Family Fun: Tips for Bringing Kids to the Museum

July 1, 2025

Laura Steefel-Moore, Director of Education and Community Engagement 

The CAT welcomes visitors of all ages, including very young children! Want to engage your little ones at the museum, but not sure where to start? Here are some suggestions to help make the most of your visit:  

Know before you go 

• Food and drink are not allowed in the museum, so please leave all snacks and water bottles in the car. The museum has a water cooler in the lobby for visitor use.  
• Breast and bottle feeding are allowed throughout the museum. If you prefer a private area, our staff will show you where to go. 
• We have changing tables and stepstools in the men’s and women’s bathrooms. If you need a single-user bathroom, just ask staff. 
• If helpful, review our social narrative in advance of your arrival. 
• Don’t worry about short attention spans—if you are only in the gallery for 10 minutes, that’s fine! The museum is free and you can always come back. 

Museum manners 

• Before entering the museum, review expectations with your kids. Ask children to use walking feet, calm bodies, and indoor voices once they go inside.
• If you have toddlers, make sure there is a designated adult in your group who will hold their hand or carry them while you are in the gallery. Ask older kids to use “museum pose”—hands clasped behind their back—while they are near artwork. 
• Explain to your children why we can’t touch anything: not only is the art breakable, but our fingers have oils on them that would leave grimy messes on the artwork…yuck! You can illustrate this point by showing them smudge marks on your phone screen. 
• Consider breaking up the time you spend in the gallery by visiting our new family area, where you can read, sketch, and play together.  Remind your kids that even in the family space, museum rules (no food/drink, walking feet, calm bodies) still apply.

Engage and converse 

Believe it or not, you don’t have to know anything about art to have a meaningful time at the museum with your child! When you are in the gallery, model what it looks like to be curious and have personal opinions. Be ok with not having all the answers.   

Let your child lead. Spend time looking at the artworks they are drawn to. Taking a seat together (on the floor or a bench) in front of an artwork is a great way to calm wiggles and increase focus.

Once you’ve chosen an artwork to focus on, talk about it! General questions you could ask include:

• • What is special about this artwork?
  • What feelings does this artwork give you?
  • Does this one remind you of anyone / any place we know?
  • Would you want to have this artwork in your room?
  • If you could give this artwork any title, what would you want to name it? 

You can also give children prompts as simple as “Show me one that you really like!”  “Now, show me one you really DON’T like.”

More complicated prompts for older children might include:

• Show me an artwork that represents a world you’d like to move into.
• Show me an artwork that represents a hope you have for your future.
• Show me an artwork that you’d want to look at when you’re sad.
• Show me an artwork that reminds you of yourself.

Make it a game!  

Art museums don’t have to be serious and quiet. We welcome the joyful noise of families having fun together in the gallery.   

Here are some playful activities you can try: 

• Color Hoorays. Before you enter the gallery, let each person in your group choose a color that they will root for. Throughout your visit, whenever someone spots their color in an artwork, cheer and give them high-fives.
• I Spy!  What interesting things will you find? As you play, remember to stay at least an arm’s length away from the artwork. This means that rather than pointing at small details, you’ll need to practice using descriptive language to verbally indicate what you’re looking at.
• Voting. Let kids know it’s ok to not like everything – in fact, having preferences is encouraged! At each artwork that you discuss together, have everyone vote thumbs up / thumbs middle / thumbs down.  Discuss why you voted as you did.
• Strike a Pose. Try mimicking the artwork with your bodies. What shapes or poses do you see in the artwork? How can you work together as a group to re-create those forms?
• Soundscape. Look carefully at all the details in an artwork and imagine what each element might sound like. Get creative! Assign each person in your group a specific sound, then, on the count of three, make your sounds at the same time to bring the artwork to life. 

Creative art making 

Capitalize on the wonder your kids felt at the museum by encouraging them to create something inspired by what they saw.  This can take the form of sketching while you are in the museum (we have pencils and paper available), or doing something a bit more messy back at home.    

While they are working on their projects: 

• Resist the urge to control or dictate how your child is creating. Be ok with messes and imperfections and remind yourself that the process is much more important than the final product.
• When your child shows you their finished work, asking them “what is it?” can be frustrating if they were trying to depict something specific and you can’t decipher it. Instead, engage with them as they create, asking them to reflect on the process along the way.
  • Try questions like “tell me about your plan for this project” as they begin, “what choices are you making?” as they work, and “what was your biggest challenge in creating this?” when they finish.
  • Even a simple “Tell me about your artwork!” can go a long way in encouraging them to articulate their thinking.
• When presented with toddler or preschool artwork that may appear to be just a bunch of scribbles, don’t default to platitudes such as “I like it!” or “it’s beautiful!”  Instead, offer your own interpretations based on what you notice. Use exciting describing words to elevate their work. This will help build both their vocabulary and their self-esteem!
  • For example, “I’m noticing how powerful / quiet / shy / bold / angry / joyful your lines are,” “You created some interesting contrasts here,” “I like your energetic marks on the paper,” or “I see colors that are swooping / curling / zigzagging / flowing / swimming.”
• Tie it back to what you saw at the museum, making connections between their project and the artwork you discussed together. 

