10 Great Places to introduce children to art

What do you get when you mix art with the NBA? Answer: Dallas Maverick Tariq Abdul-Wahad,who is now completing his bachelor’s degree in art history from San Jose State University. Through the Tariq Abdul-Wahad Youth Foundation, he takes inner-city kids on tours of leading art museums on his travels across the USA with the Mavs. Here, he shares some family-friendly galleries for a cold winter’s day with USA TODAY’s Shawn Sell.
City with a flair for modern art: The "coolest urban museum in the USA" is in San Jose, the Dallas Mavericks star and art history student says.

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2004-01-22-art-museums_x.htm

(Can we develop a list for Montana and the surrounding region? What are your suggestions?- )

San Jose Convention & Visitors Bureau

San Jose Museum of Art
San Jose, Calif.

"Free and full of amazing modern art (check out the colorful Dale Chihuly chandeliers), this is the coolest urban museum in the USA — an atmosphere not lost on hard-to-impress teens. Kids ArtSunday offers a stimulating range of hands-on art workshops, performance groups, gallery tours and other activities tied to current exhibitions." 408-271-6840; sjmusart.org.

The Legion of Honor
San Francisco

Children will love "the view of the Golden Gate Bridge, Pacific Ocean and all of San Francisco at this beautiful beaux-arts building in Lincoln Park. It’s renowned for Rodin’s The Thinker, as well as a collection spanning 4,000 years of ancient and European decorative arts and paintings." 415-863-3330; thinker.org.

The Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles

"The LACMA is the Met of the West Coast, covering virtually every angle of a classic museum. Collections, from the colorful textile collection to the gorgeous Asian art collection, vary enough to keep little ones’ interest. LACMA also is full of daily activities for families, from films to special tours." 323-857-6000; lacma.org.

Portland Art Museum
Portland, Ore.

In addition to the Jan. 24 opening of Masterpieces of the Rau Collection, From Fra Angelico to Bonnard, there’s the "depth and diversity of the Native American art collection, filled with stunning objects crafted by more than 200 indigenous groups from throughout North America, including prehistoric, historic and contemporary works. This collection alone is worth a family trip to the oldest museum in the Pacific Northwest." 503-226-2811; portlandartmuseum.org.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
New York City

"The benchmark of museums in America, the imposing but accessible Met has something for everyone in the family, including the most extensive and complete permanent collection on the continent, plus daily programs and resources for students and teachers." But don’t rush the kids. Visit several days "and try to see it all, the way it was meant to be seen." 212-535-7710; metmuseum.org.

Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis

"Although IMA is not overwhelming in size, it more than compensates in content and substance. A balanced collection, a great setting and a passionate staff add to the kid-friendly environment. It’s also a special treat for lovers of European Neo-Impressionists." 317-920-2660; ima-art.org.

Denver Art Museum
Denver

"A family museum par excellence housed in a Gio Ponti-designed building that itself is a work of art. Although it is underrated on the American museum scene, Denver boasts the best youth art program in the country. Everything in it is designed to please youngsters and to make art fun and accessible, often with popular exhibits that sell out quickly." 720-865-5000; denverartmuseum.org.

Art Institute of Chicago
Chicago

"The ‘big boy’ of the Midwest, the institute houses a museum, a school, a variety of art programs for kids and more than 300,000 works of art, including a large collection of 19th-century French paintings. Also fascinating is the modern and contemporary wing housing Georges Seurat’s classic painting, Un Dimanche à la grande Jatt." 312-443-3600; http://www.artic.edu.

Dallas Museum of Art
Dallas

"The best museum in the Southwest, it features modern architecture, activities and programs that have transformed the city of Dallas into a place suited for art lovers. Kids will be impressed with the size of the building, plus the special activities and the permanent collection of Western art, from impressionism to contemporary sculpture." 214-922-1200; dm-art.org.

The American Art Museum
Washington, D.C.

"The American Art Museum is one of the many museums that make up the Smithsonian Institution. Although the AAM is under renovation, several exhibits, including some 19-century paintings, have been moved to the smaller Renwick Gallery. Kids especially will want to catch Jewels & Gems, a sparkling jewelry exhibit." 202-357-2700; nmaa.si.edu.