Parties, history tours, art-making activities, and more at the Whitney and on the Whitney Lawn.
The Whitney Museum of American Art presents a series of free, on-site public programs and events celebrating Pride, June 9–12. Whitney Pride! will activate the Museum building and surrounding neighborhood with festivities for visitors of all ages. Whitney Pride! is part of the Museum’s ongoing commitment to support LGBTQ+ artists and communities and offer an inclusive space for all to gather and enjoy American art.
Whitney Pride! kicks off on Thursday, June 9, with two Pride parties. The Whitney and community partner ADAPT Community Network will host a Radical Joy Ball 5–6 pm in the Museum’s Susan and John Hess Family Theater. Drawing from the traditions of New York’s ballroom culture, this event creates a space to celebrate the vibrancy of LGBTQ+ and Disability Pride through music, dance, and runway performances. In the Museum’s lobby at 7–10 pm, artist Nayland Blake will host one of their Gender Discard Parties. During this 21+ event, guests will enjoy live music, an open bar, dancing, and an opportunity to participate in various open-mic oral history sessions and games, including “BYOB: Bring Your Own Baggage,” for which partygoers are invited to bring gendered clothing items to discard and swap to reflect their true self. Blake, whose work is currently on view in Whitney Biennial 2022: Quiet as It’s Kept, is an interdisciplinary artist and teacher who uses sculpture and performance to respond to issues of race, gender identity, and sexuality.
On Friday, June 10, 4–7 pm, the Museum will host a Biennial Queer Teen Night with Andrew Roberts, one of the artists featured in Whitney Biennial 2022: Quiet as It’s Kept. At the event, LGBTQ+ teens and allies can participate in art-making workshops, led by Roberts, performances by Haus of Us, dancing, giveaways, activities from community partner The Door, and a tour of Whitney Biennial 2022: Quiet as It’s Kept led by YI Leaders. Starting Friday at 6 pm and continuing through the weekend, visitors are invited to join Whitney education staff on a Queer History Walking Tour of the Meatpacking District to learn more about the impact and history of LGBTQ+ communities in the neighborhood around the Whitney. Admission is paywhat-you-wish on Friday, June 10, 7–10 pm.
Whitney Pride! weekend festivities continue on Saturday, June 11, and Sunday, June 12, with Pride on the Whitney Lawn. The entirety of Gansevoort Street in front of the Museum’s main entrance will be transformed into a 6,000 square foot pedestrian-only, grassy thoroughfare where visitors can enjoy family-friendly activities, including hands-on artmaking, performances, photo booths, giveaways, and more. In addition, special poetry readings from LGBTQ+ artists and a writing workshop hosted by Regie Cabico—poet, educator, and member of the collective A Gathering of the Tribes—will be held Saturday afternoon. Pride on the Whitney Lawn is presented in conjunction with L.E.A.F. Festival of Flowers, a neighborhood-wide celebration of community and the beauty of nature.
Additional information about Whitney Pride!, including accessibility information and health and safety guidelines, is available on the Museum’s website at whitney.org/pride.
PROGRAM LISTINGS
Radical Joy Ball
Thursday, June 9, 5–6 pm ET
Join the Whitney and partner ADAPT Community Network for an evening celebrating inclusivity and access. Drawing from the traditions of New York’s ballroom culture, this event creates a space to celebrate the vibrancy of LGBTQ+ and Disability Pride through music, dance, and runway performances.
ASL, Braille, live captioning, and verbal descriptions are available for public programs and events upon request with two weeks advance notice. We will make every effort to provide accommodation for requests made outside of that window of time.
This event is part of Whitney Pride!, a series of free public programs and events dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists and communities, offering an inclusive space for all to gather and enjoy American art. Visit whitney.org/pride for more information.
Location: Floor 3, Susan and John Hess Family Theater and Gallery
Tickets: Free, registration required
Event Link: https://whitney.org/events/radical-joy-ball-jun-9-22
Gender Discard Party with Nayland Blake
Thursday, June 9, 7–10 pm ET
The Whitney will celebrate Pride Month and LGBTQ+ communities with a party that rejects stereotypes and encourages you to be true to yourself. Hosted by artist Nayland Blake, one of the featured artists in Whitney Biennial 2022: Quiet as It’s Kept, this free, 21+ after-hours event features a range of activities, including live music, dancing, an open bar, and the opportunity to participate in various open-mic oral history sessions and games, including “BYOB: Bring Your Own Baggage,” where partygoers are invited to bring gendered clothing items to discard and swap.
