Programs for Kids
The Museum of Craft and Design offers a variety of programming for children, both at our pop-up museums and in partnership with organizations across the City.
Our children's programs focus on learning about artistic techniques and always include an opportunity for kids to explore their creativity hands-on.
Please contact us at 415.773.0303 for information about booking a birthday party or special private program.
Upcoming Programs
MakeArt Workshop: American Folk Toys
Saturday, February 25, 2012
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Octavia Art Gallery
261 Octavia Street
(Octavia Street at Oak Street)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free for members
$10 for non-members
In this workshop we will take a peek into the historian’s toy box. Using common household materials, discover the secrets of these 18th and 19th Century toys that move! Craft the classic Cup and Ball, learn the difference between Chromatrope and Thaumatrope toys, and build a fascinating Jacob’s Ladder!
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 is offered in partnership with the Octavia Art Gallery and includes a snack.
MakeArt Workshop: Kaleidoscopes
Saturday, March 10, 2012
2:00 - 3:30 PM
San Francisco Main Library, Children's Wing
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free to the public
Join the Museum of Craft and Design for an afternoon of toy making! Learn the basic mechanics of the kaleidoscope as we craft our toys using common, easy to find materials. Design the images you see in your scope by hand-picking the shapes and colors of the objects you use. All materials will be supplied, but feel free to bring small, colorful objects to use in your kaleidoscope!
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 is offered in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library.
MakeArt Workshop: Mobiles
Saturday, March 31, 2012
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Octavia Art Gallery
261 Octavia Street
(Octavia Street at Oak Street)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free for members
$10 for non-members
This spring we are celebrating kinetic art: art that moves! Join us in exploring all things mobile as we learn about the work of Alexander Calder, Man Ray and Bruno Munari. Make your own mobile inspired by these artists and take it home to create a kinetic art display! This workshop will include a snack.
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 is offered in partnership with the Octavia Art Gallery.
MakeArt Workshop: Map Bookmarks
Saturday, April 14, 2012
2:00 - 3:30 PM
San Francisco Main Library, Children's Wing
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free to the public
Just as bookmarks help us find our place in a book, maps help us find our way in the world. In this workshop we will combine the two to make bookmarks using maps! Get creative with our selection of maps, stamps, markers and other fun art materials. Use your bookmark in all your San Francisco Public Library books!
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 is offered in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library.
MakeArt Workshop: Map Art
Saturday, April 28, 2012
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Octavia Art Gallery
261 Octavia Street
(Octavia Street at Oak Street)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free for members
$10 for non-members
What does San Francisco mean to you? How do you navigate the city? Which landmarks hold memories for you? These are questions we will explore in our map art workshop. Come prepared to examine maps of San Francisco, and don’t be afraid to cut them up! Using fun collage techniques, we will create multimedia works exploring San Francisco and how we navigate it. This workshop will include a snack.
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 is offered in partnership with the Octavia Art Gallery.
Past Programs
MakeArt Workshop: Family Heritage Collages
Saturday, February 11, 2012
2:00 - 3:30 PM
San Francisco Main Library, Children's Wing
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free to the public
Join us in celebrating Black History Month with an afternoon inspired by collagist Romare Bearden! Bring family photos and we will help you incorporate them into family heritage collages. Stick around for story time with Bearden's children's book, "Li'l Dan, the Drummer Boy: A Civil War Story."
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 is offered in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library.
MakeArt Workshop: Painting Experimentation
Saturday, January 28, 2012
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Octavia Art Gallery
261 Octavia Street
(Octavia Street at Oak Street)
San Francisco, CA 94102
This January we’re getting inspired by the beautiful workshop space at Octavia Art Gallery! Surrounded by the gallery’s paintings, we will have our hand at textural painting techniques, mixed media painting, and painting on unusual surfaces. Don’t have a background in painting? No worries! These painting techniques are mostly abstract and are fun for people of all artistic levels. Come with an open mind and get ready to try something new!
