Discovery Days

Discovery Days are back at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, a series of interactive art programs for kids and families that run through the winter and spring. It's not a traditional museum tour; the format puts the visitors in the lead. Learning stations staffed by volunteers invite students to explore the collection at their own pace, with grade-level activities that encourage discovery through touch, sight, sound, and movement. You pick which stations to visit, so the day looks a little different for every group.

After the gallery exploration, teaching artists and studio assistants lead artmaking sessions in the museum's studios. That's where students practice art skills and work through creative ideas inspired by global cultures. The program is built for school groups and families with children in grades 3 to 6, though it sits within a wider K-12 support system that includes school tours, Art Adventure, teacher resources, and Teaching the Arts. Support for the program comes from the Fredrikson and Byron Foundation.

Discovery Days are part of the museum's youth and family programming, which also includes Family Day, Mini Mia, Art Play!, Art in the Park, Studio Sessions, Art from Home, and the Family Center. If you're looking for other ways to get kids into the galleries, those are good places to start.

On Wednesdays, school groups can book sessions at 10 AM or 11 AM, while museum members and the general public can drop in anytime between 10 AM and 1 PM. All Saturday Discovery Days are drop-in. Upcoming dates include Wednesday, November 4; Wednesday, November 18; Wednesday, December 16; Wednesday, January 13; Wednesday, January 27; Wednesday, February 10; Wednesday, February 17; Wednesday, February 24; Wednesday, March 17; Wednesday, March 31; Wednesday, April 14; Wednesday, April 28; Wednesday, May 12; Wednesday, May 19; Wednesday, June 2; and Wednesday, June 30. Admission is free, and you'll find the museum at 2400 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis.