Before heading to an art museum I would suggest reading our article, "Seven Tips for a Successful Visit to an Art Museum with Kids." Going to an art museum is no different than going to a swimming pool for the afternoon; you need to be prepared.
Directions and Parking: The Sheldon is on UNL campus. Parking can be notoriously difficult on any college campus. It is much easier to park in the summer with the students gone. We recently went to the museum and got metered parking next to the museum. Otherwise, you can park in one of the many downtown parking garages and walk over.
Cost: FREE!
Exhibits: Currently, the Sheldon has an exhibit on Willa Cather (a Nebraska native and Pulitzer prize winning author). They temporarily have the gorgeous "Song of the Lark" by Jules Adolphe Breton. This painting is on loan from the Art Institute of Chicago. I would highly recommend going to the Sheldon just to see this painting; it is stunning (my picture of it does it no justice). This was my favorite exhibition at the Sheldon. My older daughter adored "Romance of the Moon", a science fiction-themed exhibit. My younger one really enjoyed looking at the modern art in the museum's main collection. The Sheldon has many nineteenth-century masterpieces including paintings Georgia O’Keeffe, Jackson Pollock, and Andy Warhol.
Outside: The grounds surrounding the Sheldon are filled with sculptures, fountains and green spaces. It is a wonderful area to burn off some energy before and/or after a visit.
Overall: The Sheldon Museum of Art is a fantastic way to introduce kids to art and art museums. You can walk through the entire museum is under an hour. There is a great variety of art for kids to view, talk about and think about. The staff are incredibly friendly and excited to see young visitors in the museum. When we were in the Willa Cather exhibit a staff member came over and started talking to my daughter's about the portraits of Cather. She asked them questions that I would never have thought to ask to get them thinking about the art. I would highly recommend taking advantage of this beautiful museum and introducing your children to the amazing world of art.
The Sheldon offers Family Days throughout the year. Their next Family Day is July 19 from 1:00-4:00 PM.
