Smithsonian Associates

Name: Smithsonian Associates
Address: 1100 Jefferson Drive SW, Washington D.C., DC, 20560, US
Telephone: (202) 633-3030
Price range: $$

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Smithsonian Associates

We’re the largest museum-based education program in the world. Welcome to our page!

Please feel free to ask questions, share thoughts about our posts, and your experiences with our programs. We offer programs almost every day - on everything from art, archaeology, cooking, history, philosophy, and personal and professional development to science and health, and world cultures - so you can challenge your mind, stretch your thinking, expand your studio arts creativity, and recharge

your enthusiasm for learning! For more info on our programs and events, membership, or to request a free copy of our program guide visit us at SmithsonianAssociates.org

01/10/2024

Smithsonian Summer Camp registration is next month! Online registration begins Feb. 12-16. Start planning your Smithsonian summer adventure: s.si.edu/Camp2024

01/09/2024

Inspired by a profound experience swimming with wild dolphins, Susan Casey set out on a quest to learn everything she could about dolphins—the other intelligent life on the planet. Tune in on Jan. 23 as she joins us live! Register: s.si.edu/WorldofDolphins

Photo: Susan Casey

01/08/2024

Just getting into birding and trying to figure out how to capture the feathered creatures with your camera? Tune in tomorrow to learn the basics of bird photography for species identification as well as artistic expression from naturalist Matt Felperin.

Just getting into birding and trying to figure out how to capture the feathered creatures with your camera? Learn the basics of bird photography for species identification as well as artistic expression from naturalist Matt Felperin. View beautiful photos of various species of birds and learn the st...

01/04/2024

Come learn how to use wonder ingredient, turmeric, in surprising ways! Writer and spice expert Eleanor Ford will explain how to use this spice to its best effect on January 30 at 12 p.m. ET.

Turmeric gets attention for its health-giving properties and is treasured as a culinary spice, lending a base of flavor and brilliant pop of yellow to dishes around the world. Writer and spice expert Eleanor Ford covers the facts, myths, stories, and properties of turmeric and offers guidance on how...

01/03/2024

Now’s the perfect time to join the many participants in our Smithsonian World Art History Certificate program! In 2024, you’ll find an expanded roster of instructors and a new range of course topics.

Join Smithsonian Associates' World Art History Certificate Program

01/01/2024

Happy New Year! Whether you’ve resolved to dig deeper into topics that capture your imagination—or to seek out brand new experiences this year, our programs are the perfect way to achieve those resolutions. View the January program guide: s.si.edu/January2024

12/28/2023

January is the perfect month to take a class, hear a lecture, and learn something new!

January is the perfect month to take a class, hear a lecture, and learn something new

12/19/2023

All of us here at Smithsonian Associates wish you and yours a wonderful holiday season and a joyous New Year!

12/15/2023

Baker's Daughter brown sugar cake with caramel apples and Chantilly cream, Zingerman's Delicatessen's Stollen, and Venchi 1878 Tiramisu Fondente, Cannolo, and Pistachio Gianduiotto were some of the treats on the menu last night at our Holiday Desserts Around the World program. From ancient customs to modern-day adaptations, food historian Francine Segan gave us a new appreciation for the sweet traditions that bring joy to holiday celebrations worldwide!

12/13/2023

You've sung the carols, you've sent the cards, but how well do you know the Nativity? Join Elaine Ruffalo, a Florence-based Renaissance art historian, this Friday for an illustrated exploration of the Christmas story as told through Renaissance painting.

The Christmas story has inspired some of the most affectionate, gentle, and intimate images in the history of Western art. How the biblical narrative was portrayed in Renaissance art dramatically evolved over time, mirroring changes in society and shifts in religious attitude. Moving from a narrow,....

12/12/2023

Just announced! Registration is now open for core courses for the winter quarter of the Smithsonian World Art History Certificate program. Learn how to analyze and interpret art in Visual Literacy, survey Western art from prehistory to present day, and trace the evolution of Russian art from icons to the avant garde.

Under the guidance of expert teachers, examine the major creators, movements, and historical periods that shaped art across civilizations and centuries. Take in-depth looks at masterworks and explore specialized topics. Choose the courses that speak to your own interests—and complete the program r...

12/11/2023

Malcolm Evans, the Beatles' long-time roadie, personal assistant, and devoted friend, was an invaluable member of the band's inner circle. The memoirs of his life with the Beatles never saw print, and his diaries, manuscripts, and memorabilia were thought missing for decades after his tragic death.

