Skip to main content

Programs

That program or program list could not be found.

Try doing a text search for your program, or browse our programs using the calendar and program type filters.

All upcoming programs

Programs 1 to 10 of 397
Sunday, February 9, 2025 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET

Have you ever found yourself pondering deeply cheesy thoughts: What makes certain cheeses smell, look, or taste the way that they do? How do I serve them? What do I look for when shopping for cheeses? And where are the best places to find them locally? Join Alice Bergen Phillips, founder of Washington, D.C.’s Cheesemonster, for a lively investigation that serves up all the answers—and a tasting, too.


Sunday, February 9, 2025 - 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET

Indulge in a colorful midwinter escape as naturalist and botanical horticulturist Keith Tomlinson leads a series of virtual visits that highlight the beauty of notable botanical gardens on the East and West Coasts of the United States, Morocco, and Germany. Vibrant visuals illustrate how each site takes a unique approach to design and interpretation as they all celebrate plant collections, conservation, education, and the distinctive environments and landscapes in which they bloom. This program highlights Frankfurt’s Palmengarten and Washington, D.C.’s United States Botanical Garden.


Monday, February 10, 2025 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET

Benjamin Franklin was one of the preeminent scientists of his time. He conducted cutting-edge research on electricity, ocean currents, chemical bonds, and plants. While Franklin is often remembered more for his political prowess than his scientific creativity, that political life cannot be understood without giving proper credit to his scientific accomplishments, argues author Richard Munson. He offers a compelling portrait of a shrewd experimenter, clever innovator, and visionary physicist whose fame opened doors to negotiate French support for American independence.


Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. ET

Discover how visual art can inspire creative writing and how writing can offer a powerful way to experience art. Join Mary Hall Surface, the founding instructor of the National Gallery of Art’s popular Writing Salon, for five online workshops that explore essential elements of writing and styles through close looking, word-sketching, and imaginative response to prompts. This writing session is inspired by the self portrait of 19th-century French artist Suzanne Valadon.


Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. ET
In-Person Studio Arts Course

Learn to understand color and simple techniques that help you use watercolor. This fun guided practice explains the methods used to arrange and paint still-life artworks. The culmination of the four sessions is a finished painting of a snowy day with your personal flair.


Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. ET
In-Person Studio Arts Course

Step into winter wonderlands as you begin your watercolor journey by coming to understand color and trying simple techniques that help you use this magical art material. Prepare yourself for success with the correct supplies in combination with fun guided practice that explains the methods used to paint landscapes.


Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET

Over the past five decades, artists have explored an enormous range of new materials, techniques, and styles. That pluralistic experimentation encompassed forms from Pop, conceptual, and super-realist works to environmental and performance art, all of which still resonate today. Art historian Nancy G. Heller looks at the roots and later influences of radical American art. (World Art History Certificate core course, 1 credit)


Tuesday, February 11, 2025 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET

The assassination of Julius Caesar in March of 44 B.C.E. was meant to safeguard the Roman Republic from perceived tyranny. Instead, this grisly murder inadvertently set off a chain of events leading to the establishment of the autocratic Roman Empire. Historian Colin Elliott, host of the Pax Romana Podcast, explores the conspiracy that led to Caesar's murder, examines the ensuing chaos, and traces how one man’s death sparked a civil war and extinguished a nearly 500-year-old republic.


Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. ET

The oracle bones (ox bones and tortoise shells used for divination) found in Yinxu represent the earliest surviving records of Chinese script and have yielded unique insights into customs during the once-legendary Shang dynasty. Historian Justin M. Jacobs recounts the history of the accidental discovery of what was once thought to be dragon bones and provides a new picture of Chinese civilization at the dawn of history—one filled with human sacrifice, communion with the supernatural world, and powerful women involved in military campaigns.


Wednesday, February 12, 2025 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. ET

In 2023, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour became the highest-grossing tour of all time, with revenue exceeding $1 billion. While Swift clearly benefits the most, the tour also gave a financial boost to host cities around the world and a wide range of industries. Economist Kara Reynolds explores the unique economic issues associated with Swift and her impact on the music industry.