Celebrate the Hindu festival of light! Create a work of art with your family in the Ryan Education Center and enjoy activities in the museum's galleries. 

Registration is not required for this program. 

Support for the Diwali Family Festival is provided by proceeds from the museum’s third annual Diwali Benefit.

Click here for complete details.

Schedule for the Day

Ryan Education Center Activity Stations

Dance Demonstrations and Workshops: From Bhangra to Bollywood!
11:30, 12:30, and 1:30
Studio A

Enjoy a short dance performance led by Kalapriya Center for Indian Performing Arts, and then join in a community dance, learning new steps and movements as you go.

Art Activity: Diwali Lamps
Studio B

Create a lamp out of clay to spread the light of Diwali.

 Family Mini-Tour: Gods and Heroes
Vitale Family Room

Discover stories of the brave gods and heroes represented in the galleries of Indian, Southeast Asian, and Himalayan art in this self-guide.

 Computer Interactive: Curious Corner
Vitale Family Room

Explore stories of the Hindu god Ganesha in Curious Corner, a computer interactive, designed to help children learn about the Art Institute’s collection.

 Strike a Pose: 3-D Printing with Artist Tom Burtonwood
Classrooms 3 and 4

Pose like your favorite sculpture from the Alsorf Galleries of Southeast Asian Art, and then watch as artists create 3-D image scans and translate these poses into small-scale 3-D printed sculptures.

 The Little Studio (Ages 3–5)
Classroom 5

Explore the light of Diwali through age-appropriate activities that engage the senses and spark the imagination.

Alsdorf Galleries Activity Stations

Galleries 140–142*

Drop-In Drawing
Explore sculpture in the galleries through careful looking and drawing with traditional materials. Artist Leslie Baum will provide helpful tips and suggestions.

 Hindu Stories through Dance
11:00, 12:00, 1:00, and 2:00
Discover stories through exploring sculpture in the galleries with a costumed dancer.

 3-D Image Scanning

Watch teaching artists capture a 3-D image of a sculpture in the galleries, then give it a try at this special hands-on demonstration.

 *Proof of membership or museum admission is required for adults and children age 14 and over