BY CLARA A RODRIGUES | NT NETWORK
Not many would consider a visit to a museum the ideal place to take a child - a place where they can engage in some intellectual musings. In the bargain, the child develops a passive distaste for museums and loses out on a whole lot of knowledge.

To inculcate, in children, a desire to know more about the numerous artefacts on display at the museum, the Museum of Christian Art, Old Goa are holding a creative printing activity for children as part of their Museum Day celebrations. 
Museum Day, which falls on May 18, is a day full of activity and so we have decided to spread out different activities across the month informs Ms Natasha Fernandes, the curator of the Museum of Christian Art.  She says, “On May 4 and 5, we will have a printing activity for children in the age group of 6 to 12. The children will print blocks of motifs like animals and plants. They will be in a better position to identify explicitly the little lamb in a piece of art. Children in this age group grasp concepts in this way much better.”
The activities chalked out during this time of the year at the museum are more for the children to familiarise themselves with artefacts they see on display at the museum.  Ms Fernandes adds that they connect these activities so that children can relate to the objects they see in the museum and understand art better. “This time we want to lay special emphasis on the significance of symbols in art,” she informs.
The museum has also planned a string of activities to celebrate Museum Day. The Museum has made sure that the activities target children. Ms Fernandes points out, “We wish to target children as you do not see many children visiting museums, and we want this place to be a fun place for them.” 
They wish to explain things to people, especially children, in a simple way lest Christian art or museum art becomes too heavy for their comprehension. This is undoubtedly an earnest endeavour, and an opportunity one should not miss out on.
Art should be understood in the context of its times and hence a proper understanding of art in these will contribute to its greater appreciation.
(The creative printing activity for children (6-12 years) will be held on May 4 and 5 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. For reservations and details contact Natasha on 9890031a510 or email museumofchristianart@rediffmail.com)