As mentioned in a previous post, I am a bit of an art addict and like to share this passion of mine with the little buttons.
As my French improves, I’ve been able to discover more and more kid-friendly activities organised by museums and art foundations in Geneva, so here’s some of my findings so far…
Musée d’Art et d’Histoire – Geneva
The Musée d’Art et d’Histoire on Rue Charles-Galland organises some great activities for families and children:
- “Mercredi Family”, which take place every Wednesday at 3pm for kids aged 6-11 accompanied by an adult, are a fun way to discover more about the museum’s collections, ancient history or mythology (some sessions will make the kids dress up as Achilles or Aphrodite!). They are free and no reservation is required, but places are limited. Click here for full details and dates (sessions are in French). Here’s some of the upcoming sessions:
26th September 2012: “Ça serre, ça gratte et ça pique…Le costume pas pratique”
3rd & 17th October 2012: “Viens te promener dans les paysages du musée !”
10th October 2012: “Le musée, de la cave au grenier”
31st October & 7th November 2012: “Pars à la découverte de l’histoire de Dionysos”
21st & 28th November 2012: “Mythologie et instruments de musique”
12th December 2012: “Armés jusqu’aux dents !”
- “Visite-Atelier” for children aged 6-12, depending on the workshop. They also take place on Wednesday afternoon (2.30pm-4.30pm) at the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire and are in French. The workshops dedicated to discovering the Middle-Ages will take place at the Maison Tavel. If your little ones want to take a step back in time to the world of the Egyptians or Ancient Rome here’s some dates:
26th September & 3rd October 2012: “Art History for Children: The Age of Pharaohs” for ages 6-8.
10th & 17th October 2012: “Art History for Children: Ancient Greece & Rome” for ages 6-8.
- “Moment Famille” special session for children aged 6-11 accompanied by an adult, they are free and no reservation is required but places are limited.
Saturday 3rd November 2012 at 11am & 3pm: Music workshop by La Bulle d’Air.
Sunday 18th November 2012 at 3pm: the tour “Chez Picasso” will show a more intimate side of Picasso at home with his wife and children.
Saturday 24th November 2012 at 10am-12pm & 2pm-4pm: “Sur les Traces de Picasso” a fun dance workshop inspired by the museum’s Picasso exhibition.
Cover photo © Musée d’art et d’histoire de Genève, photo: A. El Khatib
Musée d’ethnographie de Genève (MEG) – Geneva
The main MEG building in Plainpalais is currently being renovated and will re-open in 2014. In the meantime, exhibitions and family tours are held at the MEG Conches, near Chêne-Bougeries (map).
This year’s “Atelier familles” at the MEG are entitled “De Genève aux confins du monde – Une promenade extraordinaire” and promise to be really good: a time machine will transport the whole family back to the 18th century, so get ready for some fun and action !
From age 5. The tours are on Saturday from 2.30pm to 4.30pm and cost 10CHf per person (20CHF per family). They must be booked via email at publics.meg@ville-ge.ch
The first “Atelier Famille” is on Saturday 22nd of September 2012 then on Saturday 13th October 2012 at 2.30pm, Saturday 10th November 2012 at 2.30pm and Saturday 5th of January 2013 at 2.30pm.
Click here for more info and future dates.
MAMCO (Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain) – Geneva
The MAMCO has regular “Petits Rendez-vous” for families with young children on Wednesdays at 3.15pm (ages 5-10), lasting around 45mins. Once a month they also have “Mini Rendez-vous” for kids aged 2 to 4 accompanied by an adult, which last around 20mins.
The next rendez-vous will be on Wednesday 3rd of October, and here’s more dates for your little ones in October:
- Sunday 7th October 2012 at 11.15am: “Un plongeoir dans L’Escalier??”
- Wednesday 10th October 2012 at 3.15pm: “La machine à remonter le temps”
- Wednesday 17th October 2012 at 3.15pm: “J’apparais, je disparais”
- Wednesday 24th October 2012 at 3.15pm: “Qui dort dans ce lit?”
- Wednesday 31st October 2012 at 3.15pm: “Au coin de ma rue…”
Click here for more dates in November and December.
These visits are fun, interactive and FREE (no booking necessary) so do give them a try, the little munchkins will love them !
Centre d’art contemporain – Geneva
The Centre d’art contemporain, founded in 1974, is the first contemporary-art institution in French-speaking Switzerland and is very active in promoting art education and workshops for children.
They organise contemporary art tour for kids called Family Factory, where budding artists aged between 3 and 6 (accompanied by an adult) can discover more about the artworks on display and then take part in a related activity.
The tours take place on Saturdays, from 11 to 12.30 am (reservation advised, 10.- Frs. for one adult with a maximum of two children ticket entrance included).
Here’s the dates until January 2013:
- September 2012: 22nd, 29th
- October 2012: 6th, 13th
- November 2012: 24th
- December 2012: 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 29th
- January 2013: 5th, 12th, 19th, 26th
The Centre also organises a Children’s workshop where a teaching artist helps children to explore different art themes in a creative and playful way.
The Children’s Workshop is suitable for children aged between 6 and 12 years and takes place on Wednesdays (9.30am-11.30am & 2pm-4pm). Reservation essential: call 022 329 18 42 or email publics@centre.ch.
Registration fees for the Children’s workshop cover a 3-month term period, click here for more details.
THE SCIENCE BIT
Musée d’histoire des sciences – Geneva
If your children love science, then why not take part in one of the special kids workshops at the Musée d’histoire des sciences ? The museum organizes a series of “mercredis des sciences” in French for children aged 8 to 11, on Wednesday afternoon from 2pm to 4pm. Click here for the museum’s website.
These fab workshops are free but spaces are limited so you must book in advance by email at maha.zein@ville-ge.ch or by telephone at +41 22 418 50 69.
Here’s some of the upcoming kids workshops at the Musée d’histoire des sciences, enjoy !
Wednesday 26th September 2012
“Loupes et microscopes… qui se cachent dans le Parc ?”
Wednesday 31st October 2012
“Planètes, étoiles et autres astres ! Que se passe-t-il dans le ciel ?”
Wednesday 28th November 2012
“Courant, pile, électricité (qu’est-ce que cela veut dire au juste ?)”
CERN – Meyrin
Geneva is also famous for being home to the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), where your budding scientists can learn about the fascinating world of physics and particles.
The Cern’s Microcosm runs free weekly workshops for children under the age of 14 entitled “Drôle de Physique“, every Saturday at 3pm. No booking is required, however they advise to give them a call the day before on +41 22 7677676 just to make sure the workshop hasn’t been cancelled for that day.
Your little ones will be able to taste strawberry ice-cream made with liquid nitrogen, or see how a TV set really works !
The exhibition “Universe of Particles” at the iconic Globe of Science and Innovation will plunge the little visitors into the fascinating world of the tiniest and biggest particles which make up our universe.
From walking through luminous spheres to exploring CERN’s legendary accelerators physics has never been more engaging !
Admission to “Universe of Particles” is free, from Monday to Saturday 10am-5pm at the Globe of Science and Innovation in Meyrin. Click here for the exhibition brochure.
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