free things to do in New York City
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Free Events, Free Things to Do in New York City! Read More
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, May 9, 2025!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
May 9, 2025. Free shows, free concerts, free movies, free tours, free readings, worshops, lectures, etc. are New York's best kept secret! Learn all about it and do not miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides: NYC never ceases to amaze you with quantity and quality of its free culture and free entertainment whether it's day or night, weekday or weekend, summer or winter, spring or fall, January or June, May or September. If you are looking for inexpensive things to do and where to go in Manhattan today, tonight, tomorrow, or any other time, or any other day of any week - you came to the right place: just click on any day on the calendar dispayed on the every page of our site and you will see how many events you can attend in Manhattan free of charge on that very day.
New York's cultural scene is at its busiest in October and March (and the same goes for free events, free things to do), but other months of the year still offer incredible amount of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away! So if you looking for something to do in April or November, December or February, you will find tons of free things to do, free events to go to. (In June, July and August lots of those free events take place outdoors, of course).
So start using these unique New York City opportunities today, May 9, 2025!
Where else but in New York City can you listen to a world-class musician, discuss a book with a famous author, take a part in poetry reading, have a glass of wine at an art exhibition opening, and all that on the same day, and all that free of charge, and all of that on any day of the year, whether it's December or July, April or November!
The trick is to know about those free events, free things to do BEFORE they happen, not after the fact. That's where Club Free Time comes in handy! Become a Club Free Time member and start using these unique New York City (NYC) opportunities today, May 9, 2025!
Join the Club!
Club Free Time is your perfect guide to Free Entertainment and Free Culture in the City That Never Sleeps.
Join the Club!
Free things to do, free events that take place in New York City every day of the year are truly amazing. So if you're looking for something interesting to do today (May 9, 2025) or on any other day of the year don't miss those free-of-charge opportunities that only New York provides! You can find lots of high quality, off the beaten path, unique free events, free things to do which will take your breath away!
In addition to providing information about free events, free things to do in New York City (NYC), Club Free Time offers its members complimentary tickets to classical music concerts, dance performances and theater: when a producer wants that special buzz of the 'full house' - Club Free Time members are welcomed for their enthusiasm and sophistication!
Join the Club!
Get a taste of free culture and free entertainment in New York City (NYC)!
Join the Club!
Experience an entirely new perspective on New York. 'Open up a whole new cultural world... in one of the most vibrant capital cities in the world, sampling cultural delights beyond anyone's wildest dream.' Rupert Parker, journalist, photographer, cameraman, and TV producer
Join the Club!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
The quality and quantity of
free events,
free things to do
that happen in New York City
every day of the year
is truly amazing.
So don't miss the opportunities
that only New York provides:
stop wondering what to do;
start taking advantage of
free events to go to,
free things to do in NYC
today!
Let New York City surprise, stimulate, entertain and excite you! Read More
Don't miss the unique opportunities that only New York provides:
- free concerts in NYC
- free movies in NYC
- free jazz in NYC
- free poetry readings in NYC
- free tours/hikes in NYC
- free city walks in NYC
- free Yoga /Tai Chi in NYC
- fairs and parades in NYC
- free theater in NYC
- free tickets to concerts, theater and dance performances in NYC
'New York is abuzz with so much culture that they're giving it away.' (The New York Times article about Club Free Time).
54 free things to do in New York City (NYC) today:
Friday, May 9, 2025
All events are free unless otherwise noted.Workshop | Morning Yoga in the Fresh Air
Move, stretch, and start your morning off right with this open-level vinyasa class taught by Frances Burch. Please bring your own yoga mat, and organizers recommend a bottle of water and towel.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Outdoor Tai Chi for All Ages
Improve balance, strength and focus through gentle exercises. The sights and sounds of the river provide a serene background for the ancient flowing postures. An ideal choice for participants of all ages.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:30 am
Free
Free
Museums | Friday at Pop Culture/Art Museum
Through temporary exhibitions, a growing permanent collection, and educational events, this museum explores the enormous impact of posters on society and culture, and how they have been adapted to contemporary use. As the first poster museum in the United States, it provides a space for inquiry for all those interested in design, advertising, and public interventions, with the aim of improving design literacy among the general public. Posters explore:
mass communication and persuasion
the intersection of art and commerce
control of the public domain
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Museums | History, Culture, and Arts of Indigenous Peoples
This cultural institution showcases a vast collection of Native artifacts, such as objects, photographs, archives, and media.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:00 am
Free
Free
Workshop | Zumba Class for All-Levels
Featuring easy-to-follow Latin dance choreography. Work on your balance, coordination and range of motion.
