The beautiful decorations of religious and secular manuscripts are centuries-old Islamic traditions. Learn the elements of gold-leaf manuscript illumination in the Afghan tradition.

Adobe Lightroom Classic is the best program for organizing and editing your photographs, usable for both RAW and JPEG image files. This two-session workshop offers users an overview of the program, with a focus on working with the essential Library and Develop modules for organizing and editing your files.

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.

Spend a day discovering the creative possibilities of the centuries-old encaustic method, which offers rich and luminous color and great compatibility with collage materials.

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.

For centuries, religious and secular Islamic manuscripts have contained beautiful geometric decorations. Explore the history and construction of these traditional designs before creating ones of your own with opaque watercolors and gold; outlined in black ink.

Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its 33-year history as one of the crown jewels of the National Museum of American History. The 2023–2024 SJMO season adds new excitement and luster to that musical tradition with this in-person concert honoring orchestrator Thad Jones.

Under the artistic direction of maestro Charlie Young, the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra has celebrated some of the greatest jazz music throughout its 33-year history as one of the crown jewels of the National Museum of American History. The 2023–2024 SJMO season adds new excitement and luster to that musical tradition with this in-person concert saluting America’s military jazz bands.

For Ages 5 to 10.  Joy, warmth, and community illuminate seasonal holiday festivals the world over.

For Ages 5 to 10.  Joy, warmth, and community illuminate seasonal holiday festivals the world over.