My fellow columnist, Ralph Berrier Jr., offers this entry in today’s Extra section about the Taubman Museum of Art’s children’s activities.

The Dadline: The Taubman is for tykes
Free admission is just the first reason to check out the family-friendly museum.
By Ralph Berrier Jr

When the movers and shakers of Roanoke’s art world conceived and constructed the Taubman Museum of Art, they probably did not expect that some of the biggest attractions would be crayons, scissors, rubber stamps and construction paper.

And plays that feature young people costumed as mice, rabbits and toy boats.

That’s what has drawn me and my family there, though.

Love the activities

I have been to the Taubman about a dozen times in the past couple of years, and at least 10 of those trips involved some sort of kids’ activity, either at Art Venture, the museum’s hands-on gallery and studio for young people, or during a production by the Roanoke Children’s Theatre, which stages its plays at the museum.

I hear they have pretty paintings and nice sculptures at the Taubman, too.

Look, I know the beleaguered $66 million museum has had its problems since it opened its glass doors on Salem Avenue four years ago.

People hated the look of this modern architecture showpiece set among the historic buildings near the City Market. The ambitious goals were unrealistic. The place bled money from the start and laid off staff almost immediately. Some folks complained that there really wasn’t enough inside to warrant return trips.

The place has had some positive news lately with the announcement that the big-money guys are riding to the rescue and that a nice donation from Advance Auto will do away with admission prices, opening the doors for free for the foreseeable future.

That’s good news, but the truth is that the Taubman, for all its problems and money woes, has offered a lot of great stuff for families all along.

Click here to read the rest of the column.