Visiting The Power Plant with Kids
As a free contemporary art gallery on Toronto’s waterfront, The Power Plant is a great place to introduce children to contemporary art. The exhibitions change three times a year, so there is always something different on display to inspire young minds! Here are some of the ways families can make the most of what’s on offer:
With each new exhibition season—Winter, Summer, and Fall—The Power Plant creates a Family Guide that is free to take home. Available from the gallery’s front desk, the guide contains a variety of prompts, tasks, and interpretations that will help navigate conversations about contemporary art and the topics explored in our exhibitions. Stop by and check out recent Family Guides for the Fall 2022 and Summer 2022 seasons.
On select Sundays throughout each exhibition season, The Power Plant hosts Power Kids—a free creative workshop aimed at children aged 7–12 and their families. Typically, the session starts with a short talk in the gallery focusing on one of the artists or artworks on display, followed by a guided creative activity. These workshops can include collage, printmaking, mask-making, beading, origami, and everything in between. It is a relaxed environment, with plenty of pencil crayons and paper for younger siblings who would prefer to work on their own creations! Make sure to sign up in advance to guarantee your spot, although we often have space for walk-ins too. Find out more here.
Nearby Attractions
Toronto’s waterfront has an abundance of activities for families, which means you can make The Power Plant just one stop on a fun day out. In the summer months, The Power Plant is located just a nine-minute walk or one streetcar stop away from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal. From there, take a short boat ride to Centreville Amusement Park or the many beaches of the Toronto Islands. If you decide to stay on the mainland, HTO Park and the Toronto Music Garden are both great parks close by.
In the winter, the skating rinks at Sherbourne Common and Nathan Phillips Square are each roughly a twenty-minute walk or a short streetcar ride away. And for days when you’d prefer to stay indoors, Ripley’s Aquarium and the CN Tower are just an eight-minute walk away.
School Tours
The Power Plant offers tours and workshops for school groups of every age! If you are a teacher or a parent looking to arrange a group visit, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. For a small fee, we can arrange an appropriate session based on your needs, including a tour and a creative activity.