New York City, NY; NYC
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10:30 am
Free
Free
Theater | The Imaginary Invalid: Moliere's Comedy-Ballet Starring Broadway Actor
Argan is ill. But is he? Argan is dying. But aren't we all? Argan wants absolute control. But is that ever achievable? After a series of upside down attempts to snap him out of it, a solution is found. But will it save him? The Imaginary Invalid is the last play that legendary French playwright Moliere wrote and was originally conceived as a Comedy-Ballet where theater, dance, and music are intertwined. It explores the fear of disease and the exploitation it breeds through infinitely humorous dialogue and in-your-face satire. This production will feature original choreography by FlexN dancer Cal Hunt, original music by cellist Johnathan Moore, and stars Tony and Olivier Award nominee Sahr Ngaujah. Director and Translator: Lucie Tiberghien Choreographer and Dancer: Cal Hunt Composer and Cellist: Johnathan Moore Cast: Dante Bonner, Mary Bacon, Rory Furey-King, Doron JePaul, Naomi Lorrain, Sahr Ngaujah, Shayvawn Webster
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Free
Museums | Asian Art and Culture Museum
The museum features a diverse collection of artworks, including traditional and contemporary pieces from various Asian cultures. 2 pm: guided tour.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Free
Festival | Food Festival with Local Vendors
New York City's favorite outdoor food market, Smorgasburg, is back. Enjoy a variety of eats and treats from local vendors.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Free
Free
Classical Music | Historical Works Performed on Period Instruments in a Museum Gallery
Juilliard's Historical Performance Department plays historical music on period instruments. Conversation exploring connections between the music and the Metropolitan Museum of Arts collection will follow.
New York City, NY; NYC
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11:00 am
Pay-What-You-Wish for New...
Pay-What-You-Wish for New...
Workshop | Learn to Juggle, All Skill Levels Welcome
THis juggling class is ideal for a quick lesson, an extended practice session, or just enjoy watching jugglers put their skills to the test. They’re a friendly group and open to drop-ins, even if you catch them outside of the regular juggling lessons. All skill levels welcome. Equipment is provided.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:00 pm
Free
Free
Concert | Piano in the Park: Brazilian & American Jazz
A five, six, seven, eight... Come on down and swing along to the best ragtime, stride, and jazz the Big Apple has to offer. Performing at this event: Luiz Simas. Brazilian/American pianist Luiz Simas is a versatile performer who feels totally at ease with both the music of his native Brazil and the American genres of jazz and ragtime. Keyboard magazine has described his playing as "sassy, clear and vibrant", and his music as "fresh, smart and witty". His latest CDs are Transparencias (Transparencies), a solo piano CD released by Lydjul Records, and Deuce, a CD of the Simas & Amorim Duo with guitarist Wesley Amorim.
