We’re called The New Children’s Museum because there’s always something new to experience and discover!
From intriguing new art installations, hands-on art projects and engaging artworks, kids of all ages will always find a new source of wonder. The New Children’s Museum is a dynamic new model of a museum that celebrates children and the arts. As a San Diego non-profit, our Museum empowers children to think, play and create through engaging exhibitions, art-making activities, artistic performances,
and educational opportunities. Serving all ages, from toddler to pr***en, The New Children's Museum inspires new ways to see the world through the language of art.
Operating as usual
Shop our holiday sale in the Museum store and get the perfect gift for a loved one. 🎁 All items are 10% off and members get an even bigger discount of 20% off! Not a member? Join today here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/join/memberships/
We have a wide selection of apparel, games, toys, art activity kits, books and one-of-a-kind items inspired by our installations like these El Más Allá by Panca products pictured!
Let’s loom together! Our new Community Looms workshop with artist-in-residence Michelle Montjoy Art in The Rosso Family Foundation Innovators LAB starts tomorrow and runs through Jan. 9. Learn how to focus on your breath and knit on a circular loom with friends. Participants will create a hanging textile sculpture together like the ones in our Breathing Room installation!
Workshops are available daily when the Museum is open at 10:30am and 2:30pm for ages 6 and up. It’s free with admission. Spots are limited and on a first-come, first-serve basis. Learn more about our LAB workshops here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-studios/innovators-lab/
Thanks to support from the ResMed Foundation for making this workshop possible!
As a nonprofit children’s museum, our mission is to spark creativity, exploration and a sense of belonging through interactive art experiences.
To make this happen we rely on the support of our members, donors and community in order to make art and play more accessible to all families in San Diego. From bringing new installations to life and maintaining longtime favorites to supplying critical art materials (like buckets of paint for our signature Painted Object in our Paint Studio), and partnering with local social service organizations to reach diverse communities and provide free or discounted access to the Museum and our educational programs - your generous contributions help to make it all possible.
This consider making a gift and bring the joy of art and play to more families! We are grateful for your support!
https://thinkplaycreate.org/join/donate/
Our memberships provide a year of art, play and creativity with exclusive member discounts in our store, cafe, parking, classes and events, and other perks! Gift a membership to friends, family or yourself and get 3 extra months on the membership! Use code 3MONTHS2022. Redeem here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/join/memberships/
Did you know? As a nonprofit, every membership purchase supports the maintenance of the Museum's art installations and our access programs.
View artworks by students in grades 4-12 on display at our downtown Museum! This temporary exhibit in collaboration with Words Alive showcases collage self-portraits that celebrate the authentic self, resilience, courage, belonging and friendship. Students were inspired by books they read on these same themes.
Visitors can also be inspired by the artworks and create your own collage self-portrait using the materials provided in the exhibit!
Learn more about this special exhibit: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-installations/authentic-selves/
Planning to visit the downtown Museum or our Del Mar location during the Thanksgiving holiday week? Keep in mind our special hours next week!
Mon-Wed (11/21-11/23): 9am-4pm
Thurs (11/24): CLOSED
Fri-Sun (11/25-11/27): 9am-4pm
Always check our website before visiting.
Need a photo for your holiday card? We’re hosting family, couples and maternity photo sessions with She Wanders Photography at our downtown location on Nov. 29 from 12-7pm!
What’s included:
📷: 20-minute photo session per family
📷: Choice between 2 installation backdrops: Whammock! and The Rain House
📷: 4 complimentary photos delivered within 7 days
All for $250 per family!
Spots are limited so book today: https://shewanders.bigcartel.com/product/new-children-s-museum-november-29th-2022
Photo by She Wanders Photography
A couple weekends ago we hosted our big annual fundraising gala Circus Spectacular! It was an unforgettable evening of guests dressed in “circus chic” attire enjoying dazzling performances, dancing, carnival games, karaoke and Ferris wheel rides.
A big thank you to our gala co-chairs, event sponsors and underwriters, and those who purchased tickets and donated on-site. The overwhelming support raised over $750K in funds that will provide free or discounted admission to over 30% of the Museum’s visitors, ensuring more access to art and play experiences for children in San Diego.
And thank you to our staff and event partners for making this event possible.
