On August 1, the Arlington Museum of Art will offer an opportunity to families seeking a sensory-safe environment for viewing Disney Art from Private Collections.
Mellow Monday is designed for families of children, teenagers, and adults who are neurodiverse, autistic, or have other sensory processing disorders or cognitive disabilities.
“We hope that by offering this new exhibition viewing option, everyone regardless of races, class or cognitive ability can experience the joy and inspiration sparked by fine art,” said Lily Williams, AMA Director of Education.
From 1:00-5:00pm on Mellow Monday, guests can view the AMA’s current exhibition in dim lighting, with no music or pre-recorded sound, and with no illuminated digital screens. The museum is ordinarily closed to the public on Mondays, allowing families who attend Mellow Monday to view Disney Art from Private Collections in a low stimulation environment.
“One of my favorite things about working at an art museum is seeing how impactful fine art can be for children,” said Lily. “Watching that initial spark of excitement on their little faces as they wander into our exhibit never gets old for me. One of my main goals as Director of Education is to make sure that our programming reaches diverse audiences. After attending a training session in early 2020 about creating programming for children with special needs, I knew I wanted to incorporate more options for families with neurodiverse children. Due to COVID procedures and limited staffing, getting this program off the ground has taken time, but I am so excited that the AMA is now able to offer Mellow Monday.”
Get Your Mellow Monday Tickets Now
Tickets must be pre-purchased through this link, and are valid for the selected date and time only:
Click here to purchase tickets.
About Disney Art from Private Collections
Disney Art from Private Collections showcases the work of three of Disney’s most talented animators: Andreas Deja, Frank Thomas, and Ollie Johnston. From the personal collection of Deja himself, more than 250 historic pieces of animation sketches, character studies, and concept drawings highlight the animation process and the creation of your favorite Disney characters and films, including Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, The Little Mermaid, The Princess and the Frog, The Lion King, Alice in Wonderland, and many more.
Our Commitment to DEIA
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Access (DEIA) is woven into our mission at the Arlington Museum of Art. Our commitment is to be an organization where everyone feels respected, a place where all people can experience art without barriers, a community that affirms human diversity in its many forms, and a leader that models a culture of inclusion.
I love that the museum is doing this. I feel such pride knowing the AMA is pioneering this non-sensory, not threatening side of art. Art is healing, it keeps us human.