8 Ideas for Entertaining Out-of-Town Guests at the DAM

Looking for fun things to do with holiday visitors? Bring them to the Denver Art Museum! All of the exhibitions and programs mentioned below are included with general admission except Her Paris: Women Artists in the Age of Impressionism. Tip: Check the calendar to see what’s happening at the museum on the day you visit.

1. Celebrate women artists

Her Paris is making its US debut in Denver. Other than the DAM, this exhibition (showcasing 37 women artists working in Paris in the late nineteenth century) organized by the American Federation of Art, is only scheduled at two other American museums. Admission to Her Paris includes access to everything in the museum.

2. See artwork on view to the public for the first time

From Her Paris to Ganesha: The Playful Protector to Linking Asia: Art, Trade, and Devotion (opens December 17) to the paintings The Virgin of Valvanera and A Mountain Symphony, the DAM has several artworks that have never before been on view in the United States or that haven’t been displayed in decades.

3. Stretch your creative muscles

In the 3-D Studio, you and your guests can get hands-on with art. On the weekends, see demonstrations by local artists. Fun for all ages.

4. Take in a play

During Winter Break, visitors of all ages can enjoy the museum play Art Emergency: Stampede Edition. Included with general admission. This play, written by an award-winning team of educators and actors, gives the story behind several of the artworks in the DAM collection. Details with dates and times.

5. Bring the kids for free

Youth 18 and under enjoy free general admission to the Denver Art Museum. Check out all our family-friendly programs and activities.

6. Explore animals in art

Stampede: Animals in Art highlights the bonds between humans and animals and looks at the ways artists from different cultures have portrayed animals. This exhibition features more than 300 objects from the DAM’s vast and varied collection. See African, American Indian, Asian, European, modern and contemporary, pre-Columbian, Spanish Colonial, textile, and western American art, as well as photography and design.

7. Escape the holiday frenzy

The museum is a great place to step away from the hustle and bustle of the holidays and slow down. Friday nights the DAM is open until 8 pm, and the museum tends to be quieter. On December 8, join us for an hour of meditation. On December 19, join us for Mindful Looking, a program that invites you to spend time enjoying one piece of art.

8. Snap a Selfie or an Ussie

Photography for personal use is allowed throughout most places in the museum. You will see a no-photography sign on an object label if photography is not permitted. Please remember to turn off your flash and be aware of other visitors around you. Share your photographs online with the hash tag #DenverArtMuseum.