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

First Saturday: February

First Saturdays

  • Saturday, February 4, 2023
  • 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • East Building
  • Festivals
  • In-person

Celebrate Black history, art, and stories in this special day. Learn about two of Washington D.C.’s greatest artists, Alma Thomas and Sam Gilliam, and make art inspired by them. Plus, explore creative civic engagement with artist activations by the collective For Freedoms.

On the first Saturday of each month the National Gallery springs to life with a variety of engaging activities for all ages. 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 I Love You Sun, I Love You Moon/Te amo Sol / Te amo Luna written by Karen Pandell and illustrated by Tomie dePaola in English and Spanish. We welcome all ages, especially our youngest visitors and nursing parents.

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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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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Celebrate Black Art & History on Screen series

AI: African Intelligence

East Building Auditorium, 2:00 p.m. – 3:50 p.m.

Ndeup is a spiritual healing ceremony practiced by Lebou peoples in Senegal. Award-winning Malian American filmmaker, writer, and New York University professor Manthia Diawara was granted rare access to document the practice.  With input from scientists and academics, he explores possible connections between this traditional possession ritual and Western logic. Full of incredible dance footage and community discussions, A.I. African Intelligence imagines generative ways of utilizing and thinking about “machine learning,” which Diawara fears might otherwise elide specific cultural practices like Ndeup. (Manthia Diawara, 2023, DCP, 110 minutes)

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