Family Events

Ongoing

Second Saturdays: Hands-on activities and participatory readings designed for kids and their families.

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Past Events

  • Saturday, February 11, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: Stories to Tell

    Inspired by Amalia Mesa-Bains’s altars, re-create a family story or memory in a miniature altar of your own.

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, February 11, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street by Karina Yan Glaser

    The five Vanderbeeker children have eleven days to convince their landlord, Mr. Beiderman, to let them stay in the only home they’ve ever known. All is fair in love and war when it comes to keeping their home!

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, February 4, 11:30 AM–2 PM

    Art Making for Families / Creación artística para familias

    Make art inspired by Amalia Mesa-Bains: Archaeology of Memory with local artist Rebeca Flores. / Haz arte inspirado en la exposición, Amalia Mesa-Bains: Archaeology of Memory, con la artista Rebeca Flores.

  • Saturday, January 14, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: A Little Fluxusbook

    Inspired by Alison Knowles’s many imaginative books, create your own Fluxusbook from elements of your choosing.

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, January 14, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: A Wolf Called Wander by Rosanne Parry

    Inspired by the true story of the wolf called OR-7, this book tells the story of Swift and his remarkable journey across the Pacific Northwest.

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, December 10, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: A House of Imagination

    Follow artist Alison Knowles’s example and generate poetic instructions for building a house!

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, December 10, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: Honestly Elliott by Gillian McDunn

    Elliott’s life is messy in lots of ways, including his ADHD. But his passion for cooking calms and focuses him, and gives him a way to help a classmate who becomes a new friend.

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, November 12, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: The Structured Stitch

    Inspired by Hannah Levy’s use of contrasting materials, explore shapes, textures, and sewing as you make your own constructions.

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, November 12, 2 PM

    ¡Roundtable Reading Bilingüe! Dancing Home/Nacer bailando by Alma Flor Ada and Gabriel Zubizarreta

    For cousins Margie and Lupe, a year of discoveries culminates in a performance full of surprises as they find their own way to belong. 

    Para las primas Margie y Lupe, un año de descubrimientos culmina en una actuación llena de sorpresas mientras encuentran su propia manera de pertenecer. 

    Recommended for ages 8 & up (younger kids welcome as listeners) / Recomendado para las edades de 8 años en adelante (niños menores son bienvenidos como oyentes)

  • Saturday, October 8, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: Animal Flags

    Inspired by the many animal companions in Candice Lin’s art, make a personal animal flag featuring your favorite animal!

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, October 8, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: Maizy Chen’s Last Chance by Lisa Yee

    Enjoy reading about Maizy as she bonds with her grandparents, discovers the joys and pains of growing up, and learns about her family’s Chinese American heritage.

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, September 10, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: Five Tiny Things to Save and Share

    Compose a small box filled with a mini collection of special objects, images, and instructions to be activated by the future recipient of your box. 

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, September 10, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: The Witch Boy, a graphic novel, by Molly Knox Ostertag

    Even magic has rules, and Aster seems to be breaking them. Instead of shapeshifting, like boys are supposed to, he likes witchcraft, which is girls’ territory. Aster learns that to be truly himself takes courage.

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, July 9, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: The Artist’s Eye: Nature’s Vibrations

    Artists can be inspired by works that feel like—but don’t look—like their own. Inspired by some of the paintings in The Artist’s Eye, use watercolors to explore sensations and variations in nature.

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, July 9, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary

    Young Ramona exasperates her older sister, Beezus, in more ways than she can count. Is there anyone in the world like Ramona?

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Sunday, June 12, 11 AM - 2 PM

    Spring Free Family Day: A Day of Art & Film

    Explore the museum’s galleries with mini tours featuring interactive activities, plus a free all-ages screening of Charlie Chaplin's The Gold Rush.

  • Saturday, June 11, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: The Sounds Among Us

    Compose your own visual soundscape inspired by Caroline Kent’s Art Wall and architectural features of BAMPFA’s building.

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, June 11, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: New from Here by Kelly Yang

    Ten-year-old Knox Wei-Evans, a recent transplant from Hong Kong, learns about courage, hope, and resilience as he adjusts to life in San Francisco during the initial outbreak of COVID-19.

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, May 14, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: Live from Somewhere

    Inspired by Tammy Rae Carland’s art and her selections for The Artist’s Eye, create a stage set for imaginary action!

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, May 14, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: Simon B. Rhymin’ by Dwayne Reed

    Read aloud from this bounce-to-the-beat underdog story about a young rapper named Simon, whose rhymes help bring his community together while they build his confidence.

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, April 9, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: Textured Mixed-Media Painting

    Discover the images, textures, symbols, and layers in David Huffman’s art, and compose your own visual story in a mixed-media painting.

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, April 9, 2 PM

    ¡Roundtable Reading Bilingüe!: The Donkey Lady Fights La Llorona and Other Stories / La Señora Asno Se Enfrenta a La Llorona y Otros Cuentos by Xavier Garza

    Find out what happens when Margarito encounters the ghostly weeping woman in white, green-skinned brutes with sharp teeth, giant pterodactyl-like thunderbirds, and other creepy creatures in this bilingual collection of eerie tales from Mexican American folklore.

    Recommended for ages 8 & up (younger kids welcome as listeners) / Recomendado para las edades de 8 años en adelante (niños menores son bienvenidos como oyentes)

  • Saturday, March 12, 11:30 AM

    Gallery + Studio: Expressive Landscapes

    Inspired by Wesley Tongson’s paintings, use watercolor, ink, brushes, and pens to create your own expressive landscape.

    For ages 6–12 with accompanying adult(s)

  • Saturday, March 12, 2 PM

    Roundtable Reading: Maya and the Robot by Eve L. Ewing

    Meet Maya, an aspiring fifth-grade scientist who brings an abandoned robot to life just when she most needs a friend—and a science-fair project!

    Recommended for ages 8 and up with accompanying adult(s)

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