Tours for Tots

Every Wednesday at 10am at the AGA

Tours for Tots is a weekly in-person art exploration for children ages 3-5 and their parents, consisting of playful activities, whimsical storytelling and hands-on art-making. Our aim is to create a dynamic program which fosters meaningful relationships, community awareness, well-being, visual literacy and creative expression.

Each week features a different theme and a new opportunity to be creative together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do caregivers need to be present?

We encourage parents and caregivers to participate alongside their budding artists. Activities are created with all participants in mind and are meant to foster a creative relationship.

How long is Tours for Tots?

Our in-person session is 60 minutes and includes General Admission to the AGA. You may stay after your program to explore the Gallery!

Do we have to register each week?

Yes, please register for each class you wish to partake in so we can manage class capacity appropriately.

See upcoming dates below

December 11 | Swirl, Mix, Marble!

This week, join us in the studio! Listen to music, experiment with colour mixing and create a series of artworks inspired by the tradition of paper marbling.

December 18 | Handmade Gifts

This holiday season, create a series of prints to gift to your friends and family. Start with a Styrofoam plate and draw an image of your choosing. Learn to print the image onto paper and make copies to give away to your loved ones.

January 8 | Beautiful Oops

Start the new year with a creative bang and expect the unexpected in this unplanned project. Read our favourite book, visit the current exhibitions for inspiration, and experiment with colourful inks and soft pastels. Find out where some creativity and play will take you today!

January 15 | P is for Portraits

Explore the photographs in Aliyah Logun: Portraiture of Black Youth-A Time Capsule of Infinite Possibilities and brainstorm how we identify and express ourselves. Create a self-portrait reflecting who you are now using found text, mixed media and mirrors.

**January 22 | Snow-*ish***

Our architect, Randall Stout, was inspired by the play of light on snow in our northern city, and many of the surfaces of our building reflect that idea. Explore the building and find some snowy colours. With your found palette, create a winter cityscape.

January 29 | Treasure Hunters

Ahoy mateys! Cast yer eyes on the treasure trove of artwork in our galleries and discover the hidden gems and surprising artworks that make our collection unique. Participate in a scavenger hunt and make an artwork to take home. Parrots are optional!

February 5 | Stitch-A-Long

February is National Embroidery Month! Join our stitch-a-long and be inspired by featured artists in A Look Within: The Vision of Alberta Collectors. Use fabric, felt and string to make folk-art-inspired collages with a contemporary twist.

February 12 | Valentine’s Day

Prepare for Valentine’s Day on February 14th by creating cards from card stock, oil pastels, and other materials. Visit current exhibitions for inspiration and then settle into the atrium for a card-making extravaganza.

February 19 | Lost at Sea

Learn about the voyage and mysterious disappearance of Mansa Abu Bakr II, a 14th-century explorer, and his fleet in our exhibition Building Black Civilizations: Journey of 2,000 Ships by artist Ekow Nimako. Then, create a map to help the lost adventurers return home.

February 26 | Community Connector

Discover how Favour Olayinka Abimbola creates art inspired by storytelling, connection and culture. Reflect on your family connections before making an expressive painting that represents your community web.

March 5 | Words and Worldmaking

Visit our current exhibition AGA100 Act 3: Words to Worldmaking and discover how language helps us connect and why words matter. Create a visual poem using pencil crayons, markers and ink.

March 12 | Future Fest

Imagine jumping into a time machine to the future. What do we see, smell, taste, hear and feel? What kinds of tools, objects and favourite toys do we bring? What do we leave behind? What new things do we make? Visit what we leave, what we take and create a prototype of a new object made for the future.

March 19 | Spring Creatures

With spring just around the corner, Dara Ojo’s macro photographs of bugs will inspire today’s exploration. Using wire and model magic, we’ll create a series of never-before-seen insect sculptures.

March 26 | Icons of Art

Learn about the iconic French artist Matisse and a famous art book called Jazz. Inspired by the musical genre, listen to jazz music and create an accordion book using a collage inspired by the shapes and textures of the master.

April 2 | International Children’s Book Day

Join us for International Children’s Book Day! We read a selection of our much-loved books and make artwork inspired by our favourite characters.

April 9 | National Siblings Day

Today is National Siblings Day and to celebrate, we invite you to bring along your sibling to the Gallery and revel in your relationship. Make a collaborative artwork together and surprise your parents or guardians.

April 16 | Art of Pysanky

Learn about the tradition of pysanky, an art form done on eggs using wax resist. Decorate a series of paper eggs using oil pastels and watercolour. Use yarn to string them together.

April 23 | Earth Day

April 22 is Earth Day! Continue the celebration of this unique planet we call home by creating a masterpiece from recycled materials. Visit current exhibitions and see how artists combine materials to make art.

April 30 | Art and Science

Channel your inner Leonardo de Vinci and explore the connection between art and science. Like the famous artist, architect and inventor before you, create sketches and prototypes of never-before-seen buildings and future city plans.

Tours for Tots is sponsored by Second Street Fund.