Join us for an afternoon of family-friendly fun with hands-on activities and scheduled story times. We will have a button-making station, an I-spy game, temporary tattoos, stickers, snacks, prizes, and more! Activities are geared towards age 5 and up. Story time will be held at 3:30 PM (ages 5-8) and 5:30 PM (ages 9-12) from age-appropriate books exploring issues of hope, racial justice, and incarceration. 

First Friday Family Day activities are presented in conjunction with the ongoing exhibitions and programs featured at the Institute (IAS):

• Sadie Barnette: Family Business
• Carolina Caycedo and David de Rozas: The Blessings of the Mystery
• Between Descendants and Ancestors: Indigenous Stories for a Future, a series of contemporary short films by Indigenous artists residing on Turtle Island.

First Friday Family Day is organized as part of First Friday Santa Cruz, a monthly art tour across the county. The IAS regularly participates in First Friday events. For full details about the exhibitions and Family Day activities, including a schedule, please visit our website: ias.ucsc.edu.

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences, located in the city of Santa Cruz, is the Central Coast’s premier university art and research center. Through groundbreaking, national-caliber art exhibitions and social 

justice initiatives, the IAS creatively educates students and the public about urgent issues impacting our society with innovative approaches to art and equity. The IAS features state-of-the-art galleries, a screening room featuring curated programs of short, experimental films, and an event space for performances and lectures. The galleries are a vital hub for UC Santa Cruz and the region, bringing national and internationally acclaimed artists and projects to enliven the culture of our communities. 

All IAS Public Programs are free to attend. The exhibitions Sadie: Barnette Family Business, Carolina Caycedo & David de Rozas: The Blessings of the Mystery, and Between Descendents and Ancestors: Indigenous Stories for a Future are organized as part of Visualizing Abolition, a multi-year Mellon-funded initiative exploring art, prisons, and justice. 

The Institute of the Arts and Sciences is located at 100 Panetta Ave., Santa Cruz, CA, 95060. Regular visiting hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 12-5 p.m. Free parking is available at the IAS. For group tours, please contact: tamw@ucsc.edu