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Stanford University

Family Programs

DAY RESERVATIONS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING ARE STILL REQUIRED INSIDE THE MUSEUM. THE USE OF MASKS IS STRONGLY ENCOURAGED.

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Art for All is a fun and educational real and virtual space for audiences of all ages to discover and learn about artwork in the Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection through hands-on art-making activities.

 

Our newly reimagined Art for All program embraces the vision of Family Programs by providing accessible, inclusive, fun, and educational in-person and virtual resources for families and visitors of all ages to meaningfully engage with art at the Stanford art museums. 

Join us in-person or virtually to discover and learn about artwork in the Cantor Arts Center and the Anderson Collection through hands-on art-making activities! 

 

Art for All Family Day 

Twice-yearly in-person Family Days bring families, and children of all ages together for a free event with art-making and performances inspired by artwork at the Stanford art museums.
Family Day is made possible through the generous support of the Hohbach Family Fund
 


Art for All Videos


Family-friendly bite-sized videos open up additional online opportunities for families to experience art together and help children, their caregivers, and all museum visitors to make connections between art and things familiar to them in their everyday lives.
Support for Art for All videos is provided by the Koret Foundation
A blue rectangle with the words Koret Foundation
 

 

Art for All Family Guides
 

Pick up or print-out at home, one of our engaging Family Guides and explore the galleries with fascinating friends.
Support for Family Guides is provided by the Koret Foundation
A blue rectangle with the words Koret Foundation


 

In addition to these new initiatives, we continue to make available our 2020 and 2021 virtual programming, Second Sunday from Home.

 

Second Sunday from Home

Art making activities and art stories from our 2020 and 2021 experiments in virtual family programming.
Second Sunday was made possible through the generous support of the Hohbach Family Fund

 

 

 

Art for All Videos

 


 

Family friendly bite-sized videos open up additional opportunities for families to experience art together and help children, their caregivers, and all museum visitors to make connections between art and things familiar to them in their everyday lives.

Support for Art for All videos is provided by the Koret Foundation
A blue rectangle with the words Koret Foundation

art for all paper quilt activity

Paper Quilt Family Activity

Inspired by Wendy Red Star's work

Create your own work of art, using images of your family and following patterns found in Wendy Red Star’s work. Wendy Red Star: American Progress, is on view at the Anderson Collection through August 28, 2022. Learn more: https://stanford.io/3vVBy8I

Watch

Finding Form: Make an Owl Sculpture

Inspired by artist Lucy M. Lewis’ Acoma Pueblo pottery

Lucy Lewis was born around 1900 and spent all her life atop the high mesa of Acoma Pueblo, New Mexico, making traditional pottery since the age of 7. Feel what it is like to use your bare hand to create a vessel form and make an owl of your own. This lesson can be adapted to make lots of different animal and vessel forms. Follow your imagination!

Watch
An image of an owl and the words activity inspired by artist Lucy M. Lewis

Bubble Painting

Discover non-traditional ways of painting inspired by artist Sam Francis

Sam Francis was born just up the road from Stanford University in San Mateo, California in 1923. He is known as an abstract impressionist painter. He conveyed emotions using line shape and color. Learn how you can use unusual art materials to share your feelings and have fun experimenting!

Watch
An image of an owl and the words activity inspired by artist Sam Francis

 

 

Art for All Family Day

 


 

Twice-yearly in-person Family Days bring children, families, and caregivers together for a day of free educational activities, art-making, and performances.

Family Day is made possible through the generous support of the Hohbach Family Fund

 

 

 

Art for All Family Guides

 


 

Free takeaway Family Guides are available to help families enjoy their art exploration experiences. Family Guides offer points of connection with the art on view by using suggested inquiry-based discussions, and activities.

Support for Family Guides is provided by the Koret Foundation
A blue rectangle with the words Koret Foundation

A drawing of a chinese dragon on green background

Fall 2022 Cantor Family Guide

Learn new and fun facts about the art displayed at the Cantor with this handy family guide. You can find a printed version during your next visit to the Cantor, or download it by clicking this link to print at home and bring it with you. To explore the guide online, click the button below.

A blue rectangle with the words Koret Foundation

 

 

 

 

Explore

Past Family Guides


 

Spring 2022 Cantor Family Guide

Do you know what Deborah Butterfield's sculpture, Viktoria is made of? Learn new and fun facts about the art displayed at the Cantor with this handy family guide. Download it by clicking this link. To explore the guide online, click the button below.