This event is part of Whitney Pride!, a series of free public programs and events dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists and communities, offering an inclusive space for all to gather and enjoy American art. Visit whitney.org/pride for more information.
Location: Ground floor lobby
Tickets: Free, registration required
Event Link: https://whitney.org/events/gender-discard-party-with-nayland-blake
Queer History Walking Tour
Friday, June 10, 6 pm
Saturday, June 11, 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm
Sunday, June 12, 2 pm
Join Whitney education staff on a Queer History Walking Tour of the Meatpacking District to learn more about the impact and history of LGBTQ+ communities throughout the neighborhood surrounding the Museum.
Tickets to the Museum must be reserved separately. Advance booking recommended.
This event is part of Whitney Pride!, a series of free public programs and events dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists and communities, offering an inclusive space for all to gather and enjoy American art. Visit whitney.org/pride for more information.
Location: Tours will meet outside the entrance of the Museum.
Tickets: Free, registration required
Event Link: https://whitney.org/events/queer-history-walks-2022
Biennial Queer Teen Night
Friday, June 10, 4–7 pm ET
The Whitney will host a dedicated evening designed for LGBTQ+ youth and allies. Join the Museum’s Youth Insights Leaders for an evening of art-making, performances, dancing, giveaways, and a tour of Whitney Biennial 2022: Quiet as It’s Kept.
Tickets to the Museum must be reserved separately. Advance booking recommended.
This event is part of Whitney Pride!, a series of free public programs and events dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists and communities, offering an inclusive space for all to gather and enjoy American art. Visit whitney.org/pride for more information.
Location: Floor 3, Susan and John Hess Family Theater and Gallery
Tickets: Free, registration required
Event Link: https://whitney.org/events/biennial-queer-teen-night
Pride on the Whitney Lawn
Saturday, June 11, 11 am–3 pm ET
To honor our LGBTQ+ community, families, and allies, the Whitney will host a celebration of Pride outside the Museum on Gansevoort Street as the block is transformed into a pedestrianonly grassy thoroughfare ideal for gathering. On Saturday, enjoy activities designed for the whole family, including hands-on art making, performances, photo booths, giveaways, and more. Enjoy poetry readings from LGBTQ+ artists and a writing workshop lead by Regie Cabico, poet, educator, and member of the collective A Gathering of the Tribes. This program is presented in conjunction with L.E.A.F. Festival of Flowers.
Tickets to the Museum must be reserved separately. Advance booking recommended.
This event is part of Whitney Pride!, a series of free public programs and events dedicated to LGBTQ+ artists and communities, offering an inclusive space for all to gather and enjoy American art. Visit whitney.org/pride for more information.
Location: The Whitney Lawn, Gansevoort Street
Tickets: Free, no registration required
Event Link: https://whitney.org/events/pride-on-the-whitney-lawn
ABOUT THE WHITNEY
The Whitney Museum of American Art, founded in 1930 by the artist and philanthropist Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney (1875–1942), houses the foremost collection of American art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Mrs. Whitney, an early and ardent supporter of modern American art, nurtured groundbreaking artists when audiences were still largely preoccupied with the Old Masters. From her vision arose the Whitney Museum of American Art, which has been championing the most innovative art of the United States for ninety years. The core of the Whitney’s mission is to collect, preserve, interpret, and exhibit American art of our time and serve a wide variety of audiences in celebration of the complexity and diversity of art and culture in the United States. Through this mission and a steadfast commitment to artists, the Whitney has long been a powerful force in support of modern and contemporary art and continues to help define what is innovative and influential in American art today.
VISITOR INFORMATION
The Whitney Museum of American Art is located at 99 Gansevoort Street between Washington and West Streets, New York City. Public hours are: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 10:30 am–6 pm; Friday, 10:30 am–10 pm; and Saturday and Sunday, 11 am–6 pm. Closed Tuesday. Member-only hours are: Saturday and Sunday, 10:30–11 am. Visitors eighteen years and under and Whitney members: FREE. Admission is pay-what-you-wish on Fridays, 7–10 pm.
COVID-19 vaccination and face coverings are not required but strongly recommended. We encourage all visitors to wear face coverings that cover the nose and mouth throughout their visit.
