Holiday Caroling

Caroling in the seasonally decorated West Building Rotunda is a favorite at the Gallery. Guest choirs lead afternoon sing-along caroling. Singers and listeners of all ages are welcome.

December 12, 13, 19, and 20 at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m.

West Building Rotunda

Holiday Concerts

Tine Thing Helseth, trumpeter
Steffen Horn, pianist
December 13 at 6:30PM
West Building Main Floor, West Garden Court

Music by Falla, Grieg, and other composers
Presented in conjunction with the Norwegian Christmas Festival at Union Station
National Gallery of Art Vocal Arts Ensemble
December 20 at 6:30PM
West Building Main Floor, West Garden Court

Christmas Concert
National Gallery of Art Orchestra with guest conductor José Serebrier
January 3 at 6:30PM
West Building Main Floor, West Garden Court

New Year Concert

Gallery Talk

"Nativity with the Prophets Isaiah and Ezekiel" by Duccio di Buoninsegna
David Gariff
December 8 at 2:00 p.m.
December 10, 12, 13, 16 at 1:00 p.m.
(30 minutes)
West Building Main Floor, Rotunda
The Christmas Story in Art
December 15, 17, 18, 23 at 12:00 p.m.
(60 minutes)
West Building Main Floor, Rotunda
J. Russell Sale

Film Program

The Little Match Girl (La petite marchande d'allumettes)
December 19 at 1:00PM
East Building Concourse, Auditorium
Hans Christian Andersen's timeless tale of the poor little match seller who finds happy fantasies of holiday feasts when she strikes her own matches was filmed by Renoir and Tédesco as they generated raw electricity from an automobile motor and improvised their lighting. (Jean Renoir and Jean Tédesco, 1928, 35 mm, silent with live music by Andrew Simpson, 40 minutes)

Film Program for Children and Teens

Christmas Story
December 5 at 10:30 a.m.
December 6 at 11:30 a.m.
East Building Concourse, Auditorium
(ages 7 and up) Hundreds of years ago in a remote village in Lapland, a little boy named Nikolas loses his family in an accident. The villagers decide to look after the orphaned boy together. Once a year, at Christmas, Nikolas moves to a new home. To show his gratitude, Nikolas decides to make toys for the children of the families. Over the years, Nikolas' former adoptive families become many, and soon almost every house has presents on its doorstep on Christmas morning. At thirteen, Nikolas is sent to live and work with Iisakki, a grumpy old carpenter, who forbids Nikolas to continue making presents for Christmas. Gradually, however, Nikolas wins Iisakki's trust and together they look after the Christmas tradition. When the aged Iisakki has to leave Nikolas and move away, the tradition of Christmas presents is once again at risk. Thankfully, Nikolas comes up with a solution that brings children joy every Christmas, even until today. English language version. (Juha Wuolijoki, Finland, 2007, 80 minutes)

Web Feature

Fra Angelico and Filippo Lippi: The Adoration of the Magi, streaming slideshow (Download RealPlayer)

Ice Skating

The National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden Ice Rink will open on Thursday, December 10, and continue through mid-March 2010, weather permitting. View magnificent works of sculpture while skating in the open air and enjoying music from the state-of-the-art sound system. For the most up-to-date information, please call (202) 216-9397 or e-mail us at ngaicerink@guestservices.com.

Restaurants

Special refreshments—mulled cider, cocoa, and holiday sweets with an international flavor—can be purchased in the Espresso & Gelato Bar in the East Building Concourse and in the Sculpture Garden Pavilion Café during the month of December. See restaurant hours.