View more photos from our gala here: https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjAfhXv
Celebrate Veterans Day at the Museum! Veterans and their families (up to 4 people) get free admission on Nov. 11. Thank you for your service!
Our military access programs are supported by BAE Systems, Feast on This Catering & Special Events, Lockheed Martin, U.S. Bank, The Conrad Prebys Foundation, The Samuel I. & John Henry Fox Foundation, Samuel H. French & Katherine Weaver French Fund, and The G.A. Foster Legacy Foundation.
The downtown Museum, including the park and Island Avenue, will be closed this Friday, 11/4 and Saturday, 11/5 for our annual fundraising gala Circus Spectacular!
We reopen on Sunday, 11/6 at 10am for our Circus Spectacular Family Day! There will be circus activities, including Ferris wheel rides, carnival games and art-making activities outdoors with our normal art and play activities inside for all families to enjoy. Regular admission applies with an additional $1 per person fee to ride the Ferris wheel (members get 1 free ride per family).
Build your own Solar Structure in this month’s workshop in The Rosso Family Foundation Innovators LAB! Kids will learn about harnessing solar energy while using popsicle sticks to build a structure with a solar panel to power a fan.
This workshop takes place every day we’re open from Nov. 2-28 at 10:30am and 2:30pm. It’s free with Museum admission for ages 6+ and first-come, first-serve. Learn more about our workshops here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-studios/innovators-lab/
This workshop is supported by Solar Turbines.
From helping us assemble hundreds of art kits for our community partner groups to volunteering at our Mass Creativity Day, U.S. Bank has been a longtime generous supporter of the Museum. Their most recent grant commits to supporting 3 years of funding for camp scholarships and several other access programs, including military access, free field trips for Title 1 schools and Museums for All program, ensuring that more families can visit the Museum for little to no cost.
Thank you U.S. Bank for your continued support of providing access to art and play to more children in San Diego! Read the blog to learn more about our partnership: https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/company-blog/article-library/superhero-inspired-support-of-unstructured-play-in-san-diego.html
We’re a spooky but friendly bunch! Happy Halloween from our staff in creative disguises! 🎃👻🕸
Dress up in costume and celebrate Halloween at the downtown Museum! We’ll have all sorts of spooky themed activities on Halloween day, including:
🎃 Costume parade throughout the Museum at 11:45am + 3:45pm
👻 A reading of “Luna Oscura” by Heidi Moreno in English and Spanish in the AEC Library
🎃 DIY costume accessory making in the Innovators LAB at 10am + 1pm
👻 Halloween-themed scavenger hunt
🎃 Pumpkin sculpting in Clay Studio
Join us for the festivities!
Experience a Circus Spectacular Weekend at the Museum! 🎪
On Nov. 5, we’ll be hosting our Circus Spectacular fundraising gala (adults only). Tickets include a dazzling evening of live music, food and drinks, carnival games, a 40-foot Ferris wheel, and performances by jugglers, acrobats and more! All ticket proceeds help raise funds for our access programs that provide free or discounted access to the Museum for a third of our visitors. Get tickets to the gala today: https://thinkplaycreate.org/learn/ticketed-events/annual-benefit/circus-spectacular/
Then join us for Circus Spectacular Family Day on Nov. 6 from 10am-4pm to experience the circus fun with the entire family! Regular admission applies with an additional fee to ride the Ferris wheel on Island Avenue (members get one free ride). 🎡
Learn about the origins and traditional uses of different cultural masks in our Mask Identities workshop in The Rosso Family Foundation Innovators LAB. Then make your own unique mask to take home!
Our facilitated LAB workshops are for ages 6 and up, and take place every day we’re open at 10:30am and 2:30pm. They’re free with admission and first-come, first-serve.
https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-studios/innovators-lab/
Educators’ Night Out is back this year! This event gives educators and their families an opportunity to explore the Museum’s art installations, learn about our educational programs and resources, and network with other education professionals. Plus, enjoy art-making activities with take-home lesson plans, live performances, classroom supply giveaways and light refreshments.