Beatles’ scholar Kenneth Womack will join us live this Thursday, Dec. 14 to reveal Mal’s unknown story at the heart of the Beatles’ legend. Register: https://s.si.edu/MalEvans

12/08/2023

Cheers! This week writer and cocktail expert Philip Greene played host for a lively evening full of stories, recipes, and toasts. Samples of cocktails, the Southside, Pan Am Clipper, Tunnel, and More Cowbell, completed the celebration! Recipes can be found in Phil’s new book “Cheers! Cocktails & Toasts to Celebrate Every Day of the Year.”

12/07/2023

Meet Smithsonian Studio Arts instructor, Lauren Kingsland!

Senior Planet checks in with Lauren Kingsland about how technology keeps her connected to quilting communities around the world.

12/06/2023

We’re excited to welcome Emmy-nominated television host, writer and producer Darley Newman and a panel of four travel and history experts for a journey through American Revolution historic sites, battlefields and great places for food and drinks. Join us in person or online Thursday, Jan. 18 to hear hidden gems and rarely told stories about the American Revolution.

Register: https://s.si.edu/RevolutionaryRoadTrip

12/05/2023

At Christmastime in 1914, months after World War I began, hundreds of soldiers in Flanders spontaneously stopped fighting one another, left their trenches, and shook hands in no man’s land. Join historian and battlefield guide Simon Jones this Friday, December 8 at 12 p.m. ET to hear the story of the Christmas Truce of 1914.

At Christmastime in 1914, months after World War I began, hundreds of soldiers in Flanders spontaneously stopped fighting one another, left their trenches, and shook hands in no man’s land. For a short time, British and German soldiers barely fired a shot, helped bury one another’s dead,...

12/03/2023

Whether you’re a fan of history, art, theater, nature, or architecture—or simply love discovering new places—Smithsonian Associates' expert-led multi-day excursions offer a year’s worth of tempting travels. Check out where we're headed in 2024!

Travel to fascinating places with Smithsonian Associates in 2024

12/01/2023

Take a break from the stress of the season with Smithsonian Studio Arts! Enjoy an entertaining and informative evening with an orchid expert and come away with an elegant orchid centerpiece.

Take a break from the stress of the season to enjoy an entertaining and informative evening with an orchid expert and come away with an elegant orchid centerpiece.

12/01/2023

Our December program guide is here—with over 240 livestreamed and in-person lectures, seminars, performances, studio arts classes, and study tours! View the guide: https://s.si.edu/December2023

Featured on this month’s cover is our “Holiday Desserts Around the World” in-person program with food historian and author Francine Segan. On December 14, Segan will join us at the Smithsonian’s Ripley Center to explore the intriguing stories behind America’s cherished Christmas sweets and spotlight desserts from holidays celebrated worldwide. A reception follows the program, featuring an array of treats and recipes to take home (see p. 22 to learn more).

Be among the very first to know about new programs, and receive special offers and invitations in your email box. Subscribe: https://s.si.edu/Associates-eAlerts

11/30/2023

Our annual “Making the Holidays Beautiful at the White House” program with former White House design partner Coleen Christian Burke will be held next Saturday, December 9 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ET. Join us for a fun afternoon to learn how our first ladies have created holiday memories for their families while curating a holiday experience for the public.

Register: https://s.si.edu/WhiteHouseHolidayDecor

📷: The White House Christmas tree on display in the Blue Room, 2022

11/29/2023

When winter looms with cold weather, it's only natural that thoughts turn to warmer climes and warmer wines! Join us Friday, December 15 for an immersive virtual program with sommelier Erik Segelbaum that includes a curated personal tasting kit to enhance the experience. 🍷

When winter looms with cold weather, it's only natural that thoughts turn to warmer climes and warmer wines. Discover some of the most exciting expressions of California wine through a delicious tasting designed to warm your soul with whites and reds that will wipe away the winter blues.

11/28/2023

In 2024, Smithsonian Associates will provide more ways to connect you to the Smithsonian experience through expanded in-person programming. With educational programs on the National Mall and a full year’s slate of expert-guided study tours you’ll have a wealth of choices guaranteed to add to your memories. And don’t worry: Our internationally popular live-streamed programs will continue to be offered as before.

Today on , we’d like to ask you to think how those experiences have enriched your life and ushered you into the Smithsonian's world of life-long learning. Then, please consider a tax-deductible year-end gift in honor of that experience: s.si.edu/SupportSA

11/27/2023

Santa’s got one, but Smithsonian Associates has more: holiday workshops, that is. Learn to brighten the season in Studio Arts programs as you make a modern evergreen wreath or cheerful paperwhites from crepe paper. Check out all upcoming holiday programs in the link below!