A blue rectangle with the words Koret Foundation

 

 

 

 

Explore
A family guide for Cantor with activities to follow along in the museum.

 

 

 

Second Sunday 2020 & 2021

Second Sunday is a virtual (interactive) family focused hands-on art making event for all ages. Art making activities are designed as a (30 minute or bite-size) at-home making experience and are available for viewing afterwards through the museums’ websites. Each Second Sunday explores a new exhibition or theme from the Cantor and the Anderson Collection.

In 2022, this program transitioned to Art for All, a series of re imagined family programs brought to you by Stanford art museums.

 

 

 

2021 Second Sunday Archive


 

Art making activities and art stories from our 2021 experiments in virtual family programming.
Second Sunday was made possible through the generous support of the Hohbach Family Fund

Second Sunday 2021

December 2021

Create your own "everyday surprise" art prints
A fun family art making activity inspired by the art of Jasper Johns. Join us and create your own everyday surprise prints.
Download activity guide.

Watch
Jasper Johns, American, born in 1930, Figure 7 from Black Numeral Series, 1968, Lithograph, Gift of the Marmor Foundation (Drs. Michael and Jane Marmor) from the collection of Drs. Judd and Katherine Marmor

November 2021

Create your own skyscape: exploring, shape, color, and perspective
Our activity explores Eamon Ore Giron's process by arranging shapes and colors in an abstract composition assisted by the rules of perspective.
Download activity guide and coloring pages.

Watch
Infinite Regress CLXXXI, 2021, by Eamon Ore-Giron. Mineral paint and flashe on linen. 18 x 18 in. Courtesy of the artist and James Cohan, New York

October 2021

See me: identity in art-making
Explore the nature of Identity and create a unique personal portrait inspired by the Ebony G. Patterson’s artwork.
Download activity guide.

Watch
A picture of flowers in purple, pink, and red with the words "See Me" on white and red

September 2021

Luminous landscape sculpture
Create your own landscape sculpture inspired by Bay Area Artist Sam Richardson’s love of nature and the o​utdoors.
Download activity guide.

Watch
An image of a sculpture of an iceberg in 3D

August 2021

An animal family portrait
Create your own personal family portrait inspired by Joan Brown’s painting, A Family Portrait. Much of Brown's artwork was inspired by memories from her childhood visits to the art museum.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
An image of a bear, lion and fish

July 2021

Fabulous food faces
In this edition of Second Sunday we explore the work of artist Martine Gutierrez, as she creates socially conscious photographic self-portraits using food.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
An image of an indigenous woman's face made out of fruit.

June 2021

Inspired by nature (Updated airing of 2020 program)
A hands-on activity that is all about the natural world. Our inspiration is Andy Goldsworthy’s Stone River, which is across the street from the museums and is open to visitors.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
Andy Goldswrothy's Stone River at the Cantor Arts Center

May 2021

Weave your own story
Create a personal artwork and learn the basics of weaving.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
Ain image of Reena Kallat's Woven Chronicle

April 2021

Build your own viewfinder
Our activity is inspired by Jennifer Bartlett's artwork At the Lake, Morning, from the Anderson Collection.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
An image of At the Lake, Morning by artist Jennifer Bartlett

March 2021

Build your own migration station
Inspired by Do Ho Suh's artwork, featured in the Cantor exhibition When Home Won't Let You Stay, we will learn to build a birdhouse from everyday objects and express feelings about home and our connections to a place.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
An image depicting Do Ho Suh's artwork, a pink and a yellow house

February 2021

What forms you? Make clay and create your own sculpture
Be inspired by the work of Simone Leigh, whose work was included in Formed and Fired: Contemporary American Ceramics at the Anderson Collection. Learn how to make clay and create your own sculpture inspired by your roots!
Download activity guide.

Watch
An image of "Althea" by Simone Leigh

January 2021

Make art with words: I Have A Dream...
Titled "Dream Day," January Second Sunday at Home celebrated Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his famous words "I have a dream." During the session, we discovered several powerful artworks in the museum that artists have made using words, and they encouraged us to think about social justice and about how sometimes difficult feelings and emotions can be expressed visually.
Download the activity guide.
 

Watch
An image of Stephanie Syjuco's "I Am An..."