New York City, NY; NYC
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12:30 pm
Free
Free
Film | All Happy Families (2024): Comedy-Drama
A struggling actor remains in a slump, while his successful brother has his own show. The family soon finds itself under the same roof again, where every corner reveals secrets and resentments. Director: Haroula Rose Cast: Josh Radnor, Chandra Russell, Rob Huebel, Becky Ann Baker, Colleen Camp
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Film | The Bone Collector (1999): Crime Thriller with Denzel Washington & Angelina Jolie
A brilliant quadriplegic detective forensics expert tracks a serial killer using computer technology, enlisting help from a gifted, but inexperienced rookie. Director: Phillip Noyce Cast: Denzel Washington, Angelina Jolie, Queen Latifah, Michael Rooker, Michael McGlone Denzel Washington is an American actor, and filmmaker known for his dramatic roles. In 2020, he was named "the greatest actor of the 21st century" by the New York Times. He's very accomplished, receiving two Academy Awards, three Golden Globes, and a Tony Award, plus two Emmys and a Grammy Award. He was awarded the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2019, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2025. Angelina Jolie is an American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian. The recipient of numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and three Golden Globe Awards, she has been named Hollywood's highest-paid actress multiple times.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:00 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Crafting Community: Work on Personal Projects & Make New Friends
Freeform crafting and conversation! Bring your own project or choose something from the collection to work on. The organizers have materials for sewing, knitting, crochet, coloring, and paper crafts. All programs are subject to change or cancellation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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1:20 pm
Free
Free
Film | A Thousand and One (2023): Drama Film
A desperate woman kidnaps a six year old to rescue him from the foster care system in New York City. Director: A. V. Rockwell Cast: Teyana Taylor, Will Catlett, Josiah Cross, Aven Courtney, Aaron Kingsley Adetola
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Performance | Playing with Social Codes through Performance Art: The Pin
Artist Pilvi Takala presents The Pin, a new performance that continues her work playing with social codes. Takala's work is set in motion by actors--identifiable only by a pin fastened to their shirts--who canvass the park, blending in with the public until they spontaneously approach unsuspecting passersby. Each performer is trained to improvise based on a script written by the artist, following the responses of the participating public. The seemingly happenstance interactions expose our preconceived expectations of how we engage with others in public spaces, and what might bring strangers to either connect or disengage. In setting up these exchanges, Takala makes visible how we grapple with polite contact, inclusion, and exclusion, while blurring the line between reality and fiction. Pilvi Takala's practice is centered on poking, prodding, and questioning conventions and codes in an effort to lay bare the social frameworks of our offices, parks, shopping malls, and other public spaces. The artist disrupts the experience of daily routines, using performative interventions as a means to push the audience to confront its own assumptions and behaviors. Often humorous--and almost always perplexing--her actions and interactions reveal our inherent discomfort with discomfort.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Tour - Arts and Cultural Heritage of Spain and Portugal: Goya, El Greco and Others
Explore the best items this museum has on display with this guided tour. Paintings, sculptures, ceramics, antiquities, and more by world-famous artists.
New York City, NY; NYC
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2:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Drink with the Peoples of Yesteryear
Explore ancient rhytons--enigmatic vessels for drinking or pouring libations--from the area of present-day Iran, and learn how they changed over time. In the ancient world, drinking was no ordinary, daily activity, but an elite ritual with a formal code, practiced in the contexts of feasting and ceremonies. Met fellow Bita Mesbah discusses these rituals so that attendees can learn about their history, functionality, and mythology, and model their own rhyton.
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Free
Play | New Original Play by Award-Winning Writer: I Hope This Letter Reaches Mictlān
I Hope This Letter Reaches Mictlān follows Sarai mourning the loss of her brother, whose soul is deported back to Mictlān, the Aztec underworld. Using her newly found shaman powers, Sarai attempts to transcend to help him, only to realize the journey begins with her. This play explores the complexity of grief and how it changes those who experience it. Playwright: Amalia Oliva Rojas
New York City, NY; NYC
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3:30 pm
Free
Free
Workshop | Learn the Art of Bookmaking with a Professional
Spend a Friday evening learning new artistic practices from a rotating group of incredibly talented local creators! Fold! Cut! Stitch! Draw! Write! Make Books! with Esther K Smith, author of the best selling How To Make Books! you'll learn how to craft a book, and then you can write and draw your story. For artists age 6 to infinity and beyond. You only need to bring an open mind. Smith taught artist books at Cooper Union and as a visiting artist at Cooper Hewitt, Museum of Arts and Design, Princeton, Harvard, and other institutions throughout the US, UK, Europe, and Canada.
