The Learning Channel

National Film Archive of Japan – Silent Film Screening at the Kids’ Cinema

“Kid’s Cinema” is a program organized by the National Film Archive of Japan for children of junior high school age and younger during the summer holidays.​

This video introduces the unique characteristics and appeal of silent films, focusing mainly on the 2023 program. As you watch, also enjoy listening to the children’s cheers as they enjoy the silent films.​

The National Art Center, Tokyo – Kids’ Exploration Tour 2023: Let’s Discover the Secrets of the​ NACT!

The National Art Center, Tokyo (NACT) has organized tour programs focusing on the NACT’s architecture. This video introduces a tour held in autumn 2023 for elementary school students.​

During the tour, participants explore behind-the-scenes areas of the NACT, such as the space beneath the exhibition floors and the elevators used to transport artworks. The “Building Experts,” who guide the children through the hidden aspects of the architecture, are professionals from NIHON SEKKEI, Inc., which co-designed the NACT with KISHO KUROKAWA architect & associates and is now a supporting company of the NACT.

The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo – Family Programs ‟Doyo Bijutsu (Saturday Art Workshops)”

Family Programs ‟Doyo Bijutsu”is a program where children and adults enjoy paintings and sculptures in the permanent collection together. This video introduces one of the sessions held in 2023.

The program consists of three steps: “Looking,” in which participants encounter artworks in the galleries and notice new details; “Creating,” in which they make artworks inspired by the colors they discovered; and “Sharing,” in which everyone reflects on and shares their experiences. Notice how participants view the artworks using the special “palette” prepared by the museum for this program.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo – Parent-Child Talks

“Make your museum debut with your family.”

This program at the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo invites children aged 4–6 and their parents or guardians to participate together. This video introduces one of the sessions held in 2023.

While valuing communication between the parents, or guardians, and children, participants enjoy encountering artworks through activities guided by MOMAT volunteer staffs. These include finding colors and shapes in the artworks, connecting words with what they see, and expressing their impressions through movement.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka – Art Tour with picture books for pre-school children and families​

This program by The National Museum of Art, Osaka targets small children, including infants, and their families. After becoming familiar with picture books, the children make their first foray into a museum to take a closer look at the artworks! ​

The National Art Center, Tokyo – NACT YOUTH 2022: SHINBI-JUKU!​

With the artist Shitamichi Motoyuki acting as the head of the “art museum school,” called Shinbi Juku, NACT gives 13 teen-aged students an opportunity to experience the joy of artistic expression through a variety of events. The program was held over a six-month period beginning in June 2022.

The National Museum of Art, Osaka – Miru+ (Plus): What Do You Want to Know? What Do You Want to Feel? Let’s Create Tactile Viewing Tools for the NMAO

This program series began with a workshop held in September 2023 at the National Museum of Art, Osaka, where participants work together to develop tools that support art appreciation.

With artist Mie Miyamoto as workshop facilitator and supervisor, and technical support from Tomohisa Goko, senior lecturer at Tokyo University of Technology, participants who are blind, have low vision, as well as sighted participants walk through the museum building and explore prototype models of the National Museum of Art, Osaka. Through these activities, they share ideas and collaboratively consider tactile tools that allow the museum building to be experienced by touch. The video shows how participants work together to develop tools for exploring the museum through touch.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto – Introduction to MoMAK inclusive program "Opening the Senses- project to promote Innovative Art Appreciation Programs"​

This video introduces the program in which people with visual impairments and both sighted people engage in dialogues as they touch and use various senses to savor the artworks. The workshop participants with visual impairments explain the attraction of these activities.​

The National Museum of Art, Osaka – Art Tour with picture books for pre-school children and families ~collaboration with Comekko~​

This program by The National Museum of Art, Osaka is designed to help children with hearing loss or impairments and their families enjoy the museum. After a deaf staff member reads a picture book, participants accompany them to look at the actual work and discuss it in sign language. ​

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo – Collection Guide

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo has offered the “Collection Guide”program since 2003.

Unlike one-way lectures, this program encourages communication. Participants explore several works from the collection through conversation and shared observation. The program is free, requires no advance reservation, and is held daily when the museum is open.

The guides featured in the video are MOMAT Guide Staff, volunteer staffs at the museum. Watch how participants freely share their ideas while looking at artworks together.

National Crafts Museum - Create It Together: All Hands Catalog

“Share the charm of craft works that only you discovered.”

At the National Crafts Museum in Kanazawa, Ishikawa, children are given “encyclopedia cards,” especially during the summer holidays, where they can freely write and draw what they notice while closely observing the works on display.

This video introduces a variety of these cards, in which children richly express the features of the works—often details that might otherwise go unnoticed—through sketches and short texts.

As you view the video of the works, just as you would encounter them in the gallery, pay attention to the highlights of the pieces that the children have discovered and shared.

The National Film Archive of Japan – How to enjoy the permanent exhibition with NFAJ Self-Guide​

The curator introduces the inside of a film camera and how it works, using cameras on display in the exhibition room. This video also shows a self-guide tool for children (junior-high age and younger) to enjoy the permanent exhibition.​

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo –“MOMAT Collection Self-Guide Petit” and “FIND & BINGO!” (for families)​

This video introduces the tools that can be used with small children to enjoy art. A little girl is having fun with her parents all over the museum with these tools in hand.

The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo – MOMAT Collection Self-Guide for Kids​

This video introduces the tool to enhance the pleasure of looking at art. You can see how the kids enjoy themselves as they carefully examine the works on their own, while using the self-guides.