Children who visit The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia’s regular monthly Family Art JAM are promised an afternoon of fun and creativity, and this month their laughter will be punctuated by a few bleats and moos.

Due to increased demand, the museum has expanded its successful Family Art Jams to the summer months. On July 27 and 28, the museum will hold four sessions of “Artful Animals” for children ages 5 to 12.

For 5- to 7-year-olds and their accompanying adults, the Family Art JAM will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. each day. Eight- to 12-year-olds are invited to attend from 3 to 5 p.m. with an adult.

During the program, there will be a discussion of artwork from the museum’s current exhibit, “Frenemies: Animals in Art,” by artists Albrecht Dürer, Nathan Oliveira and Frank Stella ­ who have always been enthralled by the beauty, power and uniqueness of animals in their work.

Guest artist Wendy Wiebe will then lead children in experimenting with textured paper collage to create their own expressive interpretations of two live models: Peppermint the cow and Ivy the goat.

In May, for its program, “The Sublime Equine: The Art of the Horse,” the museum hosted a horse named “Belle,” a first-time model, for children to practice drawing with oil pastels. The program’s subject, equine art, ran in conjunction with the museum’s exhibition, “Corot to Cézanne.”

Belle’s star turn was not the first time a live model was included in the museum’s family programs. In the past, the museum has utilized birds, fish and even human figures.

Programs such as Family Art JAMS are part of the museum’s growing outreach efforts. In addition to its children’s program, the museum also hosts its signature writing competition, the Writer’s Eye; a mentoring partnership with the Boys and Girls Club; private tours for students from the Virginia Institute for Autism; and Eyes on Art, specialized tours for people with Alzheimer’s disease accompanied by their caregivers.

Family Art JAMs combine age-appropriate tours with hands-on art projects planned to make the museum's exhibitions accessible to young children. Past family programs have focused on photography, prints, calligraphy, dance, and making poetry collage.

Family Art JAMs are available to museum members for $15 and to nonmembers for $20 for one adult with one or two children. Additional children or adults can attend for $5 each. Scholarships are available upon request. To register for the Family Art JAM, call 434-243-2050 or email museumoutreach@virginia.edu.

Museum membership is available for $75 for families and $40 for seniors and U.Va. faculty and staff. Information on programs and membership levels is available here. The Fralin Museum of Art is located at 155 Rugby Road, a short walk from the Rotunda, across the street from Madison Bowl.