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 is offered in partnership with the Octavia Art Gallery and includes a snack.
MakeArt Workshop: Robots
Saturday, January 14, 2012
2:00 - 3:30 PM
San Francisco Main Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free to the public
Ever wonder what to do with all those metal bits you have lying around the garage? In this workshop we will get crafty with nuts, bolts, paper clips, springs and more to create fun and original robots! Bring some of your extra metal pieces to use, or choose from our stock. What kind of robot will you create?
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 offered in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library.
MakeArt at the Renegade Holiday Fair: Mini Lantern Ornaments
Sunday, December 18, 2011
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale in San Francisco
Concourse Exhibition Center, 620 7th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Free to the public
Come celebrate the holidays with us and create a festive and simple miniature lantern ornament! Using recycled materials, these colorful lanterns make cheery decorations for any occasion. Hang one over a light on your tree for a special effect.
Offered in partnership with FLAX art & design and the Renegade Craft Fair.
MakeArt at the Renegade Holiday Fair: Bottle Cap Magnets
Saturday, December 17, 2011
11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Renegade Craft Fair Holiday Sale in San Francisco
Concourse Exhibition Center, 620 7th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Free to the public
Jazz up your fridge with a bottle cap magnet! Learn how to re-purpose common household items into these funky and creative crafts. Use photographs, magazine images, sequins and glitter glue to decorate your magnet. These make great holiday gifts!
Offered in partnership with FLAX art & design and the Renegade Craft Fair.
MakeArt Holiday Party with FLAX art & design
Sunday, December 4, 2011
1:00 - 3:30 PM
FLAX art & design
1699 Market Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
Free to the public
Button Accessories
Choose from our selection of thousands of buttons in all colors, shapes and sizes to design your own accessory. Stack and thread buttons to make a bracelet, brooch, hair clip or ring. Take our ideas home and put some of your spare buttons to use!
Woodland Creatures Wall Decals
Need a temporary solution for one of your bare walls? Try a new approach to holiday decorating with these home-made wall decals! Follow our woodland creatures templates or design your own decal using contact paper.
DIY Gift Tags
Make your own gift tags this year for an added special touch. We'll help you cut, layer, glue and stamp together the perfect set of gift tags. Our papers, hole punches, sequins and other embellishments will be sure to inspire you.
Offered in partnership with FLAX art & design.
MakeArt Workshop: Button Holiday Cards
Saturday, December 3, 2011
2:00 - 3:30 PM
San Francisco Main Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Need ideas for making original holiday cards? Come join us for an afternoon of card-making with buttons! We’ll have thousands of buttons in all shapes, colors and sizes to choose from. Follow one of our several templates, or let your imagination go wild! We’ll have plenty of materials so come ready to make several cards.
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 offered in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library.
MakeArt Workshop: Designing Wire Jewelry and Accessories
Saturday, November 19, 2011
2:00 - 3:30 PM
San Francisco Main Library
100 Larkin Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
Come join us for an afternoon of wire jewelry and accessories making! Discover new ways to work with versatile craft wire as you fashion your bracelet, necklace, cuff, superhero armband, or whatever inspires you!
This workshop for kids ages 6-12 offered in partnership with the San Francisco Public Library.
MakeArt Workshop: Designing Wire Jewelry and Accessories
Saturday, November 5, 2011
1:00 - 3:00 PM
Museum of Craft and Design at Hayes and Octavia
432 Octavia, Hayes Valley
San Francisco, CA 94102
Free for members of MCD
$10 for non-members
Advanced registration required. To register, call (415) 773-0303.
Come join us for an afternoon of wire jewelry and accessories making! Discover new ways to work with versatile craft wire as you fashion your bracelet, necklace, cuff, superhero armband, or whatever inspires you! This workshop for kids ages 6-12 will include a tour of Place Making and a snack.