Join decorative arts specialist Erin Kuykendall for a visit to Richmond’s famed Museum District, a day of guided in-depth tours of historical collections and art exhibitions, including stops at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the American Civil War Museum.

Friday, August 17, 2018 - 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Trace the history of photography in this unique course led by art historian and photographer Patricia Howard. Sessions are enhanced by a hands-on component in which students create their own imagery using the techniques and processes of the 19th and 20th centuries. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Friday, September 7 to 28, 2018 - 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Spend a morning getting a rare behind-the-scenes look at the Supreme Court—including the courtroom where cases are argued. Then, a panel of top legal experts previews the issues that will come before the court when the new session begins in October.

Tuesday, September 11, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Discover some of the infrastructure solutions designed to combat the challenges of navigating the Washington region in a daylong tour that brings you in touch with transportation professionals at Reagan National Airport, within Arlington County, Virginia, and Capital Bikeshare.

Wednesday, September 12, 2018 - 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

When the Michelin Guide, a powerful arbiter of taste, arrived in Washington in 2016, it was widely interpreted as validation of the city’s culinary pedigree. Hear about the newly selected Washington “stars” from Michael Ellis, Michelin’s international director. The program also features a conversation with several Washington chefs and a tasting.

Friday, September 14, 2018 - 11:00 a.m.

Beginning students as well as experienced painters explore watercolor techniques and learn new approaches to painting through classroom demonstration, discussion, and experimentation.

Monday, September 17 to November 5, 2018 - 10:15 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Sababa is Hebrew slang for great or cool. It is also the name of a new contemporary Israeli restaurant in Cleveland Park. Sababa opens exclusively to Smithsonian guests for a family-style lunch and a glass of wine—and author and culinary expert Joan Nathan adds a dash of cultural context to the proceedings.

Friday, September 21, 2018 - 12:00 p.m.

The best operatives never get caught—but some spies and insurgents get stopped in their tracks. Learn about notable arrests, captures, and expulsions from the 1960s through today from experts familiar with the maneuvers behind each successful catch.

Wednesday, September 26 to October 17, 2018 - 10:15 a.m. to 11:45 p.m.

Join transportation expert Scott Hercik in an immersive exploration into great sailing vessels, from those of the earliest explorers to today’s high-tech and high-performance speedsters. Highlights include the Mariners’ Museum in Newport News, Virginia, the Watermen’s Museum in historic Yorktown, and a 2-hour schooner sailing adventure. 

Wednesday, October 3, 2018 - 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Explore the basis of abstraction by studying color, line, and shape as they relate to composition. Learn to create exciting and innovative works of art, using a series of drawing and painting exercises designed to examine non-traditional ways of handling traditional materials and subject matter.

Thursday, October 4 to December 6, 2018 – 12:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (no class Nov. 22)

The more than 400,000 service members buried at Arlington National Cemetery represent a cross-section of both the diversity of the American military and our nation itself. Jim Carr, a master Washington tour guide and author, leads a visit that focuses on Latino members represented in the cemetery.

Friday, October 5, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Kick off DC Outdoors, a new series of local hikes, by celebrating the centennial of Anacostia Park and the rich history of the riverfront community in Southeast Washington that borders it. The day includes hiking along some of the Anacostia’s most scenic spots.

Monday, October 8, 2018 - 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The elegance of hand-lettered calligraphy is unmatched by machine. This class gives students a chance to learn the basics of this graceful and stylish art in a relaxed and supportive setting.

Tuesday, October 9 to December 4, 2018 – 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (no class Nov. 20)

Drawing on audio and video recordings, opera expert Saul Lilienstein demonstrates how the bel canto style evolved under the restless musical imagination of Giuseppe Verdi.

Tuesday, October 9 to November 13, 2018 – 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Whether you work digitally or on film, this course is ideal for students who are familiar with their cameras but are interested in expanding their understanding of photography fundamentals.

Tuesday, October 9 to December 4, 2018 – 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (no class Nov. 20)

Bring together the art of mosaics with an iconic symbol of the Mexican Day of the Dead as you create a 2-dimensional sugar skull mosaic complete with its own hanging device.

Tuesday, October 9 to December 4, 2018 – 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (no class Nov. 20)

The elegant and enduring Italic script has a venerable legacy. Begin your study of these versatile hand-written alphabets, which translate well into many practical and artistic applications.

Tuesday, October 9 to December 4, 2018 – 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (no class Nov. 20)

In this combination course, students work from still life, architectural interiors, and landscape to translate the world of three dimensions to two through the arts of drawing and painting.

Wednesday, October 10 to December 5, 2018 – 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (no class Nov. 21)

Whether you want work in digital or film, this course offers a solid foundation for new photographers ready to learn the basics. Two on-location shoots offer chances to put your new skills into practice.

