The IMA encourages people of all ages to discover and learn about art all year round! As you explore the Museum, grounds and Lilly House, enjoy your time together talking about each experience. You may discover new ways of seeing the world around you.

With so much art to see, there probably won’t be time to see it all in one day. When you arrive, consider asking one of our front desk staff to help you find specific types of art, artists or materials that your group would enjoy.

Visiting the IMA with Young Children

Discovering art with children can be fun
Have children in your group? Consider letting children make some of the decisions about their visit. Children may appreciate the experience and remember more of what they see if they participate in the discovery.

Make your visit to the IMA fun for everyone
Make your visit to the IMA memorable by encouraging children to talk about what they see. You might be surprised at what they notice.

Sharing and caring for our art
Sometimes we loan works of art to other museums, repair them in conservation or move them to storage and bring out new works. So, in some cases the works may be here today and gone tomorrow. Taking care of our art can also mean protecting it from bright lights too. In order to take care of the art, some rooms are a little dark.

Please touch with your eyes, not hands
Help us remind young children that the oils in our hands damage the art over time.

No need to rush
Young children may enjoy a shorter art experience focusing on one gallery or floor at a time. You can always come back and create new memories.

Self-guided learning and art making activities
The IMA offers a number of art-making activities and daily tours designed for people of all ages. See suggestions below to plan your trip.

FREE Activities Adults and Children Can Do Together

• Explore the gardens and grounds: Pack a picnic and bring your family for a day of outdoor fun and exploration of the 26-acres Museum campus. Free guided walks through the gardens are offered April through September on Saturdays and Sundays at 1 pm. Grounds are open from dawn to dusk.
• Bring your cameras: Capture family photos and other memories within the scenic setting of the IMA’s grounds. Hand-held cameras are also permitted in most of the permanent collection galleries. (Photography policies)
  
• Search and survey the collection: Grab an activity book at the Museum entrance desk and answer questions about some of the IMA’s most intriguing works of art on view.
• Enjoy free family tours: Join the IMA’s docents as they lead 30-minute tours designed for families and visitors of all ages. (Tour schedule)
• Engage your creative side with free art-making activities: Create your own art pieces with inspiration from works in the IMA’s permanent collection. Each Saturday from Noon to 4 pm, these drop-in activities are accessible and enjoyable for visitors of all ages and levels of art-making experience. (More)
• Check out The Davis Lab on gallery level 1 to explore how technology and art work together.

Take a Closer Look!

We encourage people of all ages to explore the entire museum. Here are a few objects that might work especially well to generate discussion between adults and children.

• Bronco Buster by Frederic Remington, American Art
• Angel of the Resurrection from Tiffany Studios, New York, American Art
• Washington Street, Indianapolis at Dusk by Theodor Groll, American Art
• His Majesty Receives by William Holbrook Beard, American Art
• Egyptian mummy casket, Ancient Art of the Mediterranean
• Loma people-helmet mask (Landai) for Poro association, African Art
• Floor by Do-Ho Suh, Contemporary Art

Strollers and Wheelchairs

Complimentary strollers and wheelchairs are available at the coat check on the Ground Level.

Restrooms and Drinking Fountains

Restrooms are located on every level. Family and handicapped-accessible restrooms are found on the Ground Level across from The IMA Store and inside the Deer Zink Events Pavilion. Drinking fountains are found outside restrooms and in the Garden for Everyone.

Food

The Museum offers on site dining in the newly renovated Nourish Café. Vending machines with snacks and ice cream are also available on the Ground Level in the Multi-Purpose Room. Or if it's nice outside, bring a picnic to enjoy on the grounds.