- The Costa Rican Art Museum and the National Museum of Costa Rica offer educational workshops during this school break.
During this mid-year break, the Costa Rican Art Museum (MAC), located in La Sabana, and the National Museum of Costa Rica, located in the heart of San José, are offering workshops for children, as well as for young people and adults.
These two institutions of the Ministry of Culture and Youth have a wide range of offerings, which began last week and will continue through this week. Here are the details:
Costa Rican Art Museum (MAC)
The MAC presents its program of free activities to bring audiences of all ages closer to the national artistic heritage through creative, participatory, and inclusive experiences.
Activities do not require prior registration; access is granted on a first-come, first-served basis until the capacity of each space is filled. All materials are provided by the MAC.
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
- Stamp Creation and Printing Workshop | 9 a.m.–12 p.m. | Children ages 8–13 | Facilitator: Juan Carlos Zúñiga Artist Juan Carlos Zúñiga will show, step-by-step, how to design and carve stamps that will then be printed on paper, exploring unique textures and colors.
- “I Leave My Mark” – Stamping and Embroidery Workshop | 2 p.m.–4 p.m. | Audience up to 13 years old | Facilitator: Irene Carvajal With the guidance of artist Irene Carvajal, each attendee will combine graphic and textile techniques to create a personal piece that reflects their identity.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
- “Drawing the Volume” | 9 a.m.–12 p.m. | Audience over 18 years old | Facilitator: Artist Alexander Rojas A space to delve into three-dimensional representation through drawing, discovering technical resources to capture forms with a sense of depth and substance.
Saturday, July 19, 2025
- “The Soul of Small Things” | 9 a.m.–12 p.m. | All audiences (minors must be accompanied by an adult) | Facilitator: Artist Sofía Ureña. The artist invites you to tour the museum imagining the micro-habitat of tiny beings; afterward, each person will build a symbolic shelter for these invisible inhabitants, reflecting on vulnerability and coexistence.
National Museum of Costa Rica (MNCR)
The National Museum of Costa Rica is filled with adventures, stories, and a lot of creativity. From July 15 to 18, the MNCR has scheduled a series of workshops specially designed for children, youth, and their families to experience a vacation full of learning and fun.
There will be in-person and virtual workshops where they can explore topics such as butterflies, craft traditions, and much more. Additionally, each workshop includes fun craft activities so that participants can take home a souvenir made by themselves.
For in-person workshops, registration takes place on the same day of the activity at the venue. It is recommended to arrive early, as spaces are limited. Minors must be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times.
Virtual workshops are an excellent option for learning from home. These do require prior registration by emailing mcastro@museocostarica.go.cr and will be held on the Zoom platform.
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
- Butterflies: Colors in the Wind | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Age: 6 and up | Bring: Comfortable clothing and a snack. Explore the Museum’s butterfly garden and enjoy an activity full of color and creativity. Led by Germán Vega, an entomologist from the National Museum.
Wednesday, July 16, 2025
- Baskets with Plant Fibers | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Capacity: 40 people | Age: 7 and up, and adults. Bring: ₡4,000 colones for materials, comfortable clothing, and a snack. Learn the traditional technique of indigenous basket weaving and create your own colorful basket. With Julieta Mena and Kattia Hernández, artisans from the indigenous community of Quitirrisí.
Thursday, July 17, 2025
- Stamps with History: Create Your Own Design! | 9:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Age: 8 and up | Bring: Comfortable clothing that can get dirty and a snack. Discover the history of mail in Costa Rica and design your own postage stamp. Workshop led by Eduardo Bolaños, a museum educator.
Friday, July 18, 2025
- Painting of Typical Oxcarts | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Age: Children over 7 and adults | Bring: ₡4,000 colones for materials, clothing that can get dirty, and a snack. One of the most popular workshops at the Museum. Learn about the ox-herding and cart tradition and paint your own typical Costa Rican oxcart wheel with master painters from Sarchí, Wilson Bonilla and Andrea Moreno.
MNCR Virtual Workshops
For these workshops, you must register in advance by emailing mcastro@museocostarica.go.cr
Thursday, July 17, 2025
- San José of Another Time | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Age: 7 and up | Materials: White cardstock, glue stick, and scissors. Travel to the past with old photographs of San José and create a craft as a souvenir. Led by Minor Enrique Castro, a museum educator.
Friday, July 18, 2025
Meteorites, Travelers of the Solar System | 10 a.m.-12 p.m. | Age: 7 and up | Materials: White cardstock, glue stick, scissors, markers, or colored pencils. Discover how meteorites travel from space and make a creative craft. Led by Minor Enrique Castro, an educator at the MNCR.
