Our Favorite Museums Offer Amazing Workshops

03.19.2024

Heading to a museum to visit exhibitions, check. But did you know that your favorite cultural spots offer creative and highly engaging workshops all year round? It's THE best cultural outing to do solo, with friends, or with family! From getting initiated to Greek art at the Louvre, meditating at the Musée d'Orsay, learning sculpture at the Rodin Museum, participating in a tea ceremony at the Musée Guimet, or creating jewelry at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, it's all here…

Musée d’Orsay

Zen Visit: Who would have thought of meditating in a museum? Well, Musée d’Orsay offers families a visit combining yoga and meditation in the hidden rooms of the former train station, surrounded by its greatest impressionist masterpieces. Namasté. Ages 6 to 12 with a maximum of two adults per child. Until June 30th. Starting from €4. Online reservation.
One Hundred Percent Van Gogh: There's no age limit to discovering Van Gogh's colorful works! Young aspiring painters can learn to reproduce the Dutch artist's wheat fields or sunflower bouquets after touring the permanent collections. A must! Ages 6 to 12 until May 15th, €6. Online reservation.
In the Realm of Gods: Monsters, hybrid creatures, and gods, fans of Greek and Roman mythology will be thrilled with this workshop. They can admire the museum's flagship works before delving into painting, pastel, and collage to express what they've seen earlier. Ages 9 to 12, from April 6th to 14th, €4. Online reservation.

Musée du Louvre

Reinterpreting Fragonard: Grab a brush and delve into the touch and modeling techniques of the rococo master to learn to reproduce his whimsical figures, gallant scenes, and libertine genre. Hot! For adults until May 18th. Starting from €9. Online reservation.
Reinterpreting Stained Glass: After studying the composition and colors of medieval stained glass at the Louvre, we draw inspiration from these representations to paint our own Middle Ages drawings… all in front of masterpieces! For adults until May 27th. Starting from €9. Online reservation.
Olympic Vases: Let's get sporty! Well, almost, with this workshop dedicated to kids to introduce them to the representation of sports on Greek vases. On the agenda: making their own antique vase out of paper. Get set, paint! Ages 9 and up, every Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday until May 29th. Starting from €9. Online reservation.

Musée Guimet

First Brushstrokes: To learn all about the strokes of Chinese calligraphy and painting, head to the Musée Guimet! Prepare Chinese ink, handle the brush, discover the properties of paper: you'll learn all about this ancient art. For adults, March 23rd, €35. Online reservation.
Tea Ceremony: No need to travel to Japan to participate in a tea ceremony. Head to the splendid garden of the Hôtel d’Heidelbach to taste one of the most refined aspects of Japanese lifestyle according to the traditions of the Omotesenke school of Japanese tea ceremony. For adults, May 4th, €18. Online reservation.
Koi Carps: In Japan, children are wished to have the strength of a fish! To instill this in them, kids learn to cut, fold, paint, and color paper koi carps and then make them fly. Ages 7 to 12, April 11th, €9. Online reservation.

© Anne-Laure Souil - © Musée Guimet

Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Mini Wonders: Calling all future stylists! Alongside the exhibition dedicated to Iris van Herpen, this workshop offers children the chance to be inspired by the outfits of the Dutch designer to create a paper sculpture. Ages 4 to 10 until April 18th, €12. Online reservation.
Jewelry Madness: The Musée des Arts Décoratifs boasts the largest collection of jewelry in France with pieces dating from antiquity to the present day. Taking inspiration from these masterpieces of goldsmithing, this workshop allows children to create a brooch or pendant full of fantasy. Beads and rhinestones available in abundance! Ages 4 to 10, until August 29th, €12. Online reservation.
A Flower for a Vase: Irises, thistles, umbels, and other flowers inspire the artisans of Art Nouveau. Just like these artists, children can work on assembling a vase with a floral design using crumpled, twisted, and molded tissue paper. Get your scissors ready! Ages 4 to 10, until August 28th, €12. Online reservation.

Musée Rodin

The Rodin Workshop reopens its doors for a third season at the heart of the sublime Musée Rodin. In the run-up to the Olympic Games, the watchwords are: play, create, move! Before or after visiting the museum and its lush garden, head to this large, unprecedented space that invites both young and old (from 3 years old) to discover and understand Auguste Rodin's work through various themes. In the "Hands-on" space, learn to model, pose, and use an artist's tools to create your own sculpture. You can also try life drawing in the "Grab your Pencils" space or simply play, read, and move like a model in this unique place. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Free entry, no reservation required, with an adult holding a museum entrance ticket. Information available online.