First Saturday: January

Fun for kids

Storytime

Atrium, 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Let’s play together while reading aloud the children’s book Moo, Baa, La La La!/Muu, Bee, ¡Así  Fue! by Sandra Boynton in English and Spanish. We welcome all ages, especially our youngest visitors and nursing parents.

Fun for kids

Films for Children and Teens

East Building Auditorium, 10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Take in the favorite and award-winning films from the latest New York International Children’s Film Festival with consequtive screenings of Kid Flicks One! These amazing short films from around the world are sure to inspire curiosity and conversation for viewers big and small. Recommended for ages 5 to 10. 

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.

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.

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. 

Fun for Kids

Pop-Up Library

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

Curious to know more about the works of art in the museum? The First Saturday Pop-Up Library features special selections from the National Gallery of Art Library along with quiet activities for kids. Leaf through pages of an exhibition catalog or settle in to read a whole chapter about an artist, movement, or theme. This month’s pop-up is devoted to the artist Mark Rothko, and will showcase a manuscript work for his book, The Artist's Reality, and original drawings from the museum’s Prints and Drawings department. 

Focus: The Collection

Gallery Talk: The Land Holds Many Meanings

West Building, Main Floor - Rotunda, 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

Join us for this gallery talk featuring different perspectives on nineteenth-century American landscape painting, including works by Thomas Cole, George Inness, Thomas Moran, and Albert Bierstadt. Led by senior educator Nathalie Ryan.

Focus: Exhibitions

Guided Meditation: Mark Rothko

East Building, Tower - Gallery 615A, Multiple Times

Join us for a 30-minute meditation lead by yoga instructor and artist Aparna Sadananda, surrounding by paintings by Mark Rothko. Free and open to all. Space is limited and first come, first served. No meditation experience required.

This event is offered in conjunction with the Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper exhibition.

Image: "Mark Rothko: Bodies in Space,” installation view, East Building, Tower Gallery, November 2023. Artworks on canvas by Mark Rothko Copyright © 1998 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko.