San Diego Museum of Art Events

Exhibitions, talks, tours, performances, and public programs from the San Diego Museum of Art.

Upcoming events

Family Art Adventures

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second and fourth Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Family Art Adventures bring the Museum collection to life for families. Family Art Adventures are dynamic free guided tours specially designed for families with school-aged children ages 5 to 12. Tours are offered the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. Family tour themes change monthly, and each family tour is followed by a hands-on art-making activity. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. RSVP requested. RSVP registration includes Museum admission. RSVP Now Family Art Adventures is supported in memory of Debbie Cooke.

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Meteorites as Artistic Matter: Artist Ulrike Arnold in Conversation with Astronomer Gerard van Belle PhD, and Curator Rachel Jans PhD

Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art · 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, October 16 10:00 a.m. Speakers: Ulrike Arnold, Artist; Gerard van Belle, PhD, Director of the Las Cumbres Observatory; and Rachel Jans, PhD, Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art at The San Diego Museum of Art MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater Meteorites as Artistic Matter brings together internationally acclaimed artist Ulrike Arnold, astronomer Gerard van Belle, PhD, and the Museum’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art Rachel Jans, PhD, for a fascinating interdisciplinary conversation exploring the intersection of art, science, and the cosmos. Known for incorporating meteorite dust and pigments gathered from some of the world’s most remote landscapes into her paintings, Arnold will discuss how celestial