The National Gallery of Art has a couple of programs coming up this Friday and Saturday to put on your family fun radar!
If you’ve got little ones with you on Friday morning, take them to a Storytime session. It will be held in the East Build Atrium starting at 10am. The featured children’s book will be read in both English and Spanish, and it will be more than just a reading — get ready to move and play, too! All ages are welcome, especially the youngest visitors and nursing parents.
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And on Saturday, November 5 from 11am – 3pm, get your creative juices flowing as you make some art at the museum. Beginning this weekend, the East Building Atrium will be transformed into a drop-in art making space on the first Saturday of every month! Activities will be inspired by the National Gallery of Art’s collection and designed for all ages and abilities.
Of course, plan for time to tour the rest of the wonderful museum, too!
National Gallery of Art (East Building)
Where: 4th St & Constitution Ave NW | National Mall, DC
When: Daily, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
This post is sponsored by the National Gallery of Art, however, I only promote events, programs, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
This Saturday, April 30, the National Gallery of Art welcomes you to join the Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival, a special day-long event highlighting the arts and culture of the African Diaspora.
This John Wilmerding Community Celebration will be offered in conjunction with the new Afro-Atlantic Histories exhibition, an enlightening and in-depth look at the historical experiences and cultural formations of Black and African people since the 17th century. If you haven’t yet experienced it, this weekend is a perfect time to go, when there will be activities for all ages to enjoy along with the collection of art!
Highlights of the festival include:
Jamaican cooking demonstrations and free samples from Executive Chef Christopher Curtis (12pm, 1pm, and 2pm — registration required)
The first live performance of visionary artist María Magdalena Campos-Pons’s When We Gather — a procession from the East Garden Court to the steps of the museum’s National Mall entrance (1pm)
The Festival will take place in various locations of the museum’s West Building. Catch musical performances at the National Mall entrance and the West Garden Court. Food Demos will be held in the Cascade Café, and you can find creator pop-ups and other festivities in the East Garden Court. View more details and the full schedule of the day’s activities here.
Afro-Atlantic Histories Festival
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, April 30, 10am – 5pm
Admission: Free
This post is sponsored by the National Gallery of Art, however, I only promote events, programs, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
The National Gallery of Art reopened its doors last spring, and it’s been wonderful to return to one of our favorite museums again. Even better, it’s open daily, making it a go-to any day of the week. But this coming weekend, September 24-26, will be an especially great time to visit, as the museum hosts a Community Celebration honoring late pioneering artist Alma Thomas!
The in-person, on-site event will feature a variety of activities and experiences that explore Thomas’s life and her wide range of creative endeavors, all of them self-guided for Covid safety. Plus, there are extra goodies and discounts to enjoy while you’re there! The weekend offerings and festivities include:
· Free art kits with a coloring book of National Gallery works by local artists, coloring materials, and a cutout doll designed by Brittany Jackson, illustrator of the acclaimed children’s book Parker Looks Up: An Extraordinary Moment.
· A special flower displayinspired by Alma Thomas’s Pansies in Washington (1969)
· A display showcasing works by local community members, celebrating Alma Thomas’s art and legacy
· 50% discount on Alma Thomas-inspired gelato at the Espresso & Gelato Bar
· 15% discount on shops purchases with the code ALMA15 (onsite and online)
· A pop-up performance from Howard University Bands at 4pm on Sunday
Thomas’ painting, Tiptoe Through the Tulips, inspired by sights, sounds, & smells of DC
The event is part of a larger citywide celebration featuring a symposium with virtual sessions September 22-23. Geared toward adults, it will bring together noted scholars, artists, and curators to discuss Alma Thomas’s life and legacy, including an introduction by Michelle Obama.
The National Gallery of Art’s Community Celebration will take place in the East Building from 1-5pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Admission is free.
Alma Thomas Community Celebration
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Friday – Sunday, September 24-26, 1-5pm
Admission: Free
This post is sponsored by the National Gallery of Art, however, I only promote events, programs, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
Bring the whole gang to the National Gallery of Art this Saturday, February 8, for a Family Day Celebration full of creative adventures! It’s a perfect winter outing with activities for all ages — sketching, storytelling, art-making, and more. Enjoy them at special stations in front of works of art throughout the museum’s East Building from 11am to 4pm. Admission to all of it is free!
For children with sensory processing disorders and their families, programming is available 9-10am. If you are interested in early entry, contact access@nga.gov or 202.842.6905.
Family Day Celebration
Where: National Gallery of Art | National Mall, DC
When: Saturday, 11am – 4pm
Admission: Free!
This post is sponsored by the National Gallery of Art, however, I only promote programs, places, and events that I genuinely believe in and think would appeal to KFDC readers.
How about adding some art adventures to your weekend? The National Gallery of Art is hosting The Big Draw Festival, a two-day celebration of drawing featuring activities for artists of all ages!
On Saturday, October 26, from 5pm to 8pm, enjoy extended evening hours at the museum creating 3-D illustrations, experimenting with materials in the Sketching lab, and enjoying special performances by Joy of Motion Dance.
On Sunday, October 27, from 11am to 5pm, there will be even more festivities for families. You can create a “sidewalk” sketch in the Family Art Lab, draw wacky creatures while on a scavenger hunt, and read a book aloud, move, and play during Storytime.
This will all take place in the National Gallery of Art East Building. And admission to all of it is free!
The Big Draw Festival
Where: National Gallery of Art East Building | National Mall, DC
When: October 26, 5-8pm & October 27, 11am – 5pm
Admission: Free
This post is sponsored by the National Gallery of Art, however, I only promote events, programs, and places that I genuinely believe in and think will appeal to KFDC readers.