New York City, NY; NYC
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4:00 pm
Free
Free
Movie in a Park | Freaky Friday (2003): Family Comedy Starring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan
Kick off the weekend with an outdoor movie night! Snag a seat, bring a blanket, grab a bite, and settle in for a screening of Freaky Friday! Synopsis: A mother and daughter accidentally switch bodies and must live each other's lives as they try to figure out how to switch back. Director: Mark Waters Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Lindsay Lohan, Harold Gould, Chad Michael Murray, Mark Harmon Jamie Lee Curtis is an American actress, producer, and children's author. Her most well-known performances are in the horror/slasher and comedy genres. She's often refferred to as a scream queen. Curtis has earned multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, a Primetime Emmy Award, two Golden Globes, and two Screen Actors Guild Awards, plus a nomination for a Grammy. Actress Lindsay Lohan has been in movies and TV shows since she was 10 years old. As her career grew, she established herself as a teen idol. During a period of behavioral and drug-related issues, Lohan didn't appear in as many roles, but she has worked on herself and rehabilitated her image in recent years, beginning to pick up roles again.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | American History and Artifact Collections
Enjoy a stroll through galleries of an extensive collection of American art, learn about the history of New York and the USA. Last admission is at 7 pm.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Pay-what-you-wish, reservation required
Birdwatching | Evening Birding in the Park with NYC Audubon
Discover the surprising diversity of birds that call New York home during migratory season with guided tours by NYC Audubon, led by environmental educator and urban naturalist Gabriel Willow. This park is a hotspot for avian visitors and birders alike. Past sightings include warblers, tanagers, vireos, thrushes, and even a Chuck-will’s-widow!
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Friday Evening at the Art/History Museum
This museum is an assemblage of illuminated, literary, and historical manuscripts, early printed books, and old master drawings and prints inside a historic building. Registration opens 7 days in advance & does sell out.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | Friday Night Function at an Iconic Art Museum
Enjoy art, drinks, special programming, music, city views, and more! Throughout the night, there will be a few "15-minute tours," highlighting different parts of the collection.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Movie in a Park | Identity, Migration, and Memory: Three Short Documentaries Exploring American Chinatowns
Luka Yuanyuan Yang is a visual artist and filmmaker whose practice, characterized by interwoven documentary and archival materials, addresses themes of identity, migration, and memory, challenging conventional historical narratives and amplifying overlooked voices. During a year-long research trip across the US in 2018, Yang was captivated by the rich history of migration and adaptation in America's Chinatowns. From 1882 until the 1950s, due to the Chinese Exclusion Act and racial discrimination, Chinese Americans were largely confined to Chinatowns. During this same period, Yang began researching the stories of Chinese women in 20th-century American performing arts, inspired by the legacy of Anna May Wong and seeking to uncover the experiences of other Chinese women performers whose stories have been forgotten or misunderstood by history. Yang's exploration of these neighborhoods, the Chinese diaspora, and performing artists has become the central focus of her short films and feature film Chinatown Cha-Cha, and her recently published artist book Dance in Herland. In a time of rising threats to America's Chinatowns, the artist brings generations together through film, dance, and dialogue. For this screening, Yang presents Tales of Chinatown, an exhibition of three of her short films: Cantonese Tunes on Mott Street (2022), The Lady From Shanghai (2019), and Tales of Chinatown (2019). By following her protagonists on the streets, through their communities, and into their homes, Yang amplifies the voices of those often denied the chance to share their own stories--individuals who have been forgotten, silenced, or misinterpreted.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Party | Play New Games like Blood on the Clocktower (BOTC)
Curious about a board game or looking to try something new? The Games Hosts will be teaching how to play a wide range of fun board games. Many come to play the social deduction game, Blood on the Clocktower (BOTC).
