Mother–Child Art Education Program

MOTHER–CHILD ART EDUCATION PROGRAM Istanbul Modern / Education Program

Since its founding, Istanbul Modern has run free art education programs to build strong connections between modern and contemporary art and audiences. The Mother–Child Art Education Program is one of the museum’s social responsibility initiatives. It is designed for children aged 4–6 and their mothers, with the goal of strengthening equal opportunity in art education.

In 2025, supported by the Prof. Dr. Münir Ekonomi Education Fund, the program expanded its scope and continued operations, with a focus on reaching mothers and children with limited financial means.

The program combines fieldwork in ten districts of Istanbul such as Arnavutköy, Bağcılar, and Esenyurt – with on-site workshops at Istanbul Modern. It is available to children aged 4–6 and their mothers from socially disadvantaged neighborhoods, including those located far from the city center. Each year, Istanbul Modern aims to offer over 30 special public events and provide free art education to more than 300 families.

Education Program Components

Field Work

These are workshops carried out in cooperation with partner institutions such as NGOs and local governments. Children and mothers are introduced to the concept of the “museum.” Activities such as “identification” and “classification” are organized to build familiarity with art practices.

Museum Workshops

Following the field work, participants are invited to Istanbul Modern. The program begins with a tour of the museum’s collection exhibition, introducing them to works of art. Then in the museum workshop, mothers and children jointly engage in making their own art.

The program is held in Turkish.