Celebrate the spirit of the season with Smithsonian Associates

11/22/2023

This 1918 Thanksgiving menu from USS Georgia (BB-15) serves up a unique blend of the familiar and unexpected.

In 1918, bananas were still considered to be an exotic fruit in the United States, and ci**rs, a luxury item typically reserved for officers, were served to the entire crew. The inclusion of these items on the Thanksgiving menu serves to illustrate the special nature of the meal.

Interestingly, just 12 days after the Thanksgiving meal, USS Georgia and the crew began a series of voyages from Virginia to France, aiding in the effort to bring American troops home. Between December 1918 and June 1919, the ship played a vital role in reuniting nearly 6,000 soldiers with their families back in the U.S.

Take a look at how more Thanksgiving meals were celebrated on military bases and aboard Navy ships in our blog: https://s.si.edu/4a0q7PN

11/21/2023

Take a break from the cold with Smithsonian Associates in December!

Take a break from the cold with Smithsonian Associates this month

11/17/2023

Join us for a walking tour to explore the way a simple trip to the store was, in fact, so much more for women in the mid-20th century.

Stroll between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Metro Center stopping along the way to hear stories of Hecht’s and Garfinkel’s and the stores’ role in advancing consumerism and civil rights. Tours will be held Dec. 2 (10 a.m.), Dec. 9 (2 p.m.), and Dec. 10 (10 a.m.) Get the member rate with promo code 271113.

Explore the way a simple trip to the store was, in fact, so much more for women in the mid-20th century. Stroll between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Metro Center with your guide from A Tour of Her Own, stopping along the way to hear stories of the iconic buildings of yesteryear like those housing Hech...

11/16/2023

Dramatic vistas, vividly colored canyons, and wandering herds of wild bison—those are just a few things participants saw last month on our 5-day study tour into the heart of Roosevelt’s Badlands and the national park that bears his name.

Join us for this tour in 2024! Preview a full year of delightful destinations here: https://s.si.edu/2024-Tours

11/15/2023

Join us for a special in-person and livestreamed event on Sunday, December 3 exploring the fairy-tale formula, contract actors, and marketing strategies that have made Hallmark Channel holiday movies hugely successful. In-person attendees can learn to make their own holiday cards and enjoy seasonal treats!

Hallmark Channel holiday movies garner an estimated $350 million in ad revenue annually, but they’ve been criticized for predictable content and a lack of racial, religious, and LGBTQ representation. Educator and lecturer Stef Woods explores why these movies have been hugely successful.

11/14/2023

Just added! Due to demand, we’ve added another date for our Creative Mind Mapping Smithsonian Studio Arts course. Over two evening sessions (Mondays, Dec. 4 and Dec. 11) take your ideas from banal to beautiful by learning how to create mind maps worthy of framing. An example by instructor Mïa Vollkommer is shown below.

Register: https://s.si.edu/CreativeMindMapping

11/13/2023

French wine is in the midst of a dramatic transformation by a new generation of winemakers keen to reject the ways of the old. Jon Bonné, one of the leading American voices on wine and food, will join us live on Zoom tomorrow at 6:45 p.m. ET in conversation with Washington Post wine columnist, Dave McIntyre, to examine the French wine industry at a moment of profound change and examine what’s next for the country he calls “the soul of the global wine industry.”

Register: https://s.si.edu/JonBonne

Address

1100 Jefferson Drive SW
Washington D.C., DC
20560

Telephone

(202) 633-3030

Website

https://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/

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Videos

The annual #DCFrancophonieFestival kicked off last night with an opening reception at the Embassy of Haiti featuring @atisbelo! Smithsonian Associates, DC Alliance Française, and many embassies collaborate to plan a full calendar of experiences all rooted in the Francophone culture. View the schedule: https://www.francophonie-dc.org/

DC Francophonie Festival 2023 Opening Reception

The annual DC Francophonie Festival kicked off last night with an opening reception at the Embassy of Haiti featuring BelO Haiti! Smithsonian Associates, DC Alliance Française, and many embassies collaborate to plan a full calendar of experiences all rooted in the Francophone culture. View the schedule: https://www.francophonie-dc.org/

How John Lewis' Stories Contributed to the Creation of the National Museum of African American History and Culture