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Talk | Renowned Translator Emily Wilson on Translating The Iliad’s Violence
Dr. Emily Wilson, renowned translator of Homer's epic poems and Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, will speak on "Translating The Iliad’s violence”. This talk will argue that there is a large gap between modern and Homeric approaches to physical violence and agency. This difference is legible, she suggests, in influential critical analyses of The Iliad, such as that of Simone Weil, and in prominent translations of the poem. She will suggest that awareness of this difference can help us understand the distinctiveness of modern assumptions about power, force, individuality and humanity. She will also discuss my own approach to translating The Iliad, with particular attention to scenes of massacre.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:00 pm
Free
Free
Birdwatching | Bird Walk beside the Hudson
Explore the park on a family-friendly bird walk in led by NYC Bird Alliance. Bring binoculars if you have them! Space is limited, unreserved, and available on a first-come, first-served basis. If there is heavy rain at the time of the event, the event will be canceled.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Author Reading | Exploring India's Place in World History with Author & Expert
Award-winning author, historian, and co-host of the celebrated podcast “Empire,” William Dalrymple will present his new book that explores early India’s extraordinary achievements and place in world history. Co-founder of the Jaipur Literature Festival, the world’s largest literary event, he has brought India, past and present, to global audiences with such acclaimed books as Nine Lives, White Mughals, and The Anarchy. Please note: Space is limited; first come, first served. Registration does not guarantee admission once the lecture hall reaches capacity.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Registration required, free...
Registration required, free...
Museums | Friday Evening at the Art Museum
This special, all-ages evening celebrates the art and the city. Explore in the galleries, get creative with drop-in drawing sessions, and see a film in the theaters. Museum stores and café will be open, too, so you can grab a bite, get drinks, or shop for unique design objects. Free for New York State residents but must be reserved in advance (up to two adults), and are subject to availability and proof of residency. Tickets are released one week in advance.
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Poetry Reading | Poetry Open Mic: SHare Your Work or Listen to Emerging Writers
Participants can share their original work for up to five minutes. Space is limited to 15 readers; show up on time to get a slot!
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Screening | Screening & Discussion: Two Documentaries about the Women Who Shaped Jazz History
Learn about the first racially-integrated all-female band in the US and more for this year's Black History Month! In conjunction with the Music and Recorded Sound Division's exhibition Rhythm Is My Business: Women Who Shaped Jazz, the Reserve Film and Video Collection host an evening of film and discussion delving into the history of female jazz musicians. This event is a screening two documentary films: International Sweethearts of Rhythm, which tells the story of the first racially-integrated all-female band in the United States, and Tiny and Ruby: Hell Divin' Women, which profiles jazz trumpeter Tiny Davis and her partner, drummer-pianist Ruby Lucas. The screening is followed by a conversation with filmmaker Greta Schiller and author Linda Dahl (Stormy Weather: The Music and Lives of a Century of Jazz Women).
New York City, NY; NYC
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5:30 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | A Fresh Approach to Figure and Form: Ones, Chapter 0.2
Celebrated for her chapter-based approach to painting, R. H. Quaytman presents Ones, Chapter 0.2, a return to the singular image and the foundational act of painting. Moving beyond the groupings that characterized earlier chapters, Quaytman explores figure, form, and perception through small, geometric plywood panels with optical patterns and gessoed surfaces. Her work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Tate Modern, Centre Pompidou, and many others.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Acclaimed Artist Dietmar Busse Presents "My Life as a Flower"
Known for his recent solo museum exhibition at Amant, Brooklyn—reviewed by The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The Guardian—Dietmar Busse unveils "My Life as a Flower," a series of unique Polaroids created in Greenpoint, Brooklyn at the turn of the 21st century. Coated in matte pigments and adorned with petals and stems, Busse transforms his body into a living, textured canvas, merging performance and photography in intimate, haunting self-portraits.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Author Reading | Conversation Celebrating New Book on Post-War Korean Artists: The Making of Modern Korean Art