Join us on October 26 from 4-6pm. This event is free for teachers. Register here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/learn/educator-resources/educator-night-out/
Come one and come all to Circus Spectacular! 🎪✨
We’re a month out from our annual fundraising gala on Nov. 5 in which the Museum will be transformed into a circus party like no other in town! Experience a dazzling evening of live music, food and drink, carnival games, performances, a ride on a 40-foot Ferris wheel and more! 🎡 Plus, we ask guests to come dressed up in your most creative circus chic attire! Get your tickets today: https://thinkplaycreate.org/learn/ticketed-events/annual-benefit/circus-spectacular/
Ticket proceeds and funds raised at the gala support our access programs to ensure more children can experience art and play, and visit the Museum at little to no cost. This event is for adults only.
Meet author Beatrice Zamora and join us for a live reading of her book, “The Spirit of Chicano Park/El espíritu Del Parque Chicano” in English and Spanish at our next Reading Two-Gether Author Visit on Oct. 16 from 9:45-11:15am. The event is free with an art experience and book signing after the reading. Register to attend here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/learn/arts-education-center-library/reading-two-gether-author-visits/
This program is supported by the Dr. Seuss Foundation.
Mondays are for making clay masterpieces! This week the downtown Museum will be closed Oct. 4-7 due to a special event. We’ll reopen on Saturday, 10/8 at 9:30am. Visit our website for current and special hours: https://thinkplaycreate.org/calendar/
A new outdoor installation is coming to our Museum Park! Designed by Héctor Esrawe and Ignacio Cadena, Los Trompos consists of colorful, life-sized spinning tops that children can push and pull to rotate and take a spin inside! 🌀
Join us on Oct. 8 for the opening day of Los Trompos with a free, all-day community celebration of art-making activities and food trucks in the Museum Park. (Admission required inside the Museum).
These larger-than-life tops travelled from our friends up north and is jointly commissioned with Bay Area Discovery Museum. Learn more at: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-installations/los-trompos/
📷: Los Trompos at Bay Area Discovery Museum
A big thank you to Sundt Construction, Inc. for their generous contribution! Their grant will help to support our sensory friendly initiatives including our most recent installation, Breathing Room, Accessibility Mornings and our new digital Sensory Guide.
The digital Sensory Guide was created in collaboration with Sensory Friendly San Diego and includes 3-D tours, audio clips, guides and social prompts that support neurodivergent people and all visitors navigate the Museum before their visit! Check it out: https://sensoryguides.sensoryfriendlysandiego.org/view/994368478/
Get ready for Kids Free San Diego next month! Throughout October, get one free child admission (12 and under) with the purchase of one full-priced adult admission at our downtown museum only. It’s the perfect opportunity to zen out 😌 in our new sensory friendly installation Breathing Room (pictured) by Michelle Montjoy!
Download the coupon here: https://sandiegomuseumcouncil.org/new-childrens-museum-kids-free-2022-coupon/
San Diego Museum Council Visit San Diego
Attention educators! School visits for the 2022-2023 school year is now open for registration! Our school visits incorporate hands-on experiences and inquiry-based learning inspired by the Museum’s art installations. Plus, these field trips are free for Title 1 schools!
Request an in-person school visit at the Museum or register for a virtual school visit here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/learn/educator-resources/school-visits/
REMINDER: Both the downtown Museum and Art + Play Space in Del Mar will be closed Sept. 13-20 for annual deep cleaning and staff training. View our calendar to see all upcoming closed days: https://thinkplaycreate.org/calendar/
1 2 3 4, 4 3 2 1… Take a minute. Lie down. Look up. Breathe. 💙
The newly completed Breathing Room by is now open.
Our calm, quiet and sensory friendly installation, Breathing Room by Michelle Montjoy Art, reopens for its second and completed phase this Saturday, Sept.10! Our Accessibility Mornings guests will be the first to experience the newly completed space in the morning (8:30-9:30am) before it opens to the public.
New to the space are “Hugs” (pictured), oversized, stuffed sweater forms with weighted arms that offer a comforting embrace. 💙 And "Pods" - organic knitted forms children can nestle inside and take a calming break.
Learn more about Breathing Room: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-installations/breathing-room/
And Accessibility Mornings: https://thinkplaycreate.org/visit/access-programs/accessibility-mornings/
With record temperatures in San Diego and back to school preparations, the Museum will have special hours this and next week.
This week, our downtown location will only be open for the morning session (9am-12pm) from Sept. 7-9 due to the excessive heat advisory.
Next week, both the downtown and Del Mar locations will be closed from Sept. 13-20 for our annual deep cleaning and staff training.