Want more family fun at the museum? 

Drop by any Saturday from 10:00am–4:30pm, and be sure to check out our new family space! If you’d like to participate in a facilitated experience, sign up for one of our upcoming family programs: Story Time at the CAT, Preschool Pals, or our Family Festival. Click here to learn more!  

Robert Indiana: A Love Story 

June 1, 2025

Jill Ahlberg Yohe, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art

Robert Indiana’s Love sculptures are one of the most recognizable and beloved works of contemporary art. Starting in June, one will be on permanent display in the outdoor sculpture space at the Cafesjian Art Trust Museum. The monumental sculpture and its base stands 8 feet tall and 6 feet wide, perfect for you and your and your bestie to take a selfie and share the love.

Iconic Love sculptures can be found all over the world, from Singapore to Scottsdale and now in Shoreview, Minnesota. Robert Indiana created several series of these sculptures from 1966–2002 in several sizes and colors. What is special about the CAT’s Love sculpture? It happens to be the only one in this color combination currently on view for the public; all others are in private hands. Only twelve Love sculptures in warm gold and ultramarine blue were ever produced, and now you can experience one for yourself.

Cheers to Our Inaugural CAT Teen Council! 

May 1, 2025

On May 3, we celebrate the opening of a very special exhibition in our Focus Gallery. Spiral: A CAT Teen Council Exhibition was curated by the 2024-25 Teen Council and offers their unique perspectives on the museum’s collection. The teens chose an eclectic mix of ten objects, ranging from a giant glass dog to an unopened perfume bottle to a 12-hour-long video. They then wove together the objects using creative storytelling. 

The exhibition, on view through June 28, is the culmination of this year’s inaugural Teen Council program. Beginning in October 2024, six local high schoolers met once a month throughout the school year to learn about the CAT and what it’s like to work in an art museum. They met with museum staff, got behind-the-scenes tours, produced their own public program, and had the opportunity to connect with other like-minded teenagers both near and far.

Click below to see some of the highlights from the year!

Gerard Cafesjian 100th Birthday

April 1, 2025

This April marks what would have been the 100th birthday of Gerard L. Cafesjian (1925-2013), the art lover and Twin Cities businessman whose collection forms the foundation of the CAT Museum.

Mr. Cafesjian was born on April 26, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York, to Armenian immigrant parents.

From an early age, Mr. Cafesjian loved art and sought opportunities to surround himself with it. Although his family did not have much money, Mr. Cafesjian took advantage of free museums in New York City, including the world-class Metropolitan Museum of Art. This deep appreciation for human creativity and unique art forms would stay with him throughout his life.

During World War II, Mr. Cafesjian served in the United States Navy on the USS Oceanographer and the USS AndresDuring the war, he met nurse Cleo Thomas, and after the war they married. Mr. Cafesjian went on to earn an undergraduate degree in economics before attending law school at Hunter College. He began work as a legal editor for West Publishing while still living in New York City. The company then transferred him to Minnesota, where they had their headquarters, thus establishing Cafesjian family roots in the St. Paul area. Mr. Cafesjian eventually became West Publishing’s executive vice president in charge of sales, marketing, and public relations. He retired in 1996.

Meet the Curators

March 1, 2025

The CAT Museum is thrilled to have a dynamic new curatorial team at the helm: Dr. Jill Ahlberg Yohe, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, and Linnea Seidling, Assistant Curator of Glass. Ahlberg Yohe joined the staff in December 2024, and Seidling was recently promoted from her former position as the Museum’s Director of Communication and Events.

Ahlberg Yohe has more than a decade of experience producing innovative exhibitions, scholarship, and programming as an independent consultant and museum curator. She earned her PhD from the University of New Mexico and served for many years at the Minneapolis Institute of Art as the associate curator of Native American Art, during which time she organized notable exhibitions including “Hearts of our People” and “In Our Hands.” In addition to her extensive knowledge of contemporary artists, Indigenous cultures, and the Twin Cities arts scene, Ahlberg Yohe embodies a commitment to meaningful community engagement.

Ahlberg Yohe works closely with Seidling, who has an extensive background in decorative arts and glass history. Seidling holds an MA in the History of Decorative Art, Design, and Material Culture from the Bard Graduate Center in New York City and has worked in curatorial positions at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the Corning Museum of Glass.

