Bridges 2024 Family Day

Co-Chairs: Carolyn Yackel and Eve Torrence
Location: Science Museum of Virginia, August 4, 2024, 1–5pm
Submission period: 10 May–15 June 2024

To submit a proposal for a Family Day activity, please fill out the short Google form posted here. Decisions on Family Day proposals will be sent out on June 22.

Bridges Family Day 2023 at Halifax Central Library (video by Sanjeev Seahra)

Bridges Family Day is our opportunity to give back to the community that has hosted our conference and to share the fun of mathematics and art with local families and Bridges participants. Family Day is always free and open to the public. 

Family Day has been hosted at universities, schools, museums, and libraries. Bridges participants volunteer to lead hands-on activities and demonstrations and generously provide all materials. Examples of previous contributions include make-and-take workshops, large group built sculptures, puzzles, games, magic tricks, and origami. Like all events at Bridges, the offerings are diverse and creative. The programs for previous Family Days list all activities and can be found at https://www.familyday.hu.

There are typically about 20 activities and most run continuously on a drop-in basis for the full 4-hours of Family Day. The activities may take place in one large space or multiple locations around the venue. We try to provide volunteer to help each activity leader.

It is easy to submit a proposal for a Family Day activity. Please use the link at the top of this page to access the application form. The deadline for submissions is June 15. The local venue provides tables, chairs, and electricity (if needed). Presenters must provide all other supplies and equipment. 

Specific Information for Bridges Family Day 2024

The 2024 Bridges Family Day will take place in the beautiful rotunda of the Science Museum of Virginia. The museum will provide one table per activity and chairs for presenters. The museum will not provide chairs for guests. The museum runs many similar events and finds that chairs for participants don’t work well in their space.

The museum typically hosts 1000 guests on Sundays, so this will be a big Family Day event. Please be prepared to serve at least 25 guests per hour, or 100 total. For example, if you are doing a make-and-take activity please bring at least 100 kits. If you are presenting a game or puzzle please bring several copies so more that one person can work at a time.

The Science Museum is 1.3 miles from VCU. There is free public transportation by bus from the VCU/VUU Westbound station on Broad Street to the Science Museum station. There is only one stop between these two stations. There is free parking at the museum.

Contact

If you have any questions regarding Family Day, please contact the chair at familyday@bridgesartmath.org.