In honor of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the DIA will be open on Monday, October 13 (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) with free admission to the exhibition Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation and our Native American galleries. Café DIA will also be open for your dining enjoyment.

That evening, don’t miss a special registration-only event with Angeline Boulley, bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter. Beginning at 6 p.m., Boulley will share from her new novel, Sisters in the Wind, followed by a book signing and a self-guided tour of the exhibition and Native American galleries.

Experience the highlights of the Detroit Institute of Arts on a free, guided tour with American Sign Language (ASL) interpretation.

Explore some of the museum’s most beloved works of art while learning about the stories, history, and artists behind them.

Tours meet in the Great Hall at 1 p.m. and last approximately 45 to 60 minutes.

Participants in this workshop will explore everything the DIA offers teachers and students, including field trips, workshops, and learning resources. DIA curator Dr. Chassica Kirchhoff will lead a guided conversation highlighting armor in the galleries, including the special presentation Guests of Honor: Armor as Fashion. This presentation features the loaned portrait Jean de Croÿ, 2nd Count of Solre by Juan van der Hamen y León (1596–1631), shown alongside three pieces of the gilded armor worn by Croÿ in the painting. The portrait and the armor it depicts are reunited for the first time in over two centuries.

Following the gallery talk, participants will join the panel discussion Becoming & Dissolving: Conversations Across Media & Time with Israel Aten. This conversation will feature internationally recognized Detroit-based artist Israel Aten with Dr. Chassica Kirchhoff, Assistant Curator of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts, and Katie Pfohl, Associate Curator of Contemporary Art. Through the lens of Aten’s multimedia body of work—exploring identity, memory, and technology—the artist and DIA curators will examine unexpected intersections between contemporary art and the armor and portraiture featured in Guests of Honor: Armor as Fashion.

The panel portion of this event is sponsored by the Visiting Committee for European Sculpture and Decorative Arts and will include live American Sign Language interpretation.

Two SCECHs are pending approval. All educators are welcome.

Please join us for the Native American Heritage Month Educator Workshop, featuring special guest Kelly Church. Church is a Pottawatomi/Ottawa/Ojibwe artist and educator whose work is part of the DIA’s permanent collection. Her work will also be featured in the DIA's special exhibition Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation.

During the workshop, participants will have the opportunity to meet Church and learn about her artistic practice. The session will include a hands-on basket-making activity led by Church, and you will get to keep the basket you create. Additionally, participants will experience a guided tour highlighting Native American art, and will have the opportunity to explore Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation with learning resources designed to support the exhibition.

All educators are welcome. 4.5 SCECHs are pending approval.

Join the Teen Arts Council and local stained-glass artist Carey Gustafson to create your own wind chime from colorful stained-glass pieces. This event includes a guided gallery tour to explore stained glass in the DIA’s collection, plus lunch! Bring a friend and make new ones. Free with general admission, but registration is required.

Note: This event is for teens ages 13–19. Please bring a student ID or other photo ID that shows your age.

Carey Gustafson is a Metro Detroit stained-glass artist with 35 years of experience. Her company, Glass Action, primarily focuses on custom and portrait work, but she also teaches beginner classes, workshops, and more.

DIA Members: Enjoy Exclusive 20% Savings!

November 14–23

DIA Members are invited to take advantage of a special 20% discount on all purchases from November 14 through 23.

Kick off your holiday shopping with an exclusive evening event just for members!

Starting November 14, visit the Museum Shop to:

• Browse new arrivals and unique finds
• Meet local vendors and enjoy a variety of pop-up experiences

Don’t miss this chance to shop, connect with artisans, and enjoy member-only perks!

Shop now at the DIA Shop: diashop.org

Create your own pencil drawing to take home while exploring the collection up close. No experience necessary, and all supplies are provided. Open to ages 6 and up (children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult). Space is limited.

Create your own pencil drawing to take home while exploring the collection up close. No experience necessary, and all supplies are provided. Open to ages 6 and up (children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult). Space is limited.

See "The Rooster's Crow" Automaton Clock come to life in the DIA's European Medieval & Renaissance galleries during its once-monthly day of operation!

Throughout the day, visitors can see this rare 16th-century clock's mechanical rooster flap its wings and open its beak every fifteen minutes, and witness the figures of seven princes parade around an enthroned emperor as the clock strikes each hour.

Winding the clock for one day each month is vital to maintaining its fully functional condition. This important conservation work offers a unique opportunity to see a work of Renaissance art and technology in motion.

“The Rooster’s Crow” Automaton Clock, present-day Germany (Augsburg or Nuremberg), ca. 1585, gilt copper, brass, engraved silver, steel with partial bluing. Museum purchase, Ernest Rosemarie Kanzler Foundation Fund, DIA. No. 2023.601.

Gain a deeper appreciation for 18th-century American furniture as members of the Society of American Period Furniture Makers (SAPFM) demonstrate traditional hand-powered construction techniques—no electricity required!—and showcase beautifully finished works. SAPFM is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating both its members and the public about period furniture, including its history, design, and traditional craftsmanship.

Guests can also enjoy a guided tour of the DIA’s 18th-century furniture collection. IPVs (Interpretive Program Volunteers) will be available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for tours. Meet at the east Manoogian Wing entrance in the Great Hall.

This program is free with museum admission and takes place in the DIA’s Great Hall.