Programs at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery

In-Person and Virtual Programs at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery in Washington DC

Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum for upcoming in-person and virtual programs. Please see each program listing for details; registration details are available on our Calendar of Events.

Programs are free and open to the public unless otherwise noted. 

December 2024 Programs

Handi-Hour
Thursday, December 5, 5:30–8 p.m.
Relax with crafts, live music, and local brews at the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s Renwick Gallery! Design and print your own set of linocut greeting cards, enjoy music by Caroline Weinroth of local band, Cinema Hearts, and try local beer and cider provided by ANXO Cider. Light snacks, crafting materials, two drinks, and after-hours access to the second-floor galleries are included in the price of the ticket. Attendees must be 21+ to attend and show a valid ID with birthdate at the door. Please note space is limited and registration is required. 
Tickets: $25 | Registration required
Location: Renwick Gallery, Rubenstein Grand Salon
Link: events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1A9kb

Art in the A.M.
Tuesday, December 10, 10:30 a.m.
Inspire early childhood creativity with SAAM during Art in the A.M. Children ages up to 5 years and their caregivers are invited to the museum before hours to learn, connect, and create in the galleries. During this program, participants will explore the exhibition Pictures of Belonging: Miki Hayakawa, Hisako Hibi, and Miné Okubo together. Participants will then create their own kirigami (the Japanese art of paper folding and cutting) artworks. Please note space is limited and registration is required.
Tickets: Free | Registration required
Location:Smithsonian American Art Museum, Meet in the G Street Lobby
Link: events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1BJGT

Archive Live with Joyce J. Scott and Josh Franco
Thursday, December 11, 6:30 p.m.
Join the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Archives of American Art online or in person for an evening with artist Joyce J. Scott and Head of Collecting at the Archives of American Art, Josh Franco. Franco and Scott will discuss selected items from her papers, held at the Archives of American Art, as Scott shares memories about them. Scott is a MacArthur Fellow renowned for her figurative sculptures, innovative fiber art, and jewelry using bead weaving techniques, blown glass, and found objects. As an African American feminist artist, Scott fearlessly tackles challenging themes, including race, misogyny, economic disparity, history, and discrimination. Her work is currently on view in SAAM’s Renwick Gallery exhibition, Subversive, Skilled, Sublime: Fiber Art by Women. The lecture will be held in person and online on SAAM’s YouTube Channel.
Tickets: Free | Registration required
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, McEvoy Auditorium and SAAM’s YouTube channel
Link: events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1AAlV

Art Signs: Artful Conversations in ASL
Thursday, December 12, 5:30 p.m.
Curious about American art? Join us for a 30-minute in-person conversation about selected works from the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection. This program is presented in American Sign Language (ASL) with voice interpretation for hearing participants.
Tickets: Free | Registration required
Location: Smithsonian American Art Museum, Meet in the F Street Lobby
Link: events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1BFmL

The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture Gallery Talk
Wednesday, December 18, 5:30 p.m.
Explore SAAM’s groundbreaking exhibition, The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture with curators Karen Lemmey, Grace Yasumura, and Tobias Wofford. Learn more about the ways in which sculpture has shaped and reflected attitudes and understandings about race in the United States.
Tickets: Free | Registration required
Location:Smithsonian American Art Museum, Meet in the G Street Lobby
Link: events.blackthorn.io/5f4ZMUx7/5a2bVR1A9Fx

Art Bites Gallery Talk
Friday, December 20, 12:15 p.m.
Join SAAM’s research fellows for this lunchtime series of gallery talks as they share new discoveries about artworks on view. Learn the stories behind these objects and what each one tells us about the diverse cultural landscape of the United States. Margot Yale, Wyeth Foundation Predoctoral Fellow discusses Marguerite Zorach’s, Untitled (Embroidered Bedspread) (1918).
Tickets: Free
Location: Renwick Gallery, Meet in the Renwick Gallery Lobby
Link: americanart.si.edu/events/art-bites-gallery-talk-december-20-2024

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For more information on this museum, visit our Smithsonian American Art Museum page.

Event listings are provided by the Smithsonian American Art Museum and Renwick Gallery