A built house of cards

Explore Family-Friendly Interactive Features at the DAM This Summer

Summer is here and the Denver Art Museum invites the whole family to spend summer break with us to experience the newest interactive artmaking projects and games throughout the museum. From coloring in mandalas in The Light Show exhibition to interacting with different aspects of light in our new First Light Family Space, the whole family will have a chance to spark their creativity at the DAM.

Paint Studio

Every day you can experiment with colorful drawing and painting tools to create your own masterpiece. Or come in to see local artists at work in the Paint Studio every weekend from noon to 3 pm.

Jordan Casteel: Returning the Gaze

Making new connections is important, and Jordan Casteel: Returning the Gaze gives you the opportunity to do so. Grab a card at the entrance of the exhibition and follow the prompt on the back. Prompts include saying hello to someone you don’t know and making eye contact with someone and giving them a smile. As I turned my card over, my prompt was Be present and LISTEN. When I focused and listened to what other visitors were saying while gazing at the paintings, they were interested and delighted to read that artist Jordan Casteel is a Denver native. This added a new perspective to the way I viewed the paintings because I find value in having a Denver artist display their artwork in their own exhibition at the DAM.

Take one and make a connection cards

Taken by Val Padilla

Serious Play: Design in Midcentury America

Throughout Serious Play you can enjoy examples of design in midcentury America with activities for people of all ages to experiment with design and, most important, to play. On a large touch screen you can design a room where you can add furniture, décor, and wall patterns to express your personality. Midcentury toys are available to play with, such as spinning tops or building the tallest House of Cards. Create a pattern with Colorforms or let the kids have an adventure in the Free Play Zone where they can imagine with masks or climb on a play sculpture.

The Incubation Effect

Inspired by the natural world, in this installation you can gently touch and get up close to inflatable creature sculptures that replicate cocoons or larva like you would see in nature. After viewing these sewn inflatables, it’s time to draw your own imaginary creature. Sculptor Nicole Anona Banowetz has added new creatures inspired by drawings visitors have left in the installation.

Relaxing Areas

Need a break from all of the activities? Have a seat and relax in one of our quiet areas located on each floor outside of the exhibitions. You can sit on the couch and pick up a book to read or play with building blocks on the tables to regain energy to finish exploring the rest of the museum and all of the interactive features.

Area where families can sit and read or play

Taken by Val Padilla

First Light Family Space

Inspired by artworks in The Light Show, the newly opened First Light Family Space will have interactive activities for kids and families. The activities—such as creating your own mirror with the use of stencils to decorate or tracing unique shadows—were chosen to inspire creativity. “This space provides conversation and engagement among families, and my favorite part is watching kids and families come together and have fun playing,” said Lindsay Genshaft, manager of family programs. This space is dedicated for family engagement and is the perfect place to play, unwind, and get creative.

View of the First Light Play Space

Taken by Val Padilla