Wednesday, October 10 to December 5, 2018 – 12:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (no class Nov. 21)

If you’ve ever wanted to paint, here’s a class that offers the perfect introduction to the art—and will have you ready to pick up your brush with confidence.

Wednesday, October 10 to December 5, 2018 – 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (no class Nov. 21)

The encaustic method of painting combines the luminescence of watercolor, the rich color and thickness of oils, and the quick-drying benefits of acrylic. The medium can be molded, sculpted, combined with collage materials, and reworked at any time. In this workshop, ideal for all experience levels, learn to capture vibrant pigments using heated beeswax and damar resin, as well as fusing and carving in wax.

Wednesday, October 10 to December 5, 2018 – 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. (no class Nov. 21)

Both beginners and seasoned artists can learn to take advantage of the creative possibilities of this rich pigmented, vibrant, and versatile medium.

Thursday, October 11 to November 15, 2018 – 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The more than 400,000 service members buried at Arlington National Cemetery represent a cross-section of both the diversity of the American military and our nation itself. Jim Carr, a master Washington tour guide and author, leads a visit that focuses on Latino members represented in the cemetery.

Friday, October 12, 2018 - 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

This introductory course teaches the basic skills needed for drawing. Working with a variety of materials and techniques, including charcoal and pencils, students explore the rendering of geometric forms, volume, and perspective, with an emphasis on personal gesture marks.

Friday, October 12 to December 7, 2018 – 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (no class Nov. 23)

Develop skills in a range of weaving techniques as you design and create a one-of-a kind miniature tapestry on a small-frame loom.

Friday, October 12 to December 7, 2018 – 10:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. (no class Nov. 23)

Described as a national treasure, the 15-mile stretch of the Potomac River from River Bend Park to Roosevelt Island is the focus of shooting assignments in this course. After a classroom orientation session, photographers record fall’s progress from both Maryland and Virginia locations in this beautiful and ecologically significant area.

Friday, October 12 to December 7, 2018 – 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (no class Nov. 23)

Students work in clay to create portraits from plaster casts and a live model as they develop a basic understanding of the principles and techniques of sculpture.

Friday, October 12 to December 7, 2018 - 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (no class Nov. 23)

Popular theory on right side brain activity holds that the right brain is primarily responsible for the intuitive understanding of visual and spatial relationships. Designed to improve the way people see and record objects on paper, this class provides a set of visual exercises to help build the ability to draw.

Friday, October 12 to December 7, 2018 – 2:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (no class Nov. 23)

This two­-session workshop examines fundamental concepts of composition and their practical application in studio-art practice, offering participants tools to enrich their own work as well to analyze and appreciate visual art in general. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Monday, October 15 to 29, 2018 – 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Join painting instructor Adrienne Wyman for a “behind-the-easel” perspective on French and impressionist paintings exhibited at four of Washington’s leading art museums. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Thursday, October 18 to November 8, 2018 - 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Join decorative arts specialist Erin Kuykendall for a tour of historic Annapolis, Maryland, to discover architectural gems and works of art from the eve of the American Revolution. Through visits to historic Georgian-style homes and an examination of the period’s decorative arts, Kuykendall offers a portrait of a vibrant capital city in which building, politics, art, and international commerce thrived.

Friday, October 19, 2018 - 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Join historian and author Garrett Peck on a walk though wartime Washington. Its stops include Pershing Park, the First and Second Division monuments, the D.C. War Memorial, the spot where sheep grazed on the Ellipse, and the site where thousands of women volunteered for the American Red Cross.

Friday, October 26, 2018 - 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The complex culture of South Asia has given rise to some of the world’s most remarkable artistic creations. Robert DeCaroli of George Mason University highlights the artistic traditions and historical changes within the Indian subcontinent from the earliest archaeological evidence to the onset of colonialism. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)

Thursday, November 1 to 29, 2018 - 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. (no class Nov. 22)

Inspired by the National Portrait Gallery’s Eye to I: Self-Portraits from 1900 to Today, this 3-session workshop examines the art of self-portraiture and puts techniques observed at the exhibition into practice to create beautiful, expressive self-portraits. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Monday, November 19 to December 3, 2018 - 10:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.

Merge recent findings on visual perception with familiar elements of art to discover how your landscape and still-life paintings can take on new and fresh creative edges.

Monday, November 19 and 26, 2018 – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Through lectures and drawing exercises, learn how Renaissance artists used the Golden Ratio, the Rule of Thirds, three-point perspective, and the Fibonacci spiral—as well as how these elements can provide dynamic visual interest to your own compositions, no matter the medium. (World Art History Certificate elective, 1/2 credit)

Monday, December 3 and 10, 2018 – 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.