Games in the Gallery
6 games to play with kids when visiting BNG
Voted Best Art Gallery for Kids two years in a row, the Bermuda National Gallery is the perfect place to visit with children this spring break! In addition to offering free tours for schools and camps, BNG provides Free Activity Books —available both in the Gallery and online. For the two weeks of spring break, we’re also setting up colouring stations to keep young visitors engaged. If it’s your first time visiting the Gallery, check out our tips on explaining the rules of the Gallery to kids.
For our frequent flyers—kids who have already completed all six Activity Books but are still eager for more—here are some fun games to play in the Gallery that encourage creativity, observation, and critical thinking!
1. Speed Seeing
Younger visitors often want to explore everything at once—so lean into that energy! Challenge them to spend five seconds looking at each artwork in an exhibition. This lets them get a quick overview before circling back to their favorites.
Once they’re done, test their memory by asking:
- Can they describe the first piece they saw?
- What about an artwork from a different floor?
- Which artworks do you want to spend more time with?
2. Copy Cat
Encourage kids to engage with art using their whole bodies. Find artworks that are fun to imitate—perhaps a photograph of a person in motion or an expressive abstract painting. Can they strike the same pose as a sculpture? Mimic the movement of a wave? Even invent a dance inspired by a piece?
Moving while looking at art helps children connect with it in a new way, making the experience both playful and memorable.
3. List Race
How many words can they use to describe an artwork? This simple game encourages observation and language development. Choose a painting or sculpture and take turns listing adjectives that describe it. The person who comes up with the most words wins!
For an extra challenge, write the words down to sneak in some handwriting practice, or count them up for a quick numeracy activity.
4. Five Senses
Encourage children to think beyond what they can see by imagining an artwork using all their senses. Ask:
- What do you see? What does it remind you of?
- What would it sound like? Does it make noise? Would it talk?
- How would it feel? Is it smooth like glass, or rough like tree bark?
- What does it smell like? The salty sea? Fresh paint? Bubble gum?
- What would it taste like? Sweet, spicy, or something completely unexpected?
There are no wrong answers—encouraging their imagination is the goal!
5. Describe and Sketch
If you have a blank sheet of paper (or ask for one from our friendly volunteers at the desk), try this fun drawing challenge. One person picks an artwork and describes it while the other, facing away, sketches it based only on the description. Then swap roles!
This activity strengthens observation and communication skills while adding an extra layer of creativity to their gallery visit.
6. Mock Juror
Inspired by the Junior Biennial Activity Book, this game helps children understand the curatorial process.
Give them a blank sheet with five or six frames drawn on it. As they walk through the gallery, they can select artworks for their own mini-exhibition. Once they’ve made their choices, ask them to explain:
- What connects these artworks?
- Why did they choose them?
- What will they name their exhibition?
- What about the pieces that weren’t chosen? They’re still good, right?
This encourages kids to think critically about how exhibitions are created while also reinforcing that all art is valuable—whether it’s on display or not.
Art galleries aren’t just for looking—they’re spaces for play, learning, and creativity! With free admission for all of 2025, BNG is the perfect place for families to explore, create, and connect with art in the heart of Hamilton.