This year's celebration of International Museum Day is just four days away, so May's digest highlights Smithsonian museums as places of learning, creativity, and discovery—as well as an ideal spot for a night of family adventures. We also invite you to explore museums in the sun-kissed South of France, a region with which so many artists fell in love. And s'il vous plaît, take a moment for a survey about our upcoming celebration of Associates' 60th year.
As always, this lively monthly offering is designed to make sure you continue to enjoy what you've come to value from Smithsonian Associates: programs and experiences that are entertaining, informative, eclectic, and insightful.
Museums, Communities, and Classrooms
Every year on May 18, the International Council of Museums (ICOM) organizes International Museum Day, a global event highlighting the transformative role of museums in society. This year's theme explores "The Future of Museums in Rapidly Changing Communities," focusing on how museums can navigate and contribute to a world undergoing profound social, technological, and environmental shifts. ICOM states that "Museums are key contributors to building sustainable futures together with communities. As trusted institutions and important threads in our shared social fabric, they are uniquely placed to create a cascading effect to foster positive change."
The expansive educational network of the Smithsonian reaches communities throughout the country. Learn about these programs in the newly released 2024 Smithsonian Educational Impact Report. It highlights key programs and collaborations that have brought Smithsonian learning materials and experiences to students nationwide. They range from distributing 1 million free Smithsonian books and digital resources in partnership with Amazon and the NFL to launching Democracy in Dialogue, a civics-focused virtual exchange program. Take a look at the full report—which also salutes Smithsonian Associates' 60 years of educating learners of all ages - here.
The Smithsonian is a dynamic professional resource for educators nationwide. The Office of the Under Secretary for Education has announced that its signature annual conference for educators, the National Education Summit, returns July 15 though 17th. Themed "Together We Thrive: One Nation, Indivisible," it features over 100 speakers and education leaders across museums, classrooms, and nonprofit organizations. The free conference is open to teachers across America and combines virtual and in-person sessions, including keynote speeches, workshops, and behind-the-scenes experiences at various Smithsonian locations. Learn more about how to become part of it.
Dream with the Dinos
Illustration by Mark P. Witton
What's better than visiting the dinosaurs at a museum? Spending a whole night with them! Smithsonian Sleepovers at the National Museum of Natural History are back this summer.
After the crowds have gone and the doors are closed, one of the world's most-visited museums invites families to discover and immerse themselves in the wonders of the natural world. Kids aged 8 to 14 and their adult chaperones join fellow adventurers as they explore a unique Smithsonian experience. As they wander through the museum's galleries, brushed by giant shadows cast by dinosaurs, they explore the Earth's past, discover the ocean's wonders, blast off to the moon, visit pollinators, and walk softly past mysterious animals. Participants play the fun and challenging "Game of Survival" that includes activities to complete, from making an underwater fossil to building a dinosaur—and even learning how to eat like a T. rex.
Sleepovers are held Fridays, June 20, July 11, August 1, and August 8, and Saturdays, June 28 and July 19, beginning at 7 p.m. and ending at 9 a.m. the next morning. Registration is required. Sign up for your Smithsonian Sleepover today.
Dinosaur fans won't want to miss a Smithsonian Associates program on Wednesday, May 28, that puts the T. rex in the spotlight. Drawing on his book King Tyrant: A Natural History of Tyrannosaurus rex, Mark P. Witton discusses everything from the research history of T. rex to their anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, behavior, and extinction. He also addresses T. rex in popular culture, showing how our love for this dinosaur has both helped and hindered research. Register for the program here.
Sketching the Smithsonian
By Morgan Kuster
Take an artful break and explore the fascinating, vast collections of the Smithsonian in a lunchtime drawing series. Each Thursday from June 26 to July 31, learn about a featured collection object and follow along with instructor Morgan Kuster to create a new sketch. Interesting facts and tidbits about the collection items are shared. Then relax into the sketching process as you're guided through breaking down and studying the object as you prepare to draw. This Studio Arts drawing break is designed to be easy to join: All you need is a pencil and paper.
Register for the Program
Museums of the South of France
Fernand Léger National Museum, Biot (Photo: Bengt Oberger/CC BY-SA 4.0)
Attracted by the light and the beauty of the Mediterranean coast, artists including Renoir, Chagall, Matisse, Dufy, Bonnard, and Picasso settled in the French Riviera. In a 4-session series beginning Monday, June 2, art historian Joseph Cassar discusses the importance of the South of France as an inspirational location for artists and surveys the major museums highlighting their works in Nice, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Antibes, St. Paul de Vence, and other locations.
Register for the Program
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