By Jack Arnhold, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Throughout October, the ‘Museu de Arte do Rio’ (Rio’s Museum of Art), or MAR, has been transforming itself into a ‘lugar de criança’ (place for children) every weekend. This Saturday, October 20th, and Sunday, October 21st are almost the last chances to visit this special month-long event.
On Saturday there will be three events going on at the museum. For the littlest ones, there is ‘Laboratório de Criação – Bebês no MAR’ (Creation Laboratory – Babies in the MAR).
This is a special session of activities for children up to two years of age, and will be taking place at 10:30 AM and again at 11:30 AM, with twenty spaces available for each session. Expect a playful environment of sensory stimulation for infants and parents alike.
From 10AM to 1PM the ‘MARaberto’ (Open-MAR) fair will be taking place. This is a market for the exchange of children’s clothing and items, set up in partnership with the institution ‘Providenciando a favor da vida’ (Providing for life) and other exchange networks.
The organizers state, “Babies and children grow up very fast, and the trade fair is a place to share and reuse clothes that no longer fit.” They continue, “In addition to helping those who need it, the fair also enables the exchange of ideas and experiences between families.”
Also on Saturday, running from 10AM to 5PM, is ‘TransBorda,’ created by Studio Chão. This is an installation that allows children to move their bodies and explore on both their feet and hands, with slides, trampolines and climbing frames. This installation is open to the public and is suitable for children over six years of age or 1.20 meters in height.
For families with deaf children, Sunday has a special tour running from 2PM to 3PM. ‘Conheça o MAR em Libras para crianças e famílias’ (Experience MAR in sign-language for children and families) will take an hour-long panoramic tour of the museum, as well as teaching visitors a little about the history of the port region and ‘Pequena África’ (Little Africa – an area of the city near the museum that was inhabited by freed slaves).
On the final day of this month-long program, Saturday, October 27th, there will be another chance to experience ‘TransBorda,’ as well as the ‘Laboratório de criação primeira infância’ (Creative laboratory for early childhood). This workshop, running from 2PM to 5PM, is for children aged three to five years of age. The organizers state, “We invite the children to a sensorial dive, crossing colors, textures and shapes in experimentation stations planned for infants.”
The ‘laboratory’ will take place in two hour-long session and have spaces for twenty children per session. These weekend events are the perfect way to visit a brilliant cultural attraction that is also child-friendly.
What: MAR é lugar de criança
When: Saturday, October 20th, Sunday, October 21st, and Saturday, October 27th; event times vary
Where: Museu de Arte do Rio – Praça Mauá, s/n – Centro.
Entrance: FREE