All across the five boroughs, we're bringing arts and culture right to your back yard!
In addition to providing library cardholders with free passes to museums and theaters, Culture Pass works with partner organizations to bring unique cultural programming to branches across the city. Check out the schedule below to see when and where we'll be next.
MAY
Amazing Animals!
5/1/2023 - 3:00pm - Marcy Branch, 617 DeKalb Avenue, Brooklyn
Presented by the Brooklyn Children's Museum
Whether they can regrow a tail or lift 1,000 times their weight, our animal friends have super powers! All animals, including humans, have unique gifts that help us to survive, grow, solve problems, and live our daily lives. Join Brooklyn Children's Museum to explore the science of adaptation and expert survival skills with reptiles and insects from the Museum's collection and enjoy an animal-inspired hands-on art project. More Info
Ages: Families. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Jazz Concert
5/4/2023 - 6:00pm - Woodside Branch, 54-22 Skillman Avenue, Queens
Presented by the New York Youth Symphony
Under the direction of Andy Clausen, the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Band is a 17-member swing ensemble dedicated to studying, rehearsing, and performing classic big band jazz music. Modeled on the bands of the 1930’s and 1940’s, the Jazz program preserves this heritage and, keeping with jazz traditions, incorporates it into the current and emerging styles that define the genre for the present generation. This concert will also feature a brand new NYYS First Music Commission piece by Michael Dudley. More Info
Ages: All Ages. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Historic Jewish Lower East Side & the Museum at Eldridge Street: a Program for Individuals with Dementia, Their Families, and Care Partners
5/8/2023 - 12:00pm - Hamilton Fish Branch, 415 East Houston Street, Manhattan
Presented by the Museum at Eldridge Street
Join the Museum at Eldridge Street and Culture Pass as we explore life in the Lower East Side when the smell of pickles ruled the streets, and the sound of children playing was heard far and wide. We will explore how the residents of this historic neighborhood lived, worked, and played in the most crowded area of the era. Our stops on this virtual tour will include Seward Park, the first free municipal playground in the country, Lowe’s Canal Street Theater, P.S. 1, tenement apartments, pushcarts, and other places of work. This program is intended for Individuals with Dementia, Their Families, and Care Partners. More Info
Ages: Adults & Older Adults. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Jalikunda: The Home of the Griot
5/13/2023 - 12:00pm - Baychester, 2049 Asch Loop North, The Bronx
Presented by Mind-Builders Creative Arts Center
Join Mind-Builders and the Center for Traditional Music and Dance for Bronx-based kora, African flute, and balafon music and songs from the Teretou after the harvest celebration. More Info
Ages: All Ages. Duration: 45 minutes. Language: English.
The Colors Of Frida / Los Colores de Frida
5/16/2023 - 3:30pm - Long Island City Branch, 37-44 21st Street, Queens
Presented by the Teatro SEA
A bilingual, one-woman show about the great Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, which combines storytelling, music, visual arts, puppets and audience participation.
Un espectáculo unipersonal bilingüe sobre la gran pintora mexicana Frida Kahlo, que combina la narración de cuentos, la música, las artes visuales, los títeres y la participación del público.
This is a bilingual program in English and Spanish. Éste es un programa bilingüe en español e inglés. More Info / Mas Información
Ages: Pre-K to 4th Grade. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English & Spanish.
The Pura Belpré Project | El Proyecto Pura Belpré
5/18/2023 - 4:30pm - Washington Irving Branch, 360 Irving Avenue, Brooklyn
Presented by Teatro SEA
Pura Belpré (1901-1982) was a talented author, collector of folktales, puppeteer and storyteller who wrote and reinterpreted Puerto Rican folk tales. As the first Puerto Rican librarian in the New York Public Library system, she pioneered many programs for the Latino community. Our show is a re-enactment of her legendary “Bilingual Story Hour.” Her famous tales: Pérez & Martina, Juan Bobo, and The Three Magi come to life in a creative and interactive experience that combines storytelling with puppets!
Pura Belpré (1901-1982) fue una talentosa escritora, coleccionista de cuentos tradicionales, titiritera y cuenta cuentos que escribió y re-interpretó las historias populares puertorriqueñas. Fue la primera bibliotecaria puertorriqueña en las bibliotecas de Nueva York y fue pionera en involucrar a la comunidad Latina en las mismas. Nuestro espectáculo es una recreación de su tradición de contar cuentos bilingües. Sus famosos cuentos: Pérez & Martina, Juan Bobo, y Los Tres Magos, cobran vida en una experiencia creativa e interactiva que combina el arte de contar cuentos con títeres.
