If kids can’t attend the New Bedford Art Museum, Christopher Rego says the museum will sometimes come to them.

The museum’s mobile outreach program – the artMOBILE – will roll into Marion Saturday, Aug. 26 for the town’s annual block party.

Rego, the museum’s education coordinator, said the program is usually used in city neighborhoods. Since 1995, the program has brought summer art activities to more than 11,000 children.

“When we get a chance to attend events like [the block party], it brings the museum to other South Coast communities where a lot of our patrons are,” Rego said. “And the more kids that we can get creating art, the better.”

Two vehicles loaded with art supplies operate much as a bookmobile would. A former school bus and a Dodge minivan, both painted purple, offer free programs at 20 scheduled community sites in the city eight weeks each summer.

On Saturday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., the artMOBILE van will be parked near Anthi Frangiadis Associates, located at 11 Spring St., in Marion. Kids are welcome to paint watercolor portraits with paper, crayons, and brushes provided free of charge. Two museum educators will be present to give instruction and supervise.

Anthi Frangiadis invited Rego to bring the artMOBILE to the block party. Before the van arrives, Frangiadis will host Deborah Goldhaft, of Fire & Ice Studio; and Ed McAloon, of McAloon Design Studio, for an event featuring their artisan glass works. Goldhaft and McAloon will be in the Associate’s Drawing Room in person from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. A preview reception will be held on Friday, Aug. 23 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. with refreshments. Both events are free and open to the public.

To learn more about Anthi Frangiadis Associates, visit www.anthi.com.

For more information on the artMOBILE or to make a donation to the program, call 508-961-3072 or email info@newbedfordartmuseum.org.