14 Sep 2023

Art Crawl for infants exploses Denver babies to the arts

It’s never too early to expose children to the arts and that’s exactly what the Clyfford Still Museum hopes to do with the new funding it received for its Art Crawl for infants.

The Clyfford Still Museum (CSM) received a three-year Museums for America award totaling $209,235 from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). This grant will support the Museum’s partnerships with community-based organizations to expand access to Art Crawl, a program for infants (newborns through 14 months) and their caregivers.

What is the Art Crawl for infants?

The Art Crawl expansion will include programming in community-based early learning centers that reach audiences traditionally excluded from arts-based education experiences. Project activities include audience evaluation to learn from the community, improve quality, provide professional development for teachers, ensure inclusive and culturally responsive programs, and update the learning environment to create a sense of belonging and well-being.

The expansion project will remove barriers to participation and help the community see the Museum as a resource for infants and families. It will result in welcoming art-based early childhood programming that provides opportunities for caregivers to impact their baby’s learning by increasing language, literacy, and cognitive skills.

A front-facing carrier is recommended, but not required, for this program. Art Crawl is included with Museum admission and is free for CSM members. Children 17 and under are always free. Registration is required and space is limited.

Upcoming 2023 Art Crawls (and themes):

September 24 – Building Blocks
September 27 – Building Blocks
September 30 – Building Blocks
October 22 – Fall Colors
October 25 – Fall Colors
October 28 – Fall Colors
November 19 – Little Landscapes
November 22 – Little Landscapes
November 25 – Little Landscapes
December 27 – Ice, Ice, Baby
December 30 – Ice, Ice, Baby

“We are thrilled to receive this funding to expand access to Art Crawl over the next three years,” said Nicole Cromartie, CSM director of learning and engagement. “Since we launched Art Crawl in March 2022, we’ve reached capacity at almost every session, but many barriers still exist for caregivers and infants to participate. Our community including infant teachers, and staff from museums, libraries, and other community centers across the Front Range have expressed interest in hosting Art Crawl in their centers.”

CSM launched Art Crawl in response to needs expressed by young families and early learning educators in the community. The Museum hosts two to three monthly sessions with different themes and activities.