Frequently Asked Questions / Programs

You can access Zoom on most mobile devices. You may want to try connecting your digital device to your television to enjoy the program on a larger screen.

Unfortunately, a fuzzy screen can be caused by multiple factors, some within our technicians' control, but many are outside of our control. If you are experiencing this, check your internet connection (preferably via an Ethernet cord) and that you do not have too many other programs open on your computer.

Yes! You can dial-in from a telephone line (listed in the Zoom email) to listen to the program live. Unfortunately, you will not be able to see slides or video with this method.

For non-Studio Arts programs, each ticket purchased will grant you one "login" to the event - so, if multiple people are watching from one device in the same household you will only need to buy one ticket. If you wish to show your support for our programs, consider donating the admission price of your additional viewers so that we can continue to bring quality programming to our members and audiences! Please click on a "Donate" button at checkout. All Studio Arts classes require a ticket for each participant so that the instructor can provide individual attention to every student listed on the roster.

We have restricted the size of some of our classes so that teachers can give participants individual attention to enhance their experience. For our larger programs, we still have a limit based on the software we use, as well as the technology we have available while our staff continues to work remotely.

Registration for streaming programs closes two hours prior to the start time on the date of the program.

Except for Studio Arts multisession classes, live streaming programs are not recorded and are not available for later viewing at this time. We hope to be able to offer that option soon.

Occasionally Smithsonian Associates must change the time, date, or location of a program after an announcement has been published or tickets have been mailed. Our office notifies participants by phone, email, and/or mail. If you are uncertain about where and when a program is to take place, please call us at 202-633-3030, M-F, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. A recorded announcement on our 24-hour automated hotline lists events and locations for that day. Friday's recorded announcement also includes the weekend events and tours.

Tickets are available (on a first-come, first-served basis) at the door of some Smithsonian Associates events. Tickets for tours and studio arts workshops are not available at the door. Please call 202-633-3030 to be sure that the event is not already sold out.

Participants in Smithsonian Associates member activities may be photographed or videotaped for the educational and promotional purposes of the Smithsonian Institution and Smithsonian Associates. The taping and/or photographing of concerts or lectures by participants at these events (except tours) is not permitted.

Please visit our website or you may call 202-633-3030 anytime for the latest activity information. For Local Study Tours recorded updates and information, call 202-633-8687.

If you are a current Smithsonian Associates member, have logged in, and still see only a zero in the Member rate tickets drop-down menu, you might be logging in with a duplicate account that is not associated to your membership record.

Call us at 202-633-3030 during business hours or send us an email at CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org to get your account user name and an email to reset your password. You will then be able to purchase tickets at member prices. Your membership level will determine how many member rate tickets you can order.

You may call our 24-hour automated hotline at 202-633-8687 for up to date tour information. If you have any concerns about weather, we suggest you call our tour hotline prior to departing from home on your tour date.

Please call 202-633-8624 at least one week prior to your tour to discuss any dietary needs.

Our policy regarding special seating is to fax a doctor’s note and written request to 202-633-9250. This can also be mailed to: Smithsonian Local Tours
P.O. 23293
Washington, DC 20026

Yes, gratuities and tips are included to all appropriate parties. Your Smithsonian Study Leader and Smithsonian Representative are professionals who do not receive tips.

Yes, tours operate rain or shine. In the case of severe weather, tours may be rescheduled, please call our 24-hour automated hotline at 202-633-8687 for updated tour information prior to your tour.

Please see this pdf file for study tours general parking information.

Daytime, weekend bus tours usually depart from the Holiday Inn Capitol at 550 C Street, SW (corner of 6th & C). Weekday and overnight tours usually depart from the DeSales St. side of the Mayflower Hotel located at 1127 Connecticut Ave. NW. Specific departure information will be printed on your ticket and updated on our tour hotline one week prior to the tour.

You can cancel a tour 3 ways. Sometimes you are charged a fee and not every part of a tour is refundable.

By Fax: Please cut up the tickets into pieces and photocopy them. Fax to 202-786-2034, with your name and daytime phone number.

At the Box Office: Our window in the S. Dillon Ripley Center is open 10am-5pm Monday-Friday.

By Mail:
Smithsonian Associates Refund Department
P.O. Box 23293
Washington, D.C. 20026-3293.

One-day Study Tours Refund Policy:
Credits will not be issued for tickets to programs that have a Resident Member price of less than $40. To receive credit for tickets with a Resident Member price of $40 or more, please call 202-633-3030 and speak with Customer Service at least 10 working days prior to the program date. Please note that there is a $10 processing fee.

Overnight Study Tours Refund Policy:
To receive credit for a course, please call 202-633-3030 To receive credit, please call 202-633-3030 and speak with Customer Service. Credit will be issued, provided cancellation is requested at least 45 days prior to the tour date. Cancellations received between 15 and 45 days before the tour are subject to a $100 cancellation fee. No credit will be issued for cancellations received fewer than 15 days before the tour date.