In celebration of the new publication, The Making of Modern Korean Art: 1961–1982, the contributors of this book will share new scholarship on the four pioneering artists who played major roles in the building of a modern identity of a nation through their artistic and intellectual exchanges, in the wake of a series of tumultuous historical events. The Making of Modern Korean Art sets up the scene in the aftermath of the Korean War (1950–1953), when Korean artists were redefining their cultural identity while articulating their collective trauma and existential dislocation. Many turned to abstraction when forging a distinctly Korean modernity. The book is a new milestone in the field of modern and contemporary Asian art, providing a comprehensive English-language survey of Korean abstraction that further contextualizes the best-known Dansaekhwa as one part of diverse and robust postwar Korean art movements. All three contributors will be speaking at the program, along with the artist Lee Ufan, moderated by Yasufumi Nakamori, Vice President of Arts & Culture and Director of Asia Society Museum, and Andrew Russeth, Editor of Artnet News Pro. Limited copies of the book will be available for purchase at the event, after the conversation.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | From Figuration to Abstraction
This exhibition showcases over 30 works by Mark Rothko and Adolph Gottlieb, highlighting their early figurative works from the 1920s and 1930s. This exhibition reveals the artists' shared influences and friendship before their transition to abstraction, strongly shaped by their time in New York and mentorship by Milton Avery. Through early works such as portraits and figurative compositions, the exhibition explores their parallel yet divergent paths—Rothko’s brooding, psychological figures contrasted with Gottlieb’s structured, classical style. These works offer a unique look at the foundation of their emotional use of color and the evolution of modern art.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | From Ground Zero to Global Influence
Discover the innovative spirit behind the ZERO movement in this exhibition of works by Heinz Mack. The show traces the evolution of new aesthetic principles from the movement’s founding in 1957 to today, reflecting the lasting impact and continued relevance of ZERO’s radical vision.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Jazz | Grammy-Winning Musician Blends the Sounds of Jazz, Funk, Soul, and More
Grammy Award-winning multi-instrumentalist Nicholas Payton is a visionary artist who defies categorization. He is deeply connected to the traditions of Black American music and the rich musical heritage of his native New Orleans. His sound blends jazz, funk, soul, and more. With his signature ability to play trumpet and keyboards simultaneously, Payton creates music that is both innovative and deeply rooted in tradition. This event is a free performance by this groundbreaking musician.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Lecture | Political Art During the Reformation Talk by Art Scholar
In the turbulent years before the Schmalkaldic War of 1547, the Bohemian town of Joachimsthal (now Jachymov, Czech Republic) was a major center of coinage and medal production. Among its most skilled medalists were Wolf Milicz and his son Nickel, who created medals that satisfied both Protestant and Catholic patrons, as the town's mint came to be controlled by both the staunchly Lutheran Schlick family and King Ferdinand I of the Catholic Habsburgs, brother of Emperor Charles V. This delicate balance is particularly striking in the father and son's commemorative medals of Elector Johann Friedrich of Saxony, a powerful Protestant leader and fierce opponent of Ferdinand and Charles. Rich in subtle symbolism and carefully worded inscriptions, these medals reveal the artistry and diplomacy required to navigate the Reformation's political fault lines. This lecture will explore how these works reflect the era's religious and political tensions, offering a fascinating glimpse into the intersection of power, faith, and artistic expression. Attendees may enjoy free admission to the galleries following the talk.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Opening Reception | Sensory Immersion in Paint
JD Raenbeau presents At Home with You, a new series of paintings and drawings that blur the lines between lush gardens, human intimacy, and abstraction. Drawing from the wild beauty of Long Island’s North Fork, Raenbeau leads the viewer through sensory, dreamlike landscapes where figures and flora merge. Raenbeau's work has been featured in New American Paintings, Artsin Square Magazine, and Sensitive Content Magazine, with exhibitions across New York, Los Angeles, New Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Recent residencies include the Vermont Studio Center, the Golden Foundation for the Arts, and Hafnarborg Museum in Iceland.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Museums | The Historical, Cultural, and Spiritual Meanings of Blue Pigment: Hands-On Experience
