Thanksgiving is, of course, a time for families to gather.  On the day itself galleries are closed, but on the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving they are open, and every year I get requests from families to lead them on a Chelsea gallery tour that holiday weekend.  Those who can afford it book a private tour just for their loved ones.  And those who would like to spend less ask about a scheduled tour they can attend.  Some express concern about whether such a tour would be suitable for children and teenagers, or even adult family members who are visiting from more conservative regions of the country.  Therefore, I’ve come up with my first-ever “Bring Your Family” gallery tour in Chelsea, on Sat. Nov. 27 at 1:00 PM.

On this gallery tour I will choose 7 extraordinary exhibits that will appeal to people of ALL ages and backgrounds – including my regulars – but that won’t include sex, politics, or religion.  (Of course, I won’t make these promises for any tour beyond this one.)

For this tour I’ve also decided to offer a one-time DISCOUNT to children and teenagers ages 7 – 19.  Adults will still pay $20, but those under 20 will get in for just $15.  And people on my e-mail list will get the usual $5-off discount code, so if they register by the Thursday before the tour, they’ll pay $15 for adults and $10 for children & teens, with NO added service fees (I always absorb those costs).

That’s not to say that this will be a “children’s tour.”  All of the art at this event will have been made with adults in mind, it’s just that it will be understandable to most children as well.  But, as always, it will hold exceptional interest to adults, and some of the shows will be right on the cutting edge.  Neither will this tour be limited to families alone: those attending solo or with friends are warmly welcome to attend.  Two or three of the exhibits on Nov. 27 will overlap with my Nov. 6 & Nov. 13 Chelsea tours, but the remaining four or five exhibits on Nov. 27 will be all-new.  Every 4 weeks I offer a completely different Chelsea tour.

Families have always been welcome on my tours since the beginning of my enterprise, and every once in a while parents bring their children along.  Plenty of times, without my trying, all of the art on one tour happens to by suitable for all ages.  But my Nov. 27 tour will be the first one designed for multiple ages in mind.

If I get a decent turn-out, I will make a “Bring Your Family” tour an annual tradition on Thanksgiving Saturday.  And if I get GREAT attendance, I will try out such a tour (featuring discounts for children & teens) 3 or 4 times a year.  My participants vote with their feet, so attend this tour if you want more tours like it.  I can’t wait to show you the fresh, delightful art I have in store for you this Saturday!

Rafael Risemberg, Ph.D.
Founder and Director
New York Gallery Tours