Fun Freetime - Getty Center and Getty Villa Events

Family programs invite guests of all ages to enjoy the Getty Center and Getty Villa’s exhibitions and collections, with related artist demonstrations and workshops! The unique types of art-making include papyrus, Polynesian tattoo patterns, and mosaics. 

Artists from Tahiti visit the Center! One weekend only:

Artist-at-Work: Tapa Making and Stories in Ink: Tātau Bookmark Workshop

Friday–Sunday, Sep 18–20, 2026

Getty Center

Drop-in at 11am, 1pm, and 2:30pm

Discover the Polynesian art of tapa making with artist-researchers from Tahiti. See how tree bark is transformed into cloth and decorated with patterns using natural dyes and traditional tools. Learn about the cultural meanings and stories behind this vibrant, living practice. Then, connect with the traditional art of tātau, Polynesian tattoo. Led by members of ʻARIOI, an Indigenous cultural center in Tahiti, this drop-in workshop explores the powerful history, symbols, and patterns of tātau, and the stories they tell. Design your own bookmark inspired by this living practice. These events complement the exhibition Joshua Reynolds's Portrait of Mai and 18th-Century Portraiture. 

A bilingual (English/Spanish) mosaic workshop:

Artist-at-Work: Making Mosaics and Modern Mosaics: Family Workshop

Select Saturdays, Oct 10 and 24, Nov 14 and 21, Dec 5 and 12, 2026, and Jan 16, 2027

Getty Villa

Drop-in 11am–3pm

Join artist Andrés Cortes for live mosaic-making demonstrations. Meet the artist, ask questions, and discover different materials and techniques for constructing mosaics. From adorable to a little ferocious, animals take center stage in many mosaics on view at the Getty Villa. In the workshop, create your own mosaic inspired by animals who call Los Angeles home, using contemporary materials and ancient Roman techniques. This hands-on program is developed in partnership with Collage Garage. This event is presented in English and Spanish.

Last chance! This weekend:

Papyrus Scroll Making: Family Workshop and Artist-at-Work: Papyrus Making

Sunday, Sep 13, Drop-in 11am–3pm

Getty Villa 

Presented in English and Spanish

Create your own papyrus scene inspired by vignettes from the Book of the Dead, a collection of spells that provided ancient Egyptians with guidance for the afterlife. Join local Egyptologists to discover how papyrus paper was made and explore the many uses of the papyrus plant in ancient Egypt and in the exhibition The Egyptian Book of the Dead.