Kids on a Family Tour, 2019. Photograph by Filip Wolak
The Whitney Museum of American Art is offering a fantastic suite of educational programs and events this fall, many of which are free. The robust slate of public programs, for visitors and students of all ages, offers something engaging for everyone looking to explore their creativity, learn more about contemporary American art, and immerse themself in the rich history of the Museum’s neighborhood. The events listed may require registration. Please check the listings on whitney.org for full details and how to register.
Families and Kids:
- On most Saturdays from 11 am–3 pm, the Whitney hosts Open Studio for families andkids of all ages! This program is free with Museum admission and encourages families to get creative and make art inspired by works on view in the Museum’s collection and current exhibitions. Check the calendar for more information about upcoming Open Studio dates at whitney.org/events/open-studio-april-2023.
- On Saturday, September 30 from 11 am–3 pm, artist Dindga McCannon will lead a special Open Studio. Join McCannon and create beautiful fabric collages and experiment with printmaking inspired by her work currently on view in Inheritance. More details about this edition of Open Studio are available at whitney.org/events/workshop-fiber-and-print.
- Free with Museum admission on select Saturdays, families with kids ages 5 and up are invited to join a thirty minute, interactive Family Tour of the galleries. Learn about art through lively discussion and hands-on activities. Upcoming Family Tours will take place on September 30, October 21, and October 28 at 11:30am, 12:30 pm, and 1:30 pm. Check the calendar for more information at whitney.org/events/family-tours.
- Artmaking at home is exciting with the Whitney Kids Art Challenge! Designed especially for kids and grown-ups to do together, these art projects are based on artworks in the Whitney’s collection. The latest challenge is inspired by new exhibition Ruth Asawa Through Line and guides young artists through printmaking with materials found at home, just like artist Ruth Asawa. More details about how to join the fun are available at whitney.org/education/families/kids-art-challenge/ruth-asawa-printing.
Teens:
- Friday, October 6 from 4–7 pm is Art College Night at the Whitney! New York City teens are invited to meet representatives from colleges with studio art, art history, and art education programs and learn about scholarship opportunities, college essay writing tips, and much more. Check out the details at whitney.org/events/teens-art-college-night.
- Halloween at the Whitney is around the corner. On Friday, October 27 from 4–7 pm, the Museum will host a free Halloween Teen Night. Come in costumes and enjoy live music, dancing, artist-led workshops, a spooky photo booth, snacks, and more! More information is available at whitney.org/events/halloween-teen-night.
College and University Students:
- On Wednesday, November 15 from 7:30–9:30 pm, the Whitney is hosting an afterhours Student Night Exploring Henry Taylor: B Side for all college and graduate students. The evening offers an opportunity to connect with fellow students, explore the work of artist Henry Taylor, create art inspired by the exhibition, and more. Full program details and how to register are available at whitney.org/events/student-night-henry-taylor.
- Student Members are invited to a hands-on Ruth Asawa Artmaking Workshop on Sunday, October 15 from 1–4 pm. Inspired by the new exhibition Ruth Asawa Through Line, workshop participants will experiment with line, shape, tone, and color to create art using the same materials as Asawa. More information about this program and student memberships are available at whitney.org/events/student-members-asawa-artmaking.
- Student memberships provide unlimited access to the Whitney’s exhibitions and programs, including member exclusive events, celebratory Member Nights throughout the year, and more! This membership level is available to full-time students for $50 annually.
All Ages:
- On September 22 and October 13, explore the impact and history of LGBTQ+communities throughout the neighborhood surrounding the Whitney on a Queer History Walk of the Meatpacking District. From the Hudson River piers to the locations of former clubs, visitors are invited to consider their connection to the changing landscape of the neighborhood that the Whitney now occupies, as well as the city’s history. More information about the tours, including audio guides, is available at whitney.org/events/queer-history-walks-23.
- The Whitney offers daily Exhibition Tours that are free with Museum admission and invite visitors to learn more about new and upcoming exhibitions, including Ruth Asawa Through Line, Inheritance, Henry Taylor: B Side, and The Whitney’s Collection: Selections from 1900–1965. See the Whitney’s calendar of events for upcoming tours.
- The first-ever West Side Fest is on Saturday, September 30 and the Whitney is thrilled to be among the organizations participating in the festivities. The Museum is celebrating with free admission all day long, a special Open Studio from 3–6 pm, and walking tours to explore the neighborhood’s cultural highlights at 11am and 5pm. Check out the full series of programs at whitney.org/west-side-fest-2023.
In addition to the free day on September 30, kids and teens are always free at the Whitney, and Members enjoy any time admission when they show their membership cards. The Museum also offers a suite of free and discounted ticket offerings, including pay-what-you-wish Friday evenings.
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.
Whitney Museum Land Acknowledgment
The Whitney is located in Lenapehoking, the ancestral homeland of the Lenape. The name Manhattan comes from their word Mannahatta, meaning “island of many hills.” The Museum’s current site is close to land that was a Lenape fishing and planting site called Sapponckanikan (“tobacco field”). The Whitney acknowledges the displacement of this region’s original inhabitants and the Lenape diaspora that exists today.
As a museum of American art in a city with vital and diverse communities of Indigenous people, the Whitney recognizes the historical exclusion of Indigenous artists from its collection and program. The Museum is committed to addressing these erasures and honoring the perspectives of Indigenous artists and communities as we work for a more equitable future. To read more about the Museum’s Land Acknowledgement, visit the Museum’s website.
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, 10:30 am–6 pm. Closed Tuesday. 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.
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