A portion of the museum's general operating funds for this fiscal year has been provided through grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a Federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership and a lifetime of learning, and the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.

Williams College Museum of Art Presents Family Day: Around the World
Saturday, February 9, 2002, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Williams College Museum of Art (WCMA) will hold its annual Family Day on Saturday, February 9, 2002 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “Around the World.” WCMA invites children, ages 4 to 12, accompanied by adults, to participate in art activities, workshops, and performances inspired by WCMA's exhibits of Indian, African, American, and European art from the permanent collection. The event is free of charge.

Organized by the museum's Education Department, "Around the World" will offer children the opportunity to make their own passports to take with them on ”Around the World of WCMA in Twenty Minutes” guided excursions. These tours will highlight the international artwork on display at WCMA, and the family activities correspond to the nations where the artwork originated. As children explore the museum, they can make an amulet to ensure a safe journey, try on clothing from other countries, or design a license plate. Families journeying through WCMA should bring a camera so they can take “tourist” photos in front of key art destinations. One photo opportunity will show families in rain slickers and sturdy barrels in front of William Morris Hunt’s Niagara Falls. In addition, Family Day 2002 at WCMA will include international dance performances. The Williams College Dance Department will perform a Chinese martial arts dance. Also, the department’s African dance troupe, Kusika, will combine storytelling with dance, and three soloists will provide glimpses of East Indian, Middle Eastern, and Chinese dance. Workshops in gourd mask-making and textile printing will also be conducted throughout the day. For more information about Family Day and other programs sponsored by the education department call 413.597.2038.

A portion of the museum’s general operating funds for this fiscal year has been provided through grants from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, a Federal agency that fosters innovation, leadership, and a lifetime of learning, and from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency. The Williams College Museum of Art is open Tuesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Contact: Jonathan Cannon, Public Relations Coordinator
413.597.3178; WCMA@williams.edu