For a refund, tickets must be received in our office by the appropriate deadlines.

If a program is filled before we receive your order, or if it is cancelled at any time, you will receive a full refund.

Smithsonian Associates office is closed weekends and federal holidays.

The cost of some components of tickets—such as entrance fees, theater tickets, various food programs and meals, and airline and other transportation—may not be able to be credited.

Credits are non-transferable.

If you are doubtful of your physical abilities please contact 202-633-8601 to discuss physical requirements for the tour in which you are interested.

Read tour description carefully to be prepared with appropriate clothes, hats, shoes, water, etc. If you have any questions, please call us at 202-633-8601

No, travel insurance is only advised for overnight, multi-day tours.

Overnight tours are non-refundable and emergencies do occur where last-minute cancellations may be necessary. Travel insurance provides additional coverage against unforeseen incidents.

If a participant wishes to purchase travel insurance, they must do so on their own. Smithsonian Associates does not do this for them. Additional information

Tours depart ON-TIME and do not wait for late arrivals. Please give yourself plenty of time to arrive at bus departure location.

Seats on the bus are first-come/first-served.

Most classes do not have materials included. Please refer to the full course write-up in the Associate course program guide or online to determine whether a student supply list is available to download from our website. There are some instances in which the instructor provides supplies in the form of a kit to be ordered from them directly, or where supplies are discussed at the first class meeting. Information on supplies is contained in each course description.

When ordering supplies from an instructor or online store, please allow sufficient time for your items to be shipped prior to the first class.

We recommend wearing comfortable clothing that you won't mind getting a little messy. If you're coming from work, bring a smock or old shirt to protect your nice clothes from any damage.

Supply lists are available for download at the same time the class goes on sale and can be found on the course page; either by searching for the event code or by selecting the first date of the class from the calendar on our homepage.

All Streaming classes are held in the Zoom meeting format. You will receive a link in a confirmation email after you register for the class, in a welcome email from associates-studioarts.si.edu one week prior to the class start date, and again 30min before the first class begins. Zoom links are not sent out each week so please be sure to hold onto your welcome email for the duration of your multi-session class.

Currently all programs are streaming. However, when in-person classes resume, the majority are held on the National Mall in the S. Dillon Ripley Center classrooms, some classes are held at other locations. Check your tickets and/or the Associate class description for this information. If you still have questions, please call 202-633-3030 or email us at CustomerService@SmithsonianAssociates.org.

Parking and Metrorail directions for the S. Dillon Ripley Center may be found here.

New classes are typically announced on a quarterly basis via our monthly Smithsonian Associates program guide:

• Fall offerings (October-December) = August issue
• Winter offerings (January-March) = November issue
• Spring offerings (April-June) = February issue
• Summer offerings (July-September) = May issue

All those wishing to participate in a studio art class or workshop must be registered. You may register online or by calling 202-633-3030.

Unless specifically described as a class for teens, studio arts classes are designed for participants age 16 and up. We do have unique summer camp experiences specifically for children K-8th grade. Information on our summer camp programming is generally available on our summer camp website beginning in February.

You may register late for a class if there is still space available and the instructor agrees to add another student. To join a class already underway, please call customer service at 202-633-3030.

In the case of severe weather, classes may be postponed. Announcements regarding class schedules for the day(s) in question will be posted on the Studio Arts Inclement Weather Hotline at 202-633-8690 at least two hours prior to the start of class time. Information regarding class postponements will also be posted on the home page of the Smithsonian Associates website and social media.

The majority of Studio Arts classes are recorded and made available to registered students via a password protected drop box folder link. The recordings are not downloadable. Recordings are uploaded within 24-48hrs of a class session, all recordings for a course are in the same drop box folder and are available until one week after the final course meeting. The drop box folder link for the recording/s and the password are sent in a welcome email from associates-studioarts.si.edu one week prior to the first class meeting. The link will not be emailed out week-to-week, so please hold onto your welcome email for the duration of your multi-week class. The class description on our website will specifically state if a class is not being recorded.

Attending another class session of a course section (e.g. Beginning Drawing) won't be possible. Classes are specifically structured and they often run at full capacity and at different paces. This makes it impossible to accommodate visitors from other classes. We recommend that you check your schedule carefully before committing to a multiple-session class, to ensure that you are free and able to get the most from your educational experience. If you must miss a class due to your schedule, and have still chosen to enroll, we recommend speaking to your instructor prior to the class session you will miss to see if there is an assignment or supplemental reading that can be done to keep you on schedule. Your instructor will be your best guide in this situation.

The Smithsonian Associates does not issue refunds except in cases when a program is canceled or if it is filled before we receive your order. In some circumstances, purchasers may receive a credit to their account by contacting customer service in writing at least two weeks before the program date to request a credit. Please review our complete refund and credit policy.