The National Gallery of Art will once again host its popular springtime event series, National Gallery Nights. These parties welcome guests to enjoy special performances, crafting activities, and special talks at the museum after hours on the second Thursday of March, April, and May.
Tickets are free, but because the events are so popular, they will be offered through a lottery registration system. The week before the event, from Monday to Thursday, anyone interested in attending can sign up for the ticket lottery. By the Friday before the event, everyone who entered the lottery will be notified if they were selected, and those who received a pass can register.
If you’re not selected for a ticket through the lottery but still want to try your luck at getting in, a limited number of walk-up passes will be available at the East Building entrance starting at 5:30 p.m. on the day of the event.
Snacks and drinks including wine, beer, and cocktails will be for sale at pop-up bars throughout the East Building’s ground floor and mezzanine, plus at the Terrace Café and the Espresso & Gelato Bar.
No luck with a ticket? Activities on the Fourth Street Plaza, offered during the April and May events, are open to the public.
Color Theory
March 14, 6–9 p.m.
The first gallery night event of the season kicks off with vibrant colors. Guests can explore the exhibition Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper, which is on display through the end of March. Don your most colorful outfit and get ready for artmaking activities inspired by Rothko and the Washington Color School, a scavenger hunt, and talks about color theory. There will be musical performances from the Hot Club of Baltimore, DJ Lady Lavender, and DJ Native Son. Lottery for registration opens at 10 a.m. March 4 and runs until noon on March 7.
Flowers After Hours
April 11, 6–9 p.m.
Washington, DC, will be awash with florals by April, and this event is no exception. Expect dance performances by Emerge 125, a blossom scavenger hunt, and artist demonstrations on the Fourth Street Plaza. You’ll get a chance to create wearable flower art, learn about art from artists and National Gallery staff, and listen to music from DJ Rustam. Lottery for registration opens at 10 a.m. April 1 and runs until noon on April 4.
Art Prom
May 9, 6–9 p.m.
Get ready for “art prom” with your best formal or “weird and wacky” attire for this final event of the season. You’ll get to meet artists and designers and explore the Woven Histories: Textiles and Modern Abstraction exhibition, plus create a DIY prom court crown. DJ Heat will keep the music going for a prom worth remembering. Lottery for registration opens at 10 a.m. April 29 and runs until noon on May 2.
Feature image courtesy National Gallery of Art
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