Hobey Ford's Animalia takes audiences on a journey through the magical world of animals, featuring his unique "foamies" – intricately carved puppets that come to life with realistic movements thanks to their innovative mechanical design. Breaking away from traditional puppet theater, Hobey transforms the entire theater into his performance stage. 

Animalia introduces the audience to the wonders of metamorphosis, including the transformation of a butterfly and a tadpole, as well as exploring various ecological systems and endangered animals.

For families with children of all ages. Seating is limited – please arrive early as seating begins 30 minutes prior to the performance.

Join us in the DIA’s Lecture Hall for this captivating and educational experience!

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

Join us for the closing event for Tiff Massey’s celebrated exhibition, 7 Mile + Livernois, on May 9, 2025 from 6:30–9:30 p.m.! 

Get a last look at Massey’s exhibition before it closes to the public on May 11, 2025, and dance under the stars on the Woodward Avenue Plaza during special performances from Detroit-based DJs KESSWA and Donavan Glover.

Cash bar available.

DJ sets will not be seated.

Schedule

Exhibition open all day, starting at 10:00 a.m. Last entry at 9:00 p.m.

DJ experience: 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Last entry at 9:00 p.m. Approx. Set times:

• Donavan Glover: 6:30 - 8 p.m.
• DJ KESSWA: 8 - 9:30 p.m. 

Advanced registration is now CLOSED.   Only guests who are pre-registered may enter the outside DJ performance area from Woodward Avenue.  Guests needing to check-in without registration, including DIA members and residents of Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb counties, must do so at the Farnsworth or John R entrances and enter the DJ performance area from inside the museum through the Woodward Avenue door.  

Admittance to DJ area, exhibition, and dining venues will be subject to capacity limits.  

Click here for information on dining, parking, and museum admission.

Additional self-parking is located at WSU Rackham Structure (45 E. Warren), and WSU Welcome Center (61 Putman).  Debit and Credit cards accepted, no cash. For information on parking fees at Wayne State University visit their website.

About the performers

Detroit native Kesiena Wanogho didn’t really get to hear the music she wanted on the local scene, and her longing for a calming and grounding element within electronic music soon turned into her mission. DJ Kesswa now blends jazz and electronica, soul and ambient music with the rhythms and structures of traditional Nigerian music to create a common feeling: a meditation and affirmative attitude towards the world. In 2020, Kesswa was granted a tandem residency in Berlin and Detroit, during which she collaborated with DJ, radio host, and curator Tereza. 

Born in Detroit’s lower-eastside, and raised downtown in King Homes, Donavan Glover discovered the knack for the arts at a young age. He began making a name for himself in the photography and documentary spaces as early as 2010, with high profile directing and videography credits for acts such as Talib Kweli, Slum Village, Amp Fiddler, Dej Loaf, Royce Da 5’9, Dave Chappelle, jessica Care Moore, Travis Scott, Saul Williams, Vic Mensa, and countless Detroit acts. Glover’s work led him to win multiple awards and fellowships, before embarking on his next artist journey as a music producer and DJ in 2018.

Friday Night Live has showcased music by renowned composers Maurice Ravel, Béla Bartók, Francis Poulenc, Darius Milhaud and Lowell Liebermann, all of whom have performed at the Detroit Institute of Arts. The Grossman Family will perform these iconic works written for violin, viola, cello, piano, and voice.

Hailed by The New York Times as a “Brilliant soloist,” violinist Eric Grossman “possesses a strikingly beautiful sound" (The Strad Magazine). He will be joined by his gifted musical family, Russian-Cuban pianist Lida, their two daughters Cecilia (cello) and Vera (voice) and their two sons Misha (violin), Sasha (piano). Special guests Colette Abel (viola) and Benjamin Abel(violin).

Asian Sound Revolution is a groundbreaking ensemble that fuses traditional Asian instruments with modern creativity. Featuring Jin Hi Kim on komungo, Min Xiao-Fen on pipa, and Gerry Hemingway on drums and percussion, the group innovatively blends ancient musical aesthetics with contemporary techniques. Each musician is internationally renowned for their boundary-pushing work, transforming classic instruments and vocal styles to create unique, fresh sounds.

Masayo Ishigure is a New York-based koto and shamisen player from Japan. She began her music studies at age five and later became a special research student at the Sawai Koto Academy. Known for blending traditional Japanese music with diverse genres, Masayo has performed at venues like Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall. She has collaborated with artists such as Yo-Yo Ma and Yitzhak Perlman and contributed to the Grammy-winning Memoirs of a Geisha soundtrack.

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.

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.

Rev. Robert Jones, Sr. is a true renaissance man. He has been a professional musician for over forty years. More than 35 years ago, the legendary bluesman Willie Dixon encouraged him to bring his music into schools. In recognition of his efforts, The National Blues Foundation named him a leading blues educator in 2007.

In addition to his music career, Rev. Jones has served as a pastor for over 20 years and has been a nationally recognized storyteller for more than fifteen years. These experiences have allowed him to work in diverse ways, using his speaking and musical talents to educate, entertain, and inspire. At the heart of his message is the belief that our cultural diversity tells a story that should be celebrated.