PHOENIX, ARIZONA.- Phoenix Art Museum’s youngest visitors will now have two new spaces to call their own – one real and one virtual. On Saturday, July 22, the Museum will open PhxArtKids on the second floor in what was the Orme Lewis Gallery. The former interactive ArtWorks Gallery was closed during construction to make way for The Museum Store, which has been newly expanded. Now, PhxArtKids is the next generation and is a renewed interactive “home” for children and their families to begin exploring and enjoying the Museum. In cyberspace, the Museum has launched Phxartkids.org, a place for kids to discover that looking at art is fun! Together, these ventures mark the Museum’s commitment to engage children with art.

On opening day, Saturday, July 22, families can enjoy lots of fun and activities. The day also is a Family Fun Day, with specific activities taking place from 12 Noon to 2pm to introduce PhxArtKids to your family, including the chance to create a portrait for submission to PhxArtKids.org. Family Fun Day is included with the Museum’s general admission.

At the Museum, PhxArtKids is a starting point where families can begin a memorable and enjoyable Museum adventure. Make up a story to go with a miniature painting from India. Play Shoe Clue as you behold fun and funky pieces from the Fashion Design collection. Guess “what’s behind door number 5” in a painting by Philip Curtis. Through playful design and innovative presentation, PhxArtKids sparks imagination, observation and interpretation.

Online at PhxArtKids.org, children can continue the experience with fun interactive projects that combine visual and verbal literacy with an introduction to the Museum and its works of art. Once your child has toured the Museum online, he or she will be proud to be your guide the next time you visit Phoenix Art Museum!

For more information about Phoenix Art Museum, visit the Web site at www.phxart.org or call the 24-hour recorded information line at (602) 257-1222.