Pigments—particles that add color or change the appearance of materials (such as paints)—affect the look of three-dimensional sculptures by using a two-dimensional technique. In today’s session, Met fellows James Hughes and Ellen Purdy lead a hands-on experience with synthetic blue pigment. Learn about blue pigment’s meanings and relationship to humanity’s historical, cultural, and even spiritual experimentations over centuries and how it was used to decorate sculptures from ancient times to the present day. Participants are invited to prepare pigments and apply them to replica objects using a variety of techniques. Smocks will be provided, and, if possible, we recommend wearing comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting a bit messy.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Unique Combination Chamber Ensemble Performs Romantic and Modern Works
Orion's Bow Trio (Nikka Gershman, flute, Ari Peraza-Webb, cello, and Saul Ibarra Ramos, piano) plays a series of lesser-known pieces from the Romantic period through today. Program Bedrich Smetana (1824-1884) Piano Trio in G Minor, Op. 15 (transcribed by Nikka Gershman) Nikka Gershman Sospiro Alfred Schnittke (1934-1998) Polka from Gogol Suite (transcribed by Nikka Gershman)
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:00 pm
Free
Free
Talk | Exploring Wikipedia: "The Last Best Place on the Internet"
Annie Rauwerda, Michael Mandiberg, and Stephen Harrison discuss the challenges and opportunities for Wikipedia, a.k.a. "The Last Best Place on the Internet." The conversation will explore Wikipedia's role as an open-source archive, address questions of bias and reliability, examine the relationship between editors and the Wikimedia Foundation, and discuss the politics of "notability." Annie Rauwerda is a Wikipedia editor and enthusiast in New York City. She posts unusual Wikipedia articles on social media on accounts called "Depths of Wikipedia" and is writing a book about the behind-the-scenes drama and delight of creating the world's largest and most accessible information source. Michael Mandiberg is an interdisciplinary artist who created Print Wikipedia, edited The Social Media Reader, and co-founded Art+Feminism. Their work has been exhibited at Los Angeles County Museum of Art, The Whitney Museum of American Art, and Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris, amongst others. Stephen Harrison has covered Wikipedia as a freelance journalist for the New York Times, The Guardian, WIRED, and Slate. Known as the leading reporter on the Wikipedia beat, he is also a tech lawyer and the author of The Editors, a novel inspired by Wikipedia and its volunteer contributors.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
$5 per RSVP
$5 per RSVP
Jazz | Ourdoor Jams from Emerging Jazz Musician
Esteemed saxophonist, composer, and educator Langston Hughes II will perform with his hand-picked quartet at this outdoor event. Langston Hughes II, at 23 years old, distinguishes himself as an accomplished saxophonist, woodwind doubler, composer, and educator, positioning him as one of the most promising young talents in music today. He's currently immersed in the pursuit of a master's degree in Jazz Studies at The Juilliard School in the vibrant landscape of NYC. Beyond performing alongside established musicians, Langston has led his own quartet at prestigious venues and festivals, including Blues Alley, Keystone Korner, The Kennedy Center, the Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival, and the DC Jazz Festival, leaving audiences captivated and yearning for more. With years of experience and an ever-growing arsenal of technical and creative skills, Langston has cultivated a distinctive sound that radiates beauty, passion, and positivity.
New York City, NY; NYC
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6:30 pm
Free
Free
Jazz | Exploring Jazz Inspired by Wild Landscapes with String Duo and Emerging Guitarist
Jazz educator Mark Mollica, guitar, joins the band Endless Field in a concert of music inspired by wild landscapes and reverence for our world, and the convergence of acoustic and improvisatory musical styles. The duo Endless Field (Jesse Lewis and Ike Strum) has received praise for its beautiful, ambient style. Program Endless Field Heart Endless Field Unending Season Mark Mollica The Gravity of Rivers Rowland Salley (1949-) Killing the Blues Mark Mollica Drift Mark Mollica Miles Away Mark Mollica Last Light Mark Mollica True
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Concert | Sunset Singing Circle
Singer/songwriter Terre Roche leads this singing program with the beautiful backdrop of the setting sun over the Hudson. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned crooner, the singing circle is perfect for mellow melodies and healthy harmonizing.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Screening | Watch Short Films Made by New York's Next Generation + Q&A with the Filmmakers
The festival will feature a screening of twelve selected short film works by teen filmmakers from New York City's five boroughs. Screened Works will include: Unfounded The Rain Song Funny Seeing You Here Gangsterina Laugh It Off DREAMS Grace of God Auroris Hoa Tim Kevin's Sketch Book BOYS DON'T CRY Knock for Candy NOTE: This event will also feature a pre-program screening of selected original film works. This screening will begin at 5:30 p.m., with doors open to guests at 5:00 p.m. Doors will open for reception of guests at 6:30 pm. Join us afterwards for a Q&A with selected filmmakers in person!
