(Washington) - The National Gallery of Art is introducing Adventures in Art, a new family audio tour especially for young visitors ages five and up. Using exciting dramatization, interactive games, music, and poetry, the new audio program, written and produced by Acoustiguide, helps children explore the Gallery's Dutch and Flemish collection.
Young narrators and a resident expArt (art expert) interact with characters in the paintings and explain symbolism, provide historical information, and help children study scenes found in these world-famous works of art. The audio program covers twenty-one paintings, including Johannes Vermeer's A Lady Writing (c. 1665) and Rembrandt van Rijn's Self-Portrait (1659).
"The new family audio tour of Dutch and Flemish paintings is another opportunity for young people to examine the nation's art," said Earl A. Powell III, director, National Gallery of Art. "With this audio tour and our children's Web site, NGAkids, the Gallery continues to explore ways to capture the imagination of the younger generation and introduce them to the principles of art history."
Since Thanksgiving Day 2000, when the family audio tour debuted,
Sir Peter Paul Rubens' Daniel in the Lions' Den (c. 1613/1615) has emerged as a favorite of many young visitors. The audio program covers the biblical story of Daniel's life-threatening encounter with lions and gives interesting background information about the artist.
The audio program is offered on Acoustiguide's state-of-the-art MP3 digital players and is available for rental in the West Building Rotunda for $3.
For an additional $2 adults may rent headphones to follow along.
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden, located on the National Mall between Third and Ninth Streets at Constitution Avenue, NW, are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free. For general information, call (202) 737-4215; call the Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TDD) at (202) 842-6176; or visit the Gallery's Web site at www.nga.gov. To receive the Gallery's free bimonthly Calendar of Events, call (202) 842-6662.
More than 40 years ago, Acoustiguide invented the audio tour, and the company has remained at the leading edge of creativity and technology ever since. Acoustiguide provides audio programs for museums, heritage and historic sites, tourism attractions, zoos, aquariums and corporate clients in 22 countries around the world. Acoustiguide offers complete creative and production services, the most advanced audio technology and comprehensive on-site management.
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