We sat them down for a discussion about the role of a curator in a 21st-century art museum, their vision for the future of the CAT, and their opinion about the age-old debate: cats versus dogs.

A Love Letter to the CAT’s Collection 

February 1, 2025

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, this month the staff of the Cafesjian Art Trust Museum are sharing what work in the Museum’s collection they love the most. With a collection of over 4,000 works, it was a challenge pick just one! See below what they selected.

Laura Steefel-Moore, Director of Education and Community Engagement:

I’m loving Ronald Merchant’s Red Light, Red Wing. It’s a really pleasant slice of life depicting a warm Minnesota day. The figures in it look unassuming and relatable, so I like imagining myself standing near them, soaking up the bright sunlight.

A 2024 To Remember!

January 1, 2025

2024 was a year of incredible growth and community-building for the CAT Museum. Our team expanded to include a Director of Education and Community Engagement, and we created a brand-new curatorial department, consisting of a Head Curator and an Assistant Curator of Glass. We continued to rely on our volunteers to lead tours and facilitate meaningful experiences for our guests. More than 20 wonderful volunteers gave over 700 hours to the museum last year, bringing the collection to life in a multitude of ways. Click below to access the 2024 Annual Report!

Drop-In Events, Winter Coat Drive, and More at the CAT

December 1, 2024

The holiday season is a time for gathering with those you love and sharing with those in need. This December, the CAT Museum is doing just that! In addition to our regular guided tours by reservation only, guests will have two opportunities this month to visit the museum reservation-free. We are also hosting a winter coat drive all month long, and we’ll need your help to make sure kids in our community can stay safe and warm.

Drop-In Events in December

On Friday, December 6th from 5:30 pm–7:30 pm, the CAT will be open for the perfect cozy night out. See our current exhibition, From Origins to Horizons: The American Studio Glass Movement, and head next door to Churchill Street to purchase a Glass Menagerie, a specialty cocktail inspired by the CAT Museum. This gin martini is flavored with house-made clarified tomato and features a cherry tomato and olive oil garnish. It is a perfect farewell to the warmer weather as we move into winter.

The CAT Museum will also be open to drop-in guests all day on Saturday, December 21st from 10:00 am–4:30 pm. Bring your guests in town for the holidays to see From Origins to Horizons on the last day before it closes.

Winter Coat Drive

The CAT Museum will be collecting youth winter gear all December long on behalf of Project for Pride in Living, a local non-profit that provides affordable housing and career readiness services. When you make your visit to the CAT, bring along coats, snowpants, winter boots, or mittens for children of all ages. New or in-great-condition (no pet hair, stains, or damage) donations only, please.

The CAT Museum is a proud partner of Project for Pride in Living’s LEAP program serving young adults.

Preview of Changes to Come

The drop-in days in December are just a preview of exciting things to come to the CAT in January. Our exhibitions will soon be easier for families, students, and those who work during the week to visit. When our next exhibition Echoes of Life: Paintings from the Collection opens January 24, visitors will be able to drop in every Saturday without making a reservation! Thursdays and Fridays will be business as usual for the CAT, with tours by reservation only at 10 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. But on Saturdays, you can drop by any time between 10:00 am–4:30 pm. Come when you like, stay as long as you like, and return as often as you like!

The team at the CAT wishes everyone a happy holiday season, and we hope that you include us in your plans this month!

Painting with Gratitude: Joshua Cunningham Revisits a Painting at the CAT Museum

It is a special moment when an artist can see their work on display at a museum. Painter Joshua Cunningham (American, born 1974) recently visited the Cafesjian Art Trust Museum to see his painting, Along the Line, on display in the new Focus Gallery exhibition, Vantage Points: Landscape Paintings from the Collection, open through December 21, 2024. The CAT Museum’s Director of Collections, Ashley Walker, interviewed Cunningham during his visit to learn more about his artistic process, and the painting in the Museum’s collection. Below are excerpts from this conversation that discusses Cunningham’s influences, process, and when he sold this painting to Gerard Cafesjian.

On how he began painting trains:

But [this painting] stood out because…it was a high watermark for me at that time in my life as a painter. To take an idea through several iterations and really continue to flush it out. It’s also a place where my mentor painted…Joe Paquette also painted down and around [Child’s Road in Saint Paul]. He had a real heart for industrial stuff…His dad was a foreman in industrial New Jersey…He taught a workshop in New York….And we’re in this apartment in Soho—someone is hosting us for dinner—and he’s looking out across the Hudson, and he’s like, “That’s where my dad [used to work.} I used to go on Saturdays with my dad to the job sites,” and he starts telling the stories, and this big light goes on in my head: Oh my goodness, he’s not painting industrial stuff to be edgy and cool, that’s actually a part of his childhood. So for me, that opened up parts of my painting life. It opened up a door.

