For Kids

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Four free things for families to do in Evansville this spring break

It’s spring break. You have a house full of restless kids and their friends, and you need something to do, but you don’t want to spend a ton of money doing it. Luckily, there are a few free events and things to do in Evansville that you may not know about.

The vast majority of events the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana hosts are free and open to the public, including art exhibits, concerts on the gallery roof in Downtown Evansville, creative exploration days for kids and this popular annual event …

Kids Movie Day – The best of the New York International Children’s Film Festival

12-2 p.m. Wednesday, March 29
Browning Room, Central Library
Free

One of the only events of its kind in the city, the Arts Council’s annual Kids Movie Day is this Wednesday. The event showcases the best short films from the New York International Children’s Film Festival.

The event starts at 12 p.m. in the Browning Room at Central Library in Downtown Evansville. The short films range in length of 3-10 minutes. Watch one film or watch them all — families are encouraged to come and go as they please. The Arts Council will also provide complimentary international snacks.

The event is completely free and open to everyone. These films are geared towards 4-10 year old children. Here’s the description from the New York International Children’s Film Fest:

Let your imagination take the wheel with Kid Flick One. Whether dreaming up the fantastical, like a cat the size of a house, or the practical, like finding a beloved teacher a summer romance, these shorts are sure to surprise and delight.

While you’re at the library on Wednesday, check out the …

Library of Things

If you like free and accessible activities, then you probably already have an EVPL library card for the access to great books, movies and music. But have you heard about the Library of Things?

It’s a new EVPL collection that includes items you probably never thought a library would loan out.

There are tech items like a digital microscope so young minds can explore the world around them in new detail. Or outdoor games like Bocce Ball or Slammo to keep kids active. Or free passes to cultural institutions like Wesselman Woods or the Evansville Museum of Arts, History and Science. There are also cooking supplies, musical instruments and board games. There’s a whole another side to the library you probably never knew existed.

Check out the full Library of Things collection here.

Speaking of libraries, you can also check out …

Willard Library’s 138th birthday party

6:30 p.m. – 7: 30 p.m. Tuesday, March 28
Willard Library

One of the most striking building and institutions in Evansville is celebrating its 138th birthday, and the public is invited to the party.

There are activities for both kids and adults at Willard Public Library’s birthday bash. People can hang out in the lower level reading room where punch and cake will be available. A Willard archivist will give a short presentation on the library’s history and also hear stories about the Grey Lady Ghost. In the children’s department, staff will have activities and cupcakes for younger party-goers in addition to story time and crafts.

There will also be a raffle with prize giveaways. The event is free and open to everyone.

Speaking of being free, don’t miss this free art exhibit …

Young at Art exhibit

J.H. Castle Elementary School

212 Main St. Evansville, IN
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Friday
Free

The Arts Council’s Downtown gallery is filled with more than 250 pieces of wildly creative and inventive art created entirely by young artists.

The exhibit, “Young at Art,” is on display now through Friday. All 250 pieces were made by kindergarten through 8th graders in the region. This exhibit is a great opportunity to bring budding young artists to a new gallery for some inspiration. The Arts Council also has free art supplies to keep younger patrons occupied while the older kids check out the work. The gallery is open 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Friday. There is no admission fee.

Check out this preview of the exhibit.

Evansville Day School
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Take a look at the creativity of more than 250 young artists in this new exhibit

There is never a more colorful show in the Arts Council’s gallery than the annual “Young at Art” exhibit. More than 250 regional K-8 artists submitted their wildly creative, colorful and inventive entries into the exhibit this year, and you can view all the entries in the virtual exhibit below.

“Young at Art” is on display now through March 31 in the Arts Council’s Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery at 212 Main St. in Downtown Evansville. If you have any questions about this exhibit or other exhibits, please contact Gallery Director Andrea Adams ([email protected]).

If you have a young artist you think would enjoy being part of future “Young at Art” exhibits, use this link to sign-up for the Arts Council’s email list for future exhibit opportunities.

Links to other virtual galleries:

RED (2023)
La Vida (2022)
On Ramp (2022)
Juneteenth (2022)
Art in the City (2022)
Art Noir (2022)

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Students can submit work for the “Young at Art” exhibit this month

Area students have the opportunity to exhibit their work at the Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana’s Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery in March.

The Arts Council is asking for submissions to “Young at Art,” the organizations’ annual K-8 art exhibit. The yearly show features hundreds of entries from regional students. Each artist is allowed one piece, 2D or 3D. This exhibit is not limited to K-8 students in public schools — private, charter and homeschool students are welcome to enter the exhibit.

Drop off begins Tuesday, Feb. 21. The full slate of dates and information is available below.

Young at Art Info and Dates

Exhibit dates: March 14 – March 31

Artists Reception: Noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 18

Open to all students in grades: Kindergarten – 8th in any school district. Homeschoolers are welcome!

Drop artwork off at: 212 Main St. Downtown Evansville, Indiana.

Drop off dates: Feb. 21 – 24, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Feb. 28 – March 2, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Click here for the full submission guidelines and needed paperwork.

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All kids welcome for Creative Exploration Days at the Arts Council

The Arts Council of Southwestern Indiana and Building Blocks (Formerly 4C) are partnering to present early childhood Creative Exploration Days at the Bower-Suhrheinrich Foundation Gallery on Main Street. Children ages 1 – 5 and their caregivers are invited to spend time in the gallery moving, building, creating, reading and imagining, because early learning happens through creative play.

Staff from Building Blocks will be on-hand to share expertise, ideas and insight with caregivers as little ones interact with art supplies, instruments and movement toys. Participants may join in the fun any time between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and each participating child will receive a free board book or picture book to take home. Creative Exploration Days are unstructured, although each session will include a read-aloud at 11:30 a.m. 

Please join us for any or all the sessions:

June 1: Learning through Movement

June 15: Learning through Light

July 13: Learning through a Child’s Eyes

July 27: Learning through Play

Early Childhood Creative Exploration Days are free and open to the public. The Arts Council’s Bower-Surheinrich Foundation Gallery located at 212 Main St. in Downtown Evansville is ADA accessible. 

Early Childhood Creative Exploration Days are supported by a grant from CenterPoint Energy.

For more information, please contact Anne McKim at [email protected].