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:00 pm
Free
Free
Theater | The Imaginary Invalid: Moliere's Comedy-Ballet Starring Broadway Actor
Argan is ill. But is he? Argan is dying. But aren't we all? Argan wants absolute control. But is that ever achievable? After a series of upside down attempts to snap him out of it, a solution is found. But will it save him? The Imaginary Invalid is the last play that legendary French playwright Moliere wrote and was originally conceived as a Comedy-Ballet where theater, dance, and music are intertwined. It explores the fear of disease and the exploitation it breeds through infinitely humorous dialogue and in-your-face satire. This production will feature original choreography by FlexN dancer Cal Hunt, original music by cellist Johnathan Moore, and stars Tony and Olivier Award nominee Sahr Ngaujah. Director and Translator: Lucie Tiberghien Choreographer and Dancer: Cal Hunt Composer and Cellist: Johnathan Moore Cast: Dante Bonner, Mary Bacon, Rory Furey-King, Doron JePaul, Naomi Lorrain, Sahr Ngaujah, Shayvawn Webster
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Free
Concert | CBS-Featured Musician Showcases Electric-Funk Jams
Felicia Collins (guitarist and vocalist in the CBS Orchestra on the Late Show With David Letterman) will perform with her New York-based band "The Throw Down" for a high-powered, electric funk performance of the iconic album, "Sly And The Family Stone Greatest Hits" and more!
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Free
Performance | New Humorous Performance Piece by 'Major Vocal Talent' Joseph Keckler
"Phenomenal. Major vocal talent ... with a range that shatters boundaries ... and a trickster's dark humor." --The New York Times Part site-specific concert, part impressionistic essay, A Good Night in the Trauma Garden positions the court as a space of blended times and mythologies, populated by gods and monsters; heroes, hybrids and historical figures; and moments of human suffering and sacrifice. The evening-length work weaves together original compositions with narrative vignettes that meditate on lives and deaths in New York City, the slipperiness of reality in contemporary America, and a perennial longing for the arrival of some god.
New York City, NY; NYC
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7:30 pm
Free
Free
Classical Music | Art Songs & Atrias by Poulenc, Saint-Saens, and More (In Person AND Online!)
Naomi Autumn Steele, mezzo-soprano, performs pieces by various composers of diverse musical eras, including an African American Spiritual. Program Francis Poulenc (1899-1963) Selections from Banalités Robert Schumann (1810-1856) Sechs Gesänge Op. 107 Maude Valérie White (1855-1937) Ophelia’s Song Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) La Mort d’Ophélie Jake Heggie (1961-) Songs and Sonnets to Ophelia Xavier Montsalvatge (1912-2002) Selections from ‘Cinco Canciones Negras’ Leslie Adams (1932-2024) Selections from ‘Nightsongs’ African American Spiritual (arr. Hall Johnson) City Called Heaven Rosephanye Powell (1962-) Selections from Miss Wheatley’s Garden
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
Play | New Original Play by Award-Winning Writer: I Hope This Letter Reaches Mictlān
I Hope This Letter Reaches Mictlān follows Sarai mourning the loss of her brother, whose soul is deported back to Mictlān, the Aztec underworld. Using her newly found shaman powers, Sarai attempts to transcend to help him, only to realize the journey begins with her. This play explores the complexity of grief and how it changes those who experience it. Playwright: Amalia Oliva Rojas
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
Play | Timely One-Woman Play Featured at Edinburgh Fringe: The Popess
The Popess is a dark comedy solo-show, which unravels the mystery of a true early feminist movement in the Italian misogynistic religious history, investigating the discrepancies between religion, faith and power and, ultimately, the meaning of freedom. Italy, 13th Century - the Guglielmites heretical sect causes havoc in Milan. Their leader, Guglielma of Bohemia, believed to be the second coming of the Holy Spirit, appoints Sister Maifreda as her Popess. Together, they herald a new female-led era, where only women could save humanity from eternal suffering. But, it doesn't take long for the inquisition to discover this new congregation and its beliefs... Written & Performed by Elena Mazzon In English.
New York City, NY; NYC
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8:00 pm
Free
Free
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Staged Reading | Staged Reading of a New Play
Regular Price: $By invitation onlyCFT Member Price: $0.00
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