On the final day of the thirteenth annual community exhibition Ofrendas: Celebrating el Día de Muertos, join a special discussion with the artists who created the altars on view. The program will begin with representatives from the Mexican Consulate offering insight into the rich history of Día de Muertos (Day of the Dead) and the tradition of Ofrenda altars. Each participating artist will then share the meaning and inspiration behind their altar and answer audience questions.

This program is for all ages, though some topics may be sensitive for children under 10.

Free with museum admission. Capacity is limited and seating begins 30 minutes before the program start.

Celebrate the many Latinx cultures, histories, identities and languages from around the world with New York International Children’s Film Festival’s 2025 installment of ¡Hola Cine!.

This collection explores themes of belonging, family, cultural heritage, and coming of age—from a quiet story of self-discovery in rural Peru to whimsical adventures that defy gravity and expectation. Told through animation and live action, in Spanish, Quechua, English, Dutch, and beyond, each film offers a heartfelt glimpse into the many ways young people navigate their worlds. 

Recommended for ages 9+ (70 min.)

Carlos y Charlos are two Los Angeles County-born multi-instrumentalists, Juan Carlos Reynoso (banjo sexto) and Charles De Castro (diatonic accordion), who initially came together to play the songs they love from their Norteño idols, like Los Alegres de Terán and Carlos y José, to Texas accordion legends such as Santiago Jimenez Sr. and Narciso Martinez. 

The addition of bassist Patrick Morrison solidifies the band’s current sound. Their blend of traditional polkas, waltzes, and classic Norteño repertoire keeps the party going while staying true to the roots of Norteño and Mexican music.

Kid Flicks: Pride is a celebration of self-expression, community, legacy, and love. Curated specifically for ages 9 and up by the New York International Children’s Film Festival, these shorts from around the world showcase a wide range of LGBTQ+ identities and experiences in equally diverse styles. From schoolyard matchmakers to a Belgian teen and a group of Indigenous Hawaiian māhū, these stories highlight the power of embracing who you are. Presented in English or with English subtitles. (65 min.)

This program is free with museum admission.

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

Celebrate the rich historical tapestry of Taiwanese heritage in a dynamic live presentation by 4th generation tea master, Ai Fang and her sister, Kuei Fang, whose family business, now called Jhentea, has been growing and processing tea since 1850.

Explore the far-reaching and inclusive culture of tea drinking through an introduction to tea processing and brewing techniques and various tea wares and mats, tracing the development of tea culture across Taiwan by showcasing the history and lifestyles revolving around tea drinking on the island.

With tea ceremony demonstrations, tea and desert samplings this program will be an engaging afternoon of cultural exchange.

In the DIA’s Lecture Hall, followed by tastings in FJC Dining Rooms A/B as supplies last.

This program is free with museum admission. Capacity is limited – seating begins 30 minutes prior to performance start.

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

Join the DIA and the Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

To honor the significance of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month to the community, our Opening Ceremony features special guest speakers and three music performances that span genres and cultures.

Featured Performances:

• Mongolian Tribute Songs to Genghis Khan | Performed by The Throat Singer
• Champa Mueng Lao | Performed by Team Sitthideth
• The Drinking Song (茶花女－饮酒歌) and Altar Rendezvous (敖包相会)| Performed by Jie Wang & Jinsheng Zhang

For families with children of all ages. This program is free with museum admission. Seating is limited – arrive early as seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) programs are developed in partnership with the DIA’s auxiliary group Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures (FAAC) with support from Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC).

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

Join the DIA and the Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures in celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month!

In conjunction with the AAPI performances in Rivera Court on the same day, we invite you to view the works of locally based Asian American artists in the Great Hall. With special demonstrations by Kyoko Fuji, calligraphy, and Zhongou Xu, dumi ink painting, at 11 and 11:30 a.m., this display gives insight to the ways in which cultural heritage and tradition influences visual art across varied media.

Featured artists:

• Anthony Lee
• Benjamin Byung Kim
• Boisali Biswas
• Hiroko Lancour
• JenClare Gawaran
• Julius GC Hwang,
• Kyoko Fujii
• Luzhen Qiu
• Nobuko Yamasaki
• Rhona Lee
• Shinming Shyu
• Si Mo
• Zhongou Xu

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) programs are developed in partnership with the DIA’s auxiliary group Friends of Asian Arts and Cultures (FAAC) with support from Michigan Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission (MAPAAC).

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

Celebrate the voices and stories of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities at the DIA throughout May in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! In collaboration with AAPI community groups and professional artists, the museum will showcase a dynamic mix of traditional and contemporary dance, music, art, and more. This year’s celebration and performances include Chinese, Filipino, Hmong, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Mongolian, Taiwanese and Vietnamese cultures.  

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month programs are developed in partnership with the DIA’s auxiliary group, Friends of Asian & Asian American Arts & Cultures.

All programs take place onsite and are free with general museum admission unless otherwise noted. 

Friday, May 2

• 6–8:30 p.m. | Drop-in Workshop: Uchiwa Paper Fans – Artmaking Studio
• 6–8:30 p.m. | Drawing in the Galleries: Japanese & Korean and Indian & Southeast Asian Art Galleries

Saturday, May 3

• 10 a.m.–3 p.m. | Cultural Display & Demonstrations – Great Hall
• Noon–4 p.m. | Drop-in Workshop: Uchiwa Paper Fans – Artmaking Studio
• 1 p.m. | Opening Ceremony – Music Performance – Rivera Court
• 2 p.m. | Celebration Show – Dance Performance – Rivera Court

Sunday, May 4

• Noon–4 p.m. | Drop-in Workshop: Uchiwa Paper Fans – Artmaking Studio
• Noon–4 p.m.  | Drawing in the Galleries: Japanese & Korean and Indian & Southeast Asian Art Galleries

Friday, May 16

• 7 p.m. | Music Performance: Masayo Ishigure – Rivera Court

Friday, May 23

• 7 p.m. | Music Performance: Asian Sound Revolution – Rivera Court

Saturday, May 31

• Noon–4 p.m. | Guest Artist Workshop: Shingo Brown – Artmaking Studio
• 2 p.m. | Cultural Demonstration: Taiwanese Tea Culture presented by Jhentea – Danto Lecture Hall

Sunday, June 1

• Noon–4 p.m. | Guest Artist Workshop: Shingo Brown – Artmaking Studio

Bring your funny bone and thinking cap as Master Storyteller Ivory D. Williams shares his trademark wit, wisdom, and humor in a fun, interactive celebration of Juneteenth.

This program is free with museum admission.

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

Karim Nagi has performed Arabiqa in over 500 schools, libraries, and museums across the U.S. Through a joyfully interactive performance, he shares traditional instruments, dances, geography, and vocabulary from around the Arab world. A native of Egypt now living in Chicago, Nagi has recorded 17 albums, performed on six continents, produced a play, published a book, and given a TEDx Talk. His goal is to showcase the creativity of the Arab world and dispel negative stereotypes. (60 mins.)

This program is free with museum admission. Capacity is limited—seating begins 30 minutes before the performance. In the DIA’s Lecture Hall.

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