In honor of the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday, the DIA will present a performance by Detroit pianist rocket(!!!)man, a record producer in the bloodline of the Ancient Storyteller, also known as a Groove Monitor. 

He uses The Groove as an ancient ancestral technology to help people better remember who they are, where they come from, and what they are truly capable of through exercises in healing and empowerment. 

Presented in Kresge Court, free with museum admission. (60 min.)

Don't miss The Improv Project Student Showcase, a must-see event for comedy lovers and anyone curious about the world of improvised theater. Enjoy a fun-filled afternoon as Detroit's newest improvisers join seasoned professionals from The Second City, Planet Ant, and Go Comedy! Improv Theater. Whether you're a long-time fan of improv or just discovering it, this showcase promises plenty of laughs for everyone.

For families with children ages 7 and up. Live ASL interpretation will be provided.

This program is free with museum admission. Seating is limited, so be sure to arrive early—seating begins 30 minutes before the performance starts.

Weekend Family Programs at the DIA are generously presented by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

Celebrate Hinamatsuri (Japanese Girls Day) at the DIA! Enjoy beloved traditions like the tea ceremony, a display of hina dolls, Ikebana flower arrangements, and soothing koto music, along with a special performance by Bentenya, a lively music group practicing the 150-year-old street art of Chindon. 

Hinamatsuri at the DIA is organized by Japan Cultural Development, a non-profit organization that fosters friendship between local and Japanese communities through cultural demonstrations in Detroit, and is supported by Japan Business Society of Detroit, Consulate General of Japan in Detroit, the DIA’s auxiliary Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures, as well as many other organizations.

See the full schedule below.

Performances & Live Demonstrations

• 10:15 a.m. Opening Remarks | Rivera Court (second floor), Council General of Japan in Detroit Mr. Hajime Kishimori, President and CEO of DIA Dr. Salvador Salort-Pons, and President of JBSD Mr. Shin Sasaki
• 10:30 a.m., 12:20, 2:30 & 4:15 p.m. Music Performance: Bentenya | Rivera Court
• 10:30 a.m., 2:15 & 3:30 p.m. Storytelling: Friendship Dolls Story | Danto Lecture Hall (first floor)
• 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. Shodo, Japanese Calligraphy | Rivera Court
• 11:45 a.m. & 1 p.m. Sa-do, Japanese Tea Ceremony by Masters of Omote-Senke and Ura-Senke | Danto Lecture Hall
• 12:30 & 3 p.m. Koto Music Performance by MIYABI | Kresge Court (first floor)

Limited Tea Service is available after each Tea Ceremony. Registration for morning service opens at 10 a.m. and for afternoon service at 12:30 p.m. in Prentis Court (first floor). Arrive early to secure your spot – tea service fills fast!

Limited Workshops (registration on-site day of)

• 1 p.m. Ikebana (Flower Arrangement) Workshop by Ikebana International Detroit 85 | Student Lunchroom (first floor)
• 11 a.m. & 3 p.m. Japanese Sweets Workshop by Toyota | Student Lunchroom

Registration for morning workshops opens at 10 a.m. and for afternoon workshops at 12:30 p.m. in Prentis Court. Arrive early to secure your seat - workshops fill fast!

Drop-in Workshops

• 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Origami, Japanese Paper Folding | Prentis Court OR Great Hall (second floor)
• Noon - 2 p.m. Sekka Shibori, Japanese Fabric Dying | Art-Making Studio (first floor)

Gallery Tours

• 10:30, 11:15 a.m., Noon, 2 & 3 p.m. Docent Tours of Japanese Gallery by Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures | Departs from Prentis Court

All Day Fun

• Shiga Prefecture Information & Tea Tasting | Prentis Court
• Friends of Asian Arts & Cultures Information | Prentis Court
• Hina Doll Display | Rivera Court OR Great Hall
• Mikoshi Display | Rivera Court OR Great Hall
• Ikebana Display | Prentis Court

Weekend Family Programs at the DIA are generously presented by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

Join in a celebration of Taiwanese-American culture at this exciting event that blends tradition with fun! Experience a traditional tea-picking dance, learn your Chinese zodiac sign, and receive personalized calligraphy. Be sure not to miss two thrilling lion dance performances, filled with energy and blessings for health, joy, and prosperity.

Event Schedule:

• 1:00 p.m. & 3:00 p.m.: Lion Dance Performance (10 min)
• 2:00 p.m.: Dance of the Tea Harvest (10 min)
• 2-Hour Interactive Activities: Chinese Zodiac & Name Booth, Personalized Calligraphy

Presented by the Michigan Lion Dance Team, this event offers a chance to celebrate culture, foster community, and enjoy a memorable experience.

Perfect for families with children of all ages, in the DIA’s Great Hall.

Weekend Family Programs at the DIA are generously presented by the MSUFCU Desk Drawer Foundation.

Tour the DIA’s new contemporary exhibit, 7 Mile + Livernois, by artist Tiff Massey. Then, at 7:30 PM, join DJ Nick Speed for dancing and a cash bar in Rivera Court and the Great Hall.

7 Mile + Livernois is Tiff Massey’s new gallery installation, featuring sculptures commissioned by the DIA in conversation with works by other artists from the museum’s collection. Massey’s work reimagines art’s role in the community, offering a vibrant, inclusive view of Detroit. Her art invites us to celebrate collective identity, ancestral flyness, and beauty. 

• Gallery experience: 7 – 9 p.m.
• DJ experience: 7:30 – 9 p.m.

Create a pencil drawing to take home while taking a closer look at the collection. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. For ages 6 and up (children ages 16 and younger should be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.

Create a pencil drawing to take home while taking a closer look at the collection. No experience necessary. All supplies provided. For ages 6 and up (children ages 16 and younger should be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.

Create a pencil drawing to take home while exploring the collection. No experience is necessary, and all supplies are provided. For ages 6 and up (children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.

Create a pencil drawing to take home while exploring the collection. No experience is necessary, and all supplies are provided. For ages 6 and up (children 16 and under must be accompanied by an adult). Capacity is limited.

Founded in April 2008 by Jeff Clark, I Love Steppin’ is an open community of dancers passionate about Chicago Style Steppin’. Members gather in cities nationwide to celebrate and raise awareness of this cherished tradition within Black communities.

This event welcomes dancers of all ages and includes a brief introductory lesson on Steppin' basics from 6:00 to 7:00 PM, followed by 90 minutes of dancing to music curated by DJ Rod Edwards.