Adult Programs

Adult programs

As the nation’s design museum, Cooper Hewitt offers a range of adult public programs and events that engage with our exhibitions and collections through exploring contemporary and historic design topics. From lectures and panel discussions to studio visits and hands-on workshops, our programming aims to share the power and possibilities of design.

For information about mansion and exhibition tours, please visit Tours.

A photograph of a room full of adults sitting down drawing at multiple tables scattered around a room. At the back of the room there is a screen that has a black and white photograph of an interior space. To the left of the room are three large dome shaped windows, and on the right side of the room there is a fireplace with bookshelves on both sides.

A photograph of a bird's eye view of a light skinned person with curly red hair sitting at a table and drawing an interior space on a piece of paper attached to a clip board.

A photograph of two women holding microphones and stand in front of an audience giving a presentation. The light skinned woman with long straight black hair speaking on the right is Es Devlin, she wears a yellow sweater and a chunky necklace. The light-skinned woman with short brown hair on the left is looking and smiling at Es Devlin. Behind them is a screen projecting an image of a stage composed of large-scale hands and playing cards that appear to be thrown into the air. The stage is set on a waterfront, and in the background the sun is setting.

A photograph of four people sitting in chairs across a stage. The light skinned man sitting in the middle, Seymour Chwast, is speaking into a microphone, he has a grey beard, wears glasses, and a baseball cap. Behind the group is a large screen projecting multiple images of posters and illustrations that relate to War, each designed by Seymour Chawst.

A photograph of two adults giving a presentation in front of a room of adults. The light-skinned adult with brown hair slicked back into a ponytail is speaking to the group. Behind them is a large screen titled, “Conservation: an introduction”, that has multiple images of people doing conservation work. In front of them is a table of various decorative objects that look like vases or candle holders.

A photograph, taken from above, of a group of people sitting down at a table and painting colourful dots onto small circular objects the size of a quarter. Various art materials are scattered across the table, including markers, paintbrushes, stencils, and coloring pages with circular designs that mimic the real-life objects that people are painting.

A photograph of a woman with shoulder length grey-blonde hair and a white knitted cardigan stands at a podium speaking in front of an audience. Behind her is a screen projecting a slide of multiple images, such as a color sample sheet, textile samples on a table, and a mood board.

A photograph of a group of people standing and looking at prints, carving tools, and carved wooden blocks or linocut. The light skinned person with short blond hair standing in the center of the group is taking a picture of the prints on their phone. The medium skinned person on the far right rests their head on their hand, looking inquisitive.

Upcoming Adult Programs

To see programs for all age levels, view our Calendar.

12/11

Wednesday

Drop-In Sketching in the Galleries: Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial

Wed. December 11, 2024
2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET

Experience Cooper Hewitt’s collection and exhibitions through drawing! In this session, we'll sketch in the galleries of Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial, which explores design’s role in shaping the physical and emotional experiences of home across the United States, US Territories, and Tribal Nations. The exhibition is the seventh offering in the museum’s Design Triennial series, which was established in 2000 to address the most urgent topics of the time through the lens of design. This exhibition is full of visual imagery to spark the imagination for sketching! View full event details here.

Event Address:
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
2 E 91st Street New York, NY 10028

Free with museum admission

A large room with 3 dark leather sofas throughout. The walls are filled with framed artwork. The floor is carpeted in a bright blue. The image has a light purple border. Text at the bottom of the image reads: Making Home Smithsonian Design Triennial.

12/13

Friday

Shelfie Workshop with Black Artists + Designers Guild

Fri. December 13, 2024
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET

Have you ever taken a “shelfie”? A “shelfie” is a photograph of a bookshelf in which the bookshelf’s contents reflect a portrait of the person to whom the contents belong. For this interactive workshop, join Black Artists + Designers Guild (BADG) to think about the power of home libraries, in conjunction with their installation “The Underground Library” in Making Home—Smithsonian Design Triennial. View full event details here.

Event Address:
Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum
2 East 91st Street
New York, NY 10128

Get your tickets today.

$30 Adult; $20 Museum Member, $25 Student, Educator, Senior, Visitors with Disabilities

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