Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum offers a variety of enriching programs for children and families throughout the summer. Some of these include SmARTy packs, family guides, select free Sundays and a summer reading program.
The Carlos Museum, which is home to one of the largest ancient art collections in the Southeast, contains works from around the world.
Visitors are encouraged to pick up a Family Guide to learn more about artwork in the museum during their visit. These guides include an engaging collection of die-cut images of objects and art such as Egyptian painted coffins, Greek vases and sculptures of Hindu gods and goddesses.
The vibrant images and text on the guides encourage children to look more closely at the artwork in the galleries. The guides include interesting facts and details about the various pieces in the museum. Plus, these guides do more than make a tour of the museum more exciting and educational for children and families — they can also be taken home to enjoy later.
Family Guides are available at no charge at the information desk on Level One of the Carlos Museum.
Children and families who want an even more hands-on visit can borrow a SmARTy pack, which can also be checked out from the information desk at no charge. The bag consists of information and activities related to the art, such as interactive guides, games and hands-on art activities to do in the galleries.
SmARTy packs provide a great way for children of all ages to have a more immersive experience at the museum and learn more about the objects on view. Some current activities included in the SmARTy packs are related to work in the African, Greek, Roman and Indigenous Americas art galleries. Participants have the option of completing all the activities included in the pack or just some of them. Several of the SmARTy packs have been adapted for online use as well.
Children can keep the activity pieces from the SmARTy packs such as worksheets and return the reusable bag and other items after their visit.
Free museum admission will be offered to visitors on select Sundays during the summer, including June 30, July 14 and August 4. The museum is open on Sundays from 12-5 p.m. During the academic year, families can enjoy the Carlos’ monthly Sunday FUNday program, which offers free admission all-day and drop-in artmaking for families between noon and 4 p.m. Sunday FUNdays will kick off Sept. 1.
Get reading with the Carlos
Book-loving kids can join the museum’s summer reading program, “Wrapped up in Reading.” Each year the museum develops a book list, including children’s picture books, young adult books, graphic novels and more. The Carlos Museum intentionally includes bilingual literature in the selections as well as a range of classic and recently published works.
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All books on the list are related to the museum’s collections and exhibitions. Participants choose five books from the list to read during the summer and track their progress in a Reading Diary. Once the Reading Diary is complete, participants return the document to the Carlos to receive a prize and free museum admission for the day.
“There are so many amazing books written and illustrated each year, and I am always on the lookout for stories that can connect children to the pieces in the museum’s collections to add to the Wrapped Up in Reading list,” says Alice Vogler, manager of the museum’s educational programs. “It is exciting to see what books children gravitate to each summer.”
Books included on the reading list can be purchased at the Carlos Museum Bookshop. The museum recommends the nonprofit ecommerce site bookshop.org to buy books online. You can even create an account tied to the Carlos Museum Bookshop, and all your purchases will benefit the museum! Many of the books on the list can also be checked out at local libraries.
“We are lucky to have a wonderful partnership with the Georgia Public Library Service and librarians all over the state to help get the word out about the Wrapped Up in Reading program each summer,” Vogler says. “Some of them even set up a little display with some of the books on the list in their libraries.”
The Carlos Museum offers a wonderful selection of fun and educational programs for children and families to enjoy. The museum is open Tuesday-Saturday 10-5 p.m. and Sundays 12-5 p.m.