Dream Day: A look back at January 2021 Second Sunday at Home

EPACENTER students received Art Care Kits prior to the workshop, created by the Cantor education staff. Click here to learn more about the EPACENTER.

Watch EPACENTER's Thank You video
An image of the artwork of an EPACENTER Dream Day activity participant

 

 

 

2020 Second Sunday Archive


 

Art making activities and art stories from our 2021 experiments in virtual family programming.
Second Sunday was made possible through the generous support of the Hohbach Family Fund

Second Sunday 2020

December 2020

Celebrating with color and pattern
In the December edition of Second Sunday we explored the art of Yinka Shonibare, featured artist in the 2020 Cantor exhibition When Home Won't Let You Stay: Migration through Contemporary Art.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
an image of an art making project

November 2020

What makes a sculpture? Exploring 3-D mixed media art-making
Gather your odds and ends and join the fun as we explore mixed media sculpture from the upcoming exhibitions When Home Won't Let You Stay: Migration through Contemporary Art at the Cantor, as well as Hostile Terrain 94 at the Anderson Collection.
Download activity guide.

Watch
A close up of hands weaving flowers on plastic to create a 3D sculpture

October 2020

Inspired by Aliza Nisenbaum's paintings
This process focused activity will explore how artists use pattern, shape, and color to express ideas and emotions. The Second Sunday crew will also introduce some of the themes from the exhibition such as cultural diversity and what defines home.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
Maggie Dethloff and curatorial assistant, Pearl

September 2020

Inspired by artist Martin Puryear's work in the Anderson Collection
In September’s edition, we are inspired by the work of artist Martin Puryear. He emphasizes craft and abstraction in his larger-than-life sculptures, using organic forms and natural materials to rework symbols of freedom and shelter that encourage us to discover Black history’s hidden stories.
Download activity guide.

Watch
Martin Puryear (U.S.A., b. 1941), Dumb Luck, 1990, wire mesh, tar, and wood. Anderson Collection at Stanford University. Gift of Harry W. and Mary Margaret Anderson, and Mary Patricia Anderson Pence.

August 2020

Exploring identity through art: inspired by Titus Kaphar’s Page 4 of Jefferson's "Farm Book,"...
In this virtual session, museum educators from our Second Sunday Crew guide you in creating a photomontage (similar to a collage) inspired by artist Titus Kaphar.
Download activity guide.
Additional activity guide: Notan Square

Watch
Titus Kaphar, U.S.A., b. 1976. Page 4 of Jefferson’s “Farm Book,”... 2018.

July 2020

Exploring art through sound and motion: inspired by Nick Cave's soundsuits
Learn how to make and activate wearable sculptures inspired by artist Nick Cave.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
Second Sunday July 2020

June 2020

Art in nature: inspired by artist Andy Goldsworthy
Explore ideas by an artist who uses only art materials found in nature. Create a nature-based artwork that changes with its environment.
Download the activity guide.

Watch
Andy Goldswrothy's Stone River at the Cantor Arts Center

May 2020

Draw like an artist: inspired by the Diebenkorn sketchbooks
May 2020 Second Sunday fell on Mother's day! Celebrate and create a line drawing portrait. It can be of your own mom or any mom you would like to honor.
Download the activity guide.

Watch

April 2020

Create a collection
All collages begin with collecting. Sometimes a collage becomes a finished artwork that hangs in a museum and sometimes it is a quick and easy way to record visual ideas.
Download activity guide.

Watch

 

 

 

 

 


 

Open in Person and Online

The Cantor is open to the public at 100% indoor capacity. Free, all-day reservations are required for all visitors, including members. Get yours here.

You can also explore Stanford art museums from the comfort of your home in Museums From Home.

Visit
Museums From Home: Watch, read, listen and explore Stanford art museums from home.

Directions

The Cantor Arts Center is located at the intersection of Museum Way and Lomita Drive in the heart of the arts district on the Stanford campus. The Cantor faces the Bing Concert Hall across Palm Drive, northwest of The Oval and the Main Quad.

328 Lomita Drive at Museum Way
Stanford, CA 94305-5060

How to Get Here

Parking

Parking is limited. Stanford has a new contactless process to pay for parking, using the ParkMobile app, website, or phone. Prior to your visit, we recommend you visit the Stanford Transportation website to learn more about the updated visitor parking process.

Parking Rates and Map
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