Children's Saturday

Come and spend a nice day at the Ateneum with the children! There are lots of fun things going on throughout the museum that are included in the price of admission. Children under the age of 18 are guests of honour, who always have free admission to the museum.

Children’s own fun day of events

The theme of the Ateneum’s Children’s Saturday in autumn 2026 is “Party all day!”. The museum is full of opportunities for children to explore art independently or with a guide, and to create art themselves. The festive programme will continue with theatre performances in the Ateneum Hall. On Children’s Saturday, there is no ceiling and no threshold! All children and their adults are welcome.

The new Children’s Ateneum brochure inspires children to explore the museum and its works in a fun and playful way!

Read more on how to plan a pleasant visit

Read more about visiting with children

Programme
10:00-17:00 The exhibition A Question of Time, second floor

Lempparit – Children’s Saturday’s gentle exercises

You are invited to spend a quiet moment enjoying art and doing gentle, multi-sensory exercises led by Ateneum guides.

If this work of art was a cake, what would it taste like?

The terribly important and slightly goofy art experts Selma Sävy-Sekooja and Valpuri Vakavala-Wäärätieto marvel at artworks together with children.

At 14:00 and 16:00
Ateneum Hall, 1.5 floor

Puppet Theatre Sampo: Da Da Sur

A joyful dive into the imagination!

Can a clothespin become a bird? Can a box give birth to a character who can laugh and cry? Of course it can!

Da Da Sur is a wonderful journey into the subconscious and the world of creativity. On stage, everyday objects transform and take flight as birds in the sky, or come alive from animated projections. The gently flowing performance has a calming effect on adults as well as children. The show’s theme tune is the kind of delightfully catchy melody that will stay with you long after the performance has ended.

A wordless and immersive exploration of Dadaism and Surrealism through object theatre, Da Da Sur is suitable for both children and adults.

The performance can be enjoyed regardless of your native language. After the show, audience members are invited to take a closer look at the imaginative sets and objects used in the performance—and even try them out themselves!

Duration: approximately 40 minutes.

Recommended for all ages from 2 years and up, although younger children are also welcome.

11:00–16:00
Workshop space, second floor
Party all day – modelling

We model a joint work of art from beeswax-based clay.

13:30–16:30
In the exhibition A Question of Time
Drawing trolley

Look at art and pick up a pencil!

Have you already drawn at the exhibition? You are welcome to draw next to the works at the museum. A trolley of drawing materials, pencils and paper are available, as well as an expert guide who offers nice tips.