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Visitors enjoying a Drop-In Art Making activity in the East Building Atrium.

First Saturday: September

First Saturdays

  • Saturday, September 7, 2024
  • 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
  • East Building, Multiple Locations
  • Festivals
  • In-person

All activities are free, and most are first come, first served. Some activities require registration.

DC-area artist Kayti Didriksen joins the National Gallery this First Saturday to live-action draw to music. Draw alongside Didriksen, join a book talk that brings you behind the scenes at a museum, attend a lively and playful Storytime for your little ones, and more!

Learn about upcoming First Saturdays.

Fun for Kids

Storytime

Atrium, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Let’s play together while reading aloud the children’s book Opposites/ Opuestos by Sandra Boynton in English and Spanish. We welcome all ages, especially our youngest visitors and nursing parents.

Details

Performances

Todd Marcus Quintet

Atrium, 11:00 a.m, 1:00 p.m., and 2:00 p.m. 

Marcus is one of the few jazz artists worldwide to feature the bass clarinet as the lead in his small and large ensembles. Known for his direct approach to performance, his compositions swing with fiery intensity and are balanced with refined introspection. 

Also sharing the performance space is artist Kayti Didriksen who will sketch the musicians and audience nearby.

Details

Fun for Kids

Drop-In Artmaking

Atrium, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All ages welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult.
First come, first served

Drop-in artmaking is a great way to try your hand at creating art in an informal, relaxed environment. Artmaking activities are designed for all ages and abilities.

Details

Fun for Kids

Sketching Lab

Atrium, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

All ages welcome; children must be accompanied by an adult.
First come, first served

Visit our sketching lab to activate your imagination and ideas. Then, add your sketch to our community display to showcase your creativity. 

Details

Fun for Kids

Kids' Play Space

Atrium, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Children must be accompanied by an adult.
First come, first served

Designed for our littlest art lovers. Play, build, sort, and stack in a hands-on space.

Details

Fun for Kids

Pop-Up Library

Study Center Atrium, 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy special selections from the National Gallery of Art Library along with quiet activities for kids.

Details

Lecture & Book Signing

Patrick Bringley, All the Beauty in the World

East Building Auditorium, 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Join us for a talk and book signing with author and former museum guard, Patrick Bringley. He will discuss his memoir, All the Beauty in the World: The Metropolitan Museum of Art and Me. The book is a portrait of a great museum, its hidden treasures, and the people who make it tick, by one of its most intimate observers.

Details

Paint 'n' Play

Create your own work of art using brushes and palettes from artists in our collection. Try painting like Vincent van Gogh or Alma Thomas.

We recommend playing on a computer or tablet. If you’re using a tablet, be sure to rotate your device to landscape mode. Best for ages 5 and up.

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