Solitude by Duke Ellington

“The idea is to make the best out of what we have, and share some beauty with the world." -Smithsonian Associates lecturer and instructor Paul Glenshaw recently launched the The Seven Tones Project pairing quarantined musicians and filmmakers to make short homemade films based on Duke Ellington pieces. Why Duke Ellington? He led a band nonstop for over 50 years—usually in difficult, uncertain times—all the while creating beauty. Ellington wrote: “Any time you have a problem you have an opportunity. If you had just seven good tones, those were the tones that had to be used…” The film in this post is “Solitude” shot by Glenshaw in Washington D.C., performed by Alex Hamburger and José Luiz Martins. The footage was captured on his phone just prior to the stay-at-home order. Interested filmmakers and musicians (both student and professional) who would like to participate are encouraged to contact Glenshaw and his filmmaking partner Darroch Greer at [email protected]. Each film will be posted with links back to the artists’ websites or social media pages. View the full project: https://bit.ly/SevenTonesProject

Celebrating Bob Ross's Joy of Painting program

Here's a look at how our students worked in yesterday's Celebrating Bob Ross's Joy of Painting program. "Thin paint sticks to thick paint"—students employed Ross’s signature wet-on-wet technique in which special firm oil paints glide across a wet-based canvas with a large brush or palette knife making clouds, mountains, and trees appear in seconds, and there’s no wait for paint layers to dry.

Katie Couric on Stand Up to Cancer

Katie Couric discusses Stand Up to Cancer with April Ryan at the Smithsonian Associates John P. McGovern Award presentation on Nov. 12, 2019. View the full interview: https://s.si.edu/2019McGovernAward

Shedding Light on Dark Matter

Take a two-minute break this afternoon and listen to the brilliant Priya Natarajan touch on her intriguing work mapping dark matter (no astrophysics background needed!). Is two minutes not enough of a science sound byte for you? Check out our new initiative, Inside Science: http://s.si.edu/2wSjv6z “If we can map dark matter exquisitely, as in every lump and bump, then we can discriminate between the different kinds of dark matter. It’s like saying that if you can map sand dunes incredibly well...then from looking at the shapes...you are trying to figure out what a grain of sand is made of...”

Alec Baldwin Shares a Story about Sean Connery

One of our favorite moments from our April 12 event with Alec Baldwin was when he described working with Sean Connery on the film “The Hunt for Red October.”

Alec Baldwin on His Love of the Theater

Were you lucky enough to be in the audience at our event with Alec Baldwin this month? In this clip from the event, Baldwin describes working in theater vs. TV and film.

Alec Baldwin on Working with Tina Fey

We hosted a conversation with Alec Baldwin at The George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium on April 12, and we're sharing some clips from the event! Hear what Baldwin had to say about working with Tina Fey.

How to keep a New Year's resolution to lose weight? Get a scientist’s perspective! Biochemist Sylvia Tara will explain how to gain the upper hand in controlling your weight at a Smithsonian Associates' event this Thursday, Jan. 5 at 6:45 p.m. at the S. Dillon Ripley Center. Listen to her interview on the The Not Old - Better Show podcast, and watch this video for a preview of what to expect at the event. Tickets: http://ow.ly/Gghq307AcDh

On Sunday, the presidential nominees will go head to head again in their second debate. Join us as we decipher this year's election season once it's all said and done. A panel of experts, including U.S. News and World Report's senior White House correspondent Kenneth Walsh will discuss what lessons were learned, what mistakes were made, what sealed the deal for the winner, and- believe it or not- how to get ready for 2020. A limited number of tickets are still available- reserve yours now! http://ow.ly/uE6z304XY8z

Meet Smithsonian Associates Program Coordinator, Rebecca Roberts! Rebecca was interviewed for The Not Old - Better Show podcast (look for a two-part interview soon!) And check out this preview video about our huge lineup of fall programs.

Smithsonian Spotlight: Behind the Scenes of The Walking Dead

On February 5, 2016, Eric Deggans, TV critic for NPR, moderated a behind the scenes looks with the show’s executive producers and members of the cast and crew. Scott M. Gimple, executive producer, showrunner, and writer; Gregory Nicotero, executive producer, director, and special effects makeup supervisor; John Sanders, prop master; and Andrew Lincoln, who stars as Rick Grimes, shared insights on how they develop and bring The Walking Dead to life—from conjuring up edge-of-your-seat plotlines and complex characters to frighteningly convincing zombies. Click here to browse upcoming programs: http://ow.ly/ZQCUz

Moderism in DC

Blunt or beautiful? Washington has a complicated relationship with modernism, one that surfaces in current conversations about the historic preservation of mid-20th century buildings. Martin Moeller, a curator at the National Building Museum, provides a context for the movement and its influence on the city’s vibrant architectural mix. Visit http://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/index.aspx to browse programs.