On November 3 and 4 the annual 'Night of the Arts' will take place across the country. On these days museums run special programs, and some stay open late into the evening. In this article I explain how to prepare if you want to visit museums with children, and I also share examples of museum events in different cities across Russia.
Recommendations for Parents
Night of the Arts is a popular event, so the first thing to consider is whether you're ready to spend time with children in a setting where many unfamiliar people will be present. For older children this can be an interesting experience, but for little ones it can be stressful.
Museums most often offer programs for school-age children, though sometimes you can find events for children aged 3–6.
If you're visiting a museum with a child for the first time, I recommend preparing in advance:
1. explain what a museum is in terms the child can understand; you can look at photos together;
2. bring a change of shoes, since most museums ask visitors to wear shoe covers, which can be uncomfortable for children;
3. make sure the child is well fed and in a good mood :) this is important! You can take a small snack with you.
If you plan to attend an event, consider arriving a little early to get your bearings in the museum. Take the child's age into account so they don't get tired before the event starts.
Be sure to check the museum's opening hours and event schedule on its official website or by phone. Some museums hold events not only on November 3 and 4, but also on the preceding day.
What Events Museums Offer for Families and Children
Museums try to offer a variety of programs during Night of the Arts. Besides classic overview tours and concerts, which are usually aimed at visitors aged 12 and up, you can take part in workshops, quests, quizzes, and performances.
I asked my museum colleagues to share announcements of family- and child-friendly events. Here's the selection we compiled.
On November 3 you can join the theatrical tour 'Ordinary Guests of an Extraordinary House' (12+).
Tour guides in historical costumes — a servant, a cook, an actress, the inspector of the Moscow Conservatory, and a governess — will bring the atmosphere to life as they talk about Tchaikovsky's habits and attachments. You'll be able to see the piano on which the composer created his masterpieces and feel the magic that surrounded him in moments of creativity. Participation in the tour is free with the purchase of a museum admission ticket.
On November 1 at the Chuvash National Museum (Cheboksary) from 17:00 to 21:00 there will be a cultural and educational program 'In the Many-Faced Round Dance' (0+). Children under 5 can participate for free; older children require a ticket. Family tickets are available.
The museum offers the youngest participants a chance to meet dolls in national costumes, play games from different peoples at the 'Friendship Round Dance' station, and take part in workshops: braid a 'Friendship Bracelet' and express their creativity in 'Fabric Fantasy'.
The interactive area 'Folk Culinarium' will introduce national cuisine; you can try ritual porridge from the restaurant 'Ekhrem Khusa', which the Chuvash prepared for 'Avan Patti' (the Chuvash Harvest Festival). For boys the museum has prepared an exhibition on armor and weapons of medieval warriors from the historical reenactment club 'Sea Dragons'. At the 'From Saber to Automatic' station you'll learn about the evolution of weapons and make your own 'Chapaev souvenir'.
On November 3 at 18:00 and 19:00 you can join the 'Chased Patterns' workshop (6+). During the workshop you'll be able to make a book bookmark, a New Year's clock, or a cozy little house using chasing technique — an exclusive accessory for yourself or a gift for family and friends. You take the finished item home. Materials and tools are provided. Participation is paid and by registration.
On November 3 at 12:00 the museum invites you to the workshop 'Mikhail Vrubel's Night Works'. The event will be of interest to children aged 8–9, as well as teenagers and adults. For the first 15 minutes, methodologist Sofia Boyko will give a short lecture on the theme of 'Night' in Vrubel's work. She will focus on his painting technique, showing how the master achieved a special 'radiance' of light, iridescence on pearl-like surfaces, and the sensation of precious stones in each brushstroke. Participants will learn about the artist's legacy and try to create a gouache piece inspired by his work — either copying a subject or inventing their own. Participation is paid.
On November 3 at 21:00 the museum invites you to concerts (12+).
Stanislav Korchagin, laureate of the 17th International P. I. Tchaikovsky Competition, will perform works by P.I. Tchaikovsky, S.S. Prokofiev, and S.V. Rachmaninoff. Thanks to the musician's expressive piano playing, the performance will be interesting for audiences of all ages and will introduce young visitors to the classics.
Address: P.I. Tchaikovsky Museum in Moscow, Kudrinskaya Square, 46/54.
A mesmerizing spectacle and 'cosmic' sounds will be produced by Pyotr Termen and Alexey Shapovalov at the S.S. Prokofiev Museum, Bolshaya Dmitrovka St., 5/6. The theremin and the hang are musical instruments with unusual sounds: the theremin's tone is created by the movement of hands in space, and the hang looks like a real flying saucer.
Participation is paid.
On November 3 at 12:00 the museum invites you to the interactive tour 'Little Ones, Hurry to the Museum' (0+).
The session is ideal for a first museum visit: staff will gently and engagingly introduce the child to the museum, explain how to behave there, and show that it can be fun. The main goal is to inspire the child to new discoveries, foster curiosity, and provide vivid impressions. Participation is paid and requires registration.
On November 3 at 15:00 the museum will hold a children's interactive tour 'The Sea Gets Restless' (6+).
It's a true adventure, led by museum educators through games, riddles, and surprising discoveries. We'll take the children on board and travel across seas from southern latitudes to the North Pole, learning along the way about artists, ships, marine creatures, natural phenomena, and the dangers of the water element. Participation is paid.
On November 3 the 'New Jerusalem' museum invites visitors to lectures, tours, a quiz, and much more.
From 17:00 to 21:00 you can visit the exhibition 'Light Between Worlds' for free, as well as permanent displays: the 'New Jerusalem. A Monument of History and Culture of the 17th–21st Centuries' section, the 'Museum. Scorched Pages' section, and the 'War. Victory. Memory' section.
From 17:00 to 20:00 the children's center 'Exponarium' is open for free visits.
At 17:00 children can join the session 'Wild Monogamists' (6+). During the session young participants will learn how wolves live — choosing a mate once and for life — and will also find out why seahorses are considered some of the most caring fathers of the underwater world. And, of course, they will hear a true tale of love and loyalty — the story of the stork Malena.
