Cantor Arts Center Launches New Family Programming


Stanford, Calif., February 2013 — The Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University announces a slate of new public programs for families. “Family Sundays” and other free programming expand the outreach of the Cantor—already a popular destination for local residents and a must-see for international visitors to the campus—to young families in the Bay Area. The Cantor has maintained a successful membership program for families and offered public events such as Community Day. Building on the effective programs already in place, the Cantor now provides something for guests to do with their children any time they visit.

The Cantor invites families to join in the fun on Sundays with a different theme every week. Innovative, kid-friendly tours focus on different artworks every Sunday at 12:30, 1:00 and 1:30. Families can take advantage of two separate hands-on art activities the same afternoon: art-making in the studio and focused drawing in the galleries. Children of all ages are welcome. Children and their adult companions can participate for 20 minutes or for two hours, whatever their schedules allow.

The Cantor also offers daily opportunities for families whenever the museum is open. Art packs contain materials for drawing in the galleries; the art on view inspires; and visitors can start their own gallery at home. A printed guide helps families explore the galleries at their own pace. The first guide investigates movement and music and encourages drawing in the Asian galleries. Additional printed guides with varied themes will be introduced throughout the year.

Cantor members have enjoyed special activities, free on a space-available basis. Coming programs for members at the family/dual level and above include a celebration for Dr. Seuss’s birthday, observation of Earth Day, a Mother’s Day tea party and a “dare day.”

Cantor Director Connie Wolf believes in the importance of family programing, having launched services for families at San Francisco’s Contemporary Jewish Museum, where she was the director from 1999 through 2011, and previously at New York City’s Whitney Museum of American Art. Wolf instituted the position of family programs coordinator in 2012 and hired Lauren Hahn, who has a decade of experience teaching in public and private schools as well as degrees in child development and education. Hahn brings a heightened level of creativity and engagement to the Cantor’s programs. This spring, Hahn will announce summer studio classes.

Family programming at the Cantor is underwritten by the Hohbach Family Fund and additional contributions from Mary Anne and Leonard Baker; Doris Fisher; and Pamela and David Hornik.

For updates on family programming, including announcements of summer classes, visit museum.stanford.edu/family. To become a member, visit museum.stanford.edu and click on “Join Now” or call 650-723-3482.

Visitor information
The Cantor Arts Center is open Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday until 8 p.m. Admission is free. The Cantor is located on the Stanford campus, off Palm Drive at Museum Way. Parking is free after 4 p.m. weekdays and all day on weekends. Information: 650-723-4177, museum.stanford.edu.

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Notes to editors:
See a list of new family programs below.
To arrange interviews and for further information, contact Anna Koster, Head of Communications, Cantor Arts Center, 650-725-4657, akoster@stanford.edu
For high-resolution publicity images, contact PR Assistant Manager Margaret Whitehorn, Cantor Arts Center, 650-724-3600, mmwhite@stanford.edu

About the Cantor Arts Center
Take a journey around the world: from Africa to the Americas to Asia, from classical to contemporary. There is so much to discover in the Cantor. Visit 24 galleries and sculpture gardens. Experience collections that span the history of art, a world-famous Rodin collection, changing exhibitions, frequent tours and free programs. Admission is free for everyone.

Free Programs for Families at the Cantor Arts Center

Family Sundays for the Public
Join us for family fun on Sundays at the Cantor. Take a kid-friendly tour and participate in two art-making activities (one in the galleries and one in the studio). Themes change every week. Come for 15 minutes or two hours! Children of all ages are welcome and must be accompanied by adults.

Docent-Led Family Tours: Special tours depart from The Thinker in the Diekman Gallery every Sunday at 12:30, 1, and 1:30 p.m. Different artworks featured in each week’s tour become inspiration for drop-in art-making activities the same day.

Focused Drawing in the Galleries:Let the art in a designated gallery be your muse every Sunday from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Sign out free supplies (colored pencils and paper) and make your own drawing. Ask the attending docent for information about the art on view.

Art-Making in the Studio: Experience new adventures in art-making every Sunday. Experiment with art materials and new techniques taught by professional art teachers from 1 to 3 pm. Free 30-minute sessions are open on a drop-in basis to families.

Daily for the Public
Families can enjoy special activities at their own pace anytime the Cantor is open: Wednesday–Sunday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and Thursday until 8 p.m. Ask in the main lobby about these:

Family Guide: Pick up a printed “Music and Movement” Family Guide and explore the Asian galleries while dancing, sketching and making music. Watch for guides with new themes coming soon.

Art Packs: Sign out an art pack stocked with colored pencils and paper and spend family time in our galleries drawing. Take your works with you and start your own gallery at home! Return the art pack when you are finished.

Special Family Events Just for Members
The following are free for Cantor members at the Family/Dual level and above. To register, visit museum.stanford.edu/family. To become a member, call 650-723-3482 or visit museum.stanford.edu and click on “Join Now.”

Dr. Seuss’s Birthday Saturday, March 2: Listen to delightful stories, make art, and sample green eggs and turkey ham!

Observe Earth Week Sunday, April 21: Watch The Lorax movie in the morning. Then see the environment-related exhibition Revisiting the South in the adjacent gallery. Continue the theme of cleaning up the environment by turning trash into art during our public art-making in the afternoon.

Mother’s Day Weekend Tea Party Saturday, May 11: Enjoy a gallery tour, storytelling, art-making and tea one day before the official holiday honoring mothers.

“Dare Day” Saturday, June 1: Hear tales of adventure and courage and create some audacious art.



Learn more about family programs and special family events just for members.


Art-making in the studio.

Special docent-led family art tours.

Drawing in the galleries.

Sample art pack.