highlights
Acoustiguide Desk, West Building, Main Floor, Rotunda
Explore 50 paintings in the West Building with an audio tour designed especially for children ages 7 to 12. To reserve audio tours for groups of 10 or more, call (202) 842-6592. Free of charge. The National Gallery of Art Children's Audio Tour is made possible through the generous support of the MSST Foundation.

Children's Video Tour: West Building Highlights
The video tour enables children to explore works of art on display in the West Building of the National Gallery of Art through an online tour featuring 50 videos. Children's Video Tour online

Family Guides: Italian, Dutch, and American Art at the National Gallery of Art
Gallery Information Desks
Designed for families with children ages 6 and up, each free family booklet includes activities to guide visitors through the Gallery's Italian, Dutch, and American collections, as well as questions to encourage group discussions. The guides may be downloaded here. The guides are made possible through the generous support of the MSST Foundation.

NGAkids Online
An entertaining and informative introduction to art and art history, NGAkids offers a variety of art-making tools, games, and narratives suitable for children of all ages.

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. Browse selection online

Cascade Café
Concourse
Monday–Saturday, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.–4 p.m.
The Cascade Café offers a selection of soups, salads, specialty entrees, wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, and desserts. For those with limited time, prepackaged lunch boxes containing a sandwich, chips, cookie, and a beverage may be ordered in advance. For information about boxed lunches and group lunch vouchers, call (202) 712-7458.

Espresso & Gelato Bar
Concourse
Monday–Saturday, 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Sunday, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m.
In addition to tea, coffee, and specialty espresso beverages, the Espresso & Gelato Bar offers 19 flavors of house-made gelato and a selection of fresh sandwiches, salads, pastries, and desserts.