I was such an impressionable student that whatever my mentors were doing, [I was doing]. This is over the top expression—but in the Jewish tradition, when you have a rabbi, you’re doing everything the rabbi does. It’s not just learning what he’s reading. It’s, how is he talking to other people? And so, when I went into my art trainings…I’m trying to learn everything they’re doing because you don’t know which part of it is painting. And then in time…they’re a part of your story. And so then his love of industrial stuff, like for me, the trains….it’s a way of thinking about him, and how grateful I am for what he brought me into. But also, as a kid, my grandpa had a model railroad in his basement that me and my twenty-five other first cousins would get to play with.

Spooky Selections from the CAT Collection

Digging through the CAT Museum’s collection of over 4,000 artworks can sometimes get a little spooky. Our Director of Collections, Ashley Walker, put together a list of the scariest objects she has come across so far. They are listed below from least to most frightening. Only the bravest readers will make it to the end!

1 out of 10 Scaries:

This person In Disguise is both endearing and a little creepy.

Janusz Walentynowicz (American, born Poland, 1956). In Disguise, 1993. Cast glass and steel. 37 3/8 × 10 1/2 × 8 1/2 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2023.187.1.

2 out of 10 Scaries:

A night spent in this Spirit House would result in a few ghost encounters.

José Chardiet (American, born Cuba, 1956). Spirit House, 1987. Cased, hot-worked, and sandblasted glass. 7 1/4 × 3 1/8 × 3 1/8 in. Cafesjian Art Trust 2023.177.2.

From Origins to Horizons Extended!

The CAT Museum is delighted to announce that our current exhibition, From Origins to Horizons: The American Studio Glass Movement, originally set to close in October, will now be open through December 2024. “The exhibition has been so popular with visitors that we want to give more people the opportunity to enjoy it, as well as welcome back some of our biggest fans,” explains President and CEO Kathie Baradaran. So far, the CAT has provided public tours of this exhibition to 2,100 guests and counting.

Crowd Favorites

Although each work in the exhibition is outstanding in its own way, there are a handful of works that have become visitor favorites. Mark Peiser’s Moon and Landscape and Amber Cowan’s Willie the Mouse with Tractor and Train have without a doubt risen to the top with the CAT’s guests.  

Check out a YouTube video highlighting Moon and Landscape.

Check out a YouTube video highlighting Willie the Mouse with Tractor and Train.

Art from the Great Minnesota Get-Together

For most Minnesotans, the State Fair brings to mind fried food on a stick, baby farm animals, carnival games, and live performances. For Gerard Cafesjian, however, the State Fair was a chance to buy artwork from Minnesota artists. As we gear up for the “Great Minnesota Get-Together” at the end of the month, we wanted to shine a light on Gerard’s love of collecting art at the State Fair.

Gerard’s daughter Kathie, the museum’s CEO and founder, remembers that her father got to know many of the artists who exhibited at the State Fair. It was always important to him to encourage and support local artists, and he did so with gusto! He became such a prolific buyer that he was invited to visit the Fine Arts Exhibition a day early, before it opened to the public. This became an important annual day on his calendar, one he would rearrange his schedule to accommodate. He continued collecting art at the Fair up until 2013, the year he died.

After Gerard’s death, his art collection became a part of the Cafesjian Art Trust. Kathie opened the Museum in 2022 to share the vast and eclectic collection with the public. Although perhaps best known for its holdings in glass art, the Museum’s collection today includes fifty artworks purchased at the State Fair.

Q&A with the Curator: American Studio Glass at the CAT Museum

Two new exhibitions now open at the Cafesjian Art Trust Museum tell the story of American studio glass from its beginnings through today. From Origins to Horizons: The American Studio Glass Movement begins in the mid-1960s when ceramics professor Harvey Littleton hosted a series of workshops to experiment with blowing glass in a small, artist studio setting. The exhibition concludes with work created in the past five years from internationally known glass artists. Midwest Voices in Contemporary Glass, on display in the adjacent Focus Gallery, shows museum guests what artists in our very own region are creating today. In the interview below, Andy Schlauch, the CAT’s executive director and curator of the exhibitions, gives further insight into these exciting projects. From Origins to Horizons: The American Studio Glass Movement, and Midwest Voices in Contemporary Glass are on display at the CAT Museum through October 5^th, 2024.

Q: Why did you want to organize an exhibition about the American Studio Glass Movement?

Andy Schlauch (AS): Since we have such a remarkable and deep collection of glass art, I wanted to develop an exhibition that provides a context for this uniquely American movement. There are so many great artists working in glass, and I hope our guests are intrigued to learn about it.

To learn more and book your visit to the exhibitions, visit us online HERE.

For more on School Programs at the CAT Museum, visit us online HERE.