Animal Adventures Family Day

at the Gibbes Museum of Art

About

The Gibbes Museum of Art’s Animal Adventures Family Day engaged children of various ages in interactive and educational experiences and was organized into three segments. The morning was dedicated to younger children, ages 2-5, with in-gallery storytime led by the Charleston County Public Library, animal yoga, and artmaking. In the afternoon, the museum’s garden transformed into a lively exhibition space, where a variety of community partners led artmaking activities and live animal encounters tailored for children, ages 6 and up. The day concluded with a screening of “FernGully,” a film that reinforces themes of nature and conservation and is geared toward older children. To host this multidisciplinary event, the museum partnered with organizations like Charleston County Public Library, Charleston Parks Conservancy, Charleston County Parks and Recreation, the Department of Natural Resources Marine Division, the South Carolina Aquarium, Grow with the Flow Homestead, Independent Grounds, and the Cape Romaine National Wildlife Center. These collaborations enriched the day’s programming and brought the exhibition to life in a dynamic and memorable way.

Intended Outcome

The Gibbes Museum of Art intended to attract 200 visitors and engage new generations and people of diverse backgrounds in the traditions of conservation, wildlife painting, and artmaking.

Actual Outcome

The Gibbes Museum of Art well exceeded its goal by engaging 1,016 visitors at this event. The museum reached many families with young children. Nearly 60% of families had children ages 5-7; over 40% of families had children ages 3-4; and almost 30% of families had children ages 0-2. The Gibbes staff stated they were “overwhelmed, in the best way possible, by the crowd,” and that many parents were happy to have an engaging free event for their children.

Advice Post Project

When designing a family day, consider structuring the event to cater to different age groups throughout the day, ensuring that activities are developmentally appropriate and engaging for all participants. Partnering with local organizations, such as libraries, parks departments, conservation groups, and wellness practitioners, can enrich the experience and provide interdisciplinary connections that bring exhibitions to life. Incorporating hands-on elements like artmaking, movement-based activities, and live animal encounters helps children form meaningful connections between the museum’s content and the natural world.