This is a bilingual program in English and Spanish. Éste es un programa bilingüe en español e inglés. More Info / Mas Información
Ages: Families. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English & Spanish.
A Taste of Indian and Caribbean Culture with Bharati Sukul Kemraj
5/20/2023 - 11:00am - Morris Park Branch, 985 Morris Park Avenue, The Bronx
Presented by the Bronx Music Heritage Center
The borough of the Bronx and New York City are known to be a melting pot with people from all around the world. To help us understand a little about the everyday “culture in our community” when it comes to South Asians, Indo-Caribbeans and the terms Bollywood or Hinduism, our guest Bharati Sukul Kemraj will share a little knowledge on her culture through mandala drawing, a Bollywood dance performance, and some story telling. More Info
Ages: All ages. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
JUNE
Risa Hokamura Violin Concert
6/6/2023 - 5:00pm - Columbus Branch, 742 10th Avenue, Manhattan
Presented by Young Concert Artists
YCA artist Risa Hokamura presents a program of solo classical violin music, performing works by Ysaÿe, J.S. Bach, and an arrangement of Sakura Song, a traditional Japanese folk song. More Info
Ages: All Ages. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Sound Bath
6/10/2023 - 12:00pm - Gerritsen Beach Branch, 2808 Gerritsen Avenue, Brooklyn
Presented by the Brooklyn Music School
Immerse yourself in sound and meditation; emerge cleansed and renewed! Participants experience the soothing sounds of resonant instruments and meditation to align your body and mind. More Info
Ages: 18+. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Naudline Pierre: This is Not All There Is
6/12/2023 - 11:00am - Woodlawn Heights Branch, 4355 Katonah Avenue, The Bronx
Presented by The Drawing Center
Join Ada Pilar Cruz, teaching artist with The Drawing Center for an in-person discussion and art making workshop. Participants will explore the works from the exhibition, Naudline Pierre: This Is Not All There Is, currently on view at The Drawing Center until September 3, 2023. In this exhibition, layered wash drawings and richly-hued paintings create fictional worlds rooted in a mythology of Pierre's own making where she continues her exploration of imagined worlds, incorporating drawings large and small alongside and within sculptural elements to create an immersive environment. The discussion will be followed by a drawing and watercolor activity based on Pierre's themes and techniques. More Info
Ages: Adults. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Music and Imagery
6/13/2023 - 4:00pm - Williamsburgh Branch, 240 Division Avenue, Brooklyn
Presented by the Brooklyn Music School
Close your eyes and experience the power and magic of imagery in music. Listening to music from various genres, we will meditate on the imagery conjured up by the music, and create sketches of these scenes, discovering together the universal and personal aspects of musical immersion. More Info
Ages: All Ages. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Celebrate Juneteenth!
6/16/2023 - 3:00pm - South Jamaica Branch, 108-41 Guy R Brewer Boulevard, Queens
Presented by the Kupferberg Center for the Arts
Join us for an author event with Queens Rising and Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning celebrating the rich African American literary tradition, from the past to the future. More Info
Ages: All Ages. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.
Mexican Folklore Dance Workshop / Aprende a Bailar Folklor Mexicano
6/24/2023 - 3:30pm - Allerton Branch, 2740 Barnes Avenue, The Bronx
Presented by the Bronx Music Heritage Center
Come dance with Martha Zarate, founder of Mazarte Dance. She will give a bilingual introduction to traditional/folk dances from Mexico in which the audience will learn the cultural and geographical aspects of the culture as well as the influences on the movements, like in the coastal states of Mexico: Guerrero, Veracruz. Audience also will learn basic dance steps.
¡Ven a bailar con Martha Zarate, fundadora de Mazarte Dance! Aprenderás sobre el folklor mexicano y sus bailes tradicionales. Así como de dónde vienen cultural y geográficamente, y la influencia en los movimientos de los estados de Guerrero y Veracruz, México. También aprenderás los pasos básicos de cada uno de estos bailes. More Info / Mas Información
Ages: All Ages. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English & Spanish.
Plant Part Art
6/30/2023 - 3:30pm - Poppenhusen Branch, 121-23 14th Avenue, Queens
Presented by the Queens Botanical Garden
Explore plant parts and identify their functions, through art creations. Students will create artwork using pea flower, turmeric, beet pigment and other plant ingredients. (Space is limited—this program is first-come, first-served). More Info
Ages: Children & Families. Duration: 1 hour. Language: English.