The Rubin Museum of Art Takes Kids to the Far-Far East Side

The Rubin Museum of Art claims to be the only museum in the Western Hemisphere dedicated to the art of the Himalayas (think Nepal, Tibet, Mongolia, and China). It is one of NYC's newest museums, opened just in 2004, and a true keeper with an impressive collection of Himalayan art. If you haven't visited yet, it's worth the trip. The Rubin Museum offers weekly free programs for children and toddlers exploring storytelling, art making and movement all with a unique Himalayan bent.

All programs are free with admission which is free for kids, but adults pay $10 (sorry, no getting around that). Still, with one adult admission, you can experience a wonderful workshop and explore a distant culture with your kids. For a full schedule of activities visit The Rubin Museum of Art Calendar.

Word Play!: is an early childhood storytelling workshop held on Mondays. Children 3-5 travel to the Himalayas with their imaginations: participate in interactive stories, move to music, invent puppet plays, and create works of art.

Yak Packers: On Thursdays children ages two to five will discover what is inside our Himalayan Treasure Chest, arrange their own paintings through collage, learn about mythical creatures, and print patterns inspired by the Museum's collection.

Moving Through Art: On Fridays this fun-filled class for children ages two to five explores body movements, hand gestures, and facial expressions found in Himalayan painting and sculpture. Bring a thin yoga-style mat and your imagination to pose as a tree, move like a tiger or a yak, become an eight-armed protector, and more.

Saturday Family Workshops: invite children ages five to nine to explore the unique paintings and sculptures from the Museum's collection. Programs include gallery tours and conversations that inspire art-making projects in the Studio or activities in the Theater.

For more information on these workshops, visit

The Rubin Museum of Art family event listings.

Find more great activities like this in our Indoor Activities Guide.  

Find more must-see museums and hot spots in our Culture Guide.