View the Museum calendar and keep these dates in mind when planning your next visit: https://thinkplaycreate.org/calendar/
Due to the heat advisory, the downtown Museum is closed Sunday, 9/4. We will provide further updates on our website. Our Art + Play Space in Del Mar is open.
https://thinkplaycreate.org/
The New Children’s Museum in Downtown San Diego, California is dedicated to helping children learn and experience the world through the lens of contemporary art.
The citizens of the Mor Universe can’t wait to meet you!
The World of Les Mor and Mor no Mor is our newest mural hand-painted by artists on staff, Marcus Deridder and Taylor McCabe. The mural spans from the Museum’s main level to upper level and depicts two worlds: Les Mor on the upper level with friendly feathered birds and Mor no Mor on the main level with mischievous cave-dwelling creatures.
Children can interact with the mural by traveling between the two worlds through the magical elevator portal and finding secret messages from the Mor citizens in the red mailboxes to pass on!
Learn more about this imaginative mural at the link in our bio.
Starting today, our sensory friendly space, Breathing Room by Michelle Montjoy Art, will be closed for its phase two completion! The artist will be adding more knitted forms called Hugs and Pods that will add to this calm, quiet and comforting installation.
The grand reopening is set for September 10 with a special preview for our Accessibility Mornings guests.
In the meantime, learn more about this evolving installation here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/art-installations/breathing-room/
Join us for a sensory-friendly experience at the downtown Museum this Saturday, Aug.13 at 8:30am! Our Accessibility Mornings take place on the second Saturday of each month and provides free access to families who would benefit from a quieter setting an hour before the Museum opens to the public.
No registration required. On this day, the Museum will be opening to the public at 9:30am.
https://thinkplaycreate.org/visit/access-programs/accessibility-mornings/
Starting this Wednesday, our second location in Del Mar Plaza, Art + Play Space, will also be open 6 days a week! New hours in Del Mar are:
Mon: 9am-12pm + 1-4pm
Tues: Closed
Wed-Sun: 9am-12pm + 1-4pm
Our Del Mar space is smaller than our downtown Museum but perfect for younger children (5 years and under). Learn more about this location: https://thinkplaycreate.org/visit/art-play-space-del-mar/
Plus, members get free admission to both locations all year long!
200 W Island Avenue
San Diego, CA
92101
The New Children's Museum offers underground parking in our garage for $10 on weekdays and $15 on weekends, which can be accessed from Union Street. Metered parking and numerous public parking lots are available throughout the surrounding neighborhood.The Museum is close to the Convention Center Trolley Station and Amtrak Station at Santa Fe Depot. For information on public transportation, visit www.sdcommute.com and www.amtrak.com.
Adults and Children: $14 Members: FREE Children under one year: FREE Seniors 65+: $10 Military w/ID: $10 Pricing as of 1/1/2018
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Make Circuit Critters with us in this month’s Rosso Family Foundation Innovators LAB workshop! 💡🐛 ⠀ This month we’re partnering with Cox in the LAB! Cox is focused on creating connections in our community by providing low-cost internet to families in San Diego. Through our workshop, learn what it means to CONNECT. ⠀ Innovators LAB workshops are available Thurs-Mon at 10:30am and 2:30pm, and are first-come, first-serve.
Build a fort with mascot Art! Our latest All About Art episode features The Rain House and all the fun activities kids can do inside! Watch the full episode here: https://youtu.be/0hmtAieEci8
The Rain House got its name because you can hear the rain while inside it! Find out how the sound of rain is created and more fun facts about The Rain House in our latest All About Art episode. 🌧🏠 Watch the full episode: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/virtual-tours/
Can you spot a similarity between Museum mascot, Art the bird, and the artwork on The Rain House? 🐦 🎨🏠 Art is inspired by the birds painted on The Rain House! ⠀ Our new episode of All About Art dives into the history of the Museum’s oldest installation, The Rain House. Explore the endless creative possibilities inside The Rain House with Art and watch the full episode with your little ones here: https://thinkplaycreate.org/explore/virtual-tours/
We just reached 200 subscribers on our YouTube channel! 📺 🎉Thanks to those who’ve subscribed! Kids can watch 100+ creative videos on our channel, including DIY tutorials, design challenges and our All About Art series on our interactive installations like this one for Sketch Aquarium! Subscribe and start watching: https://www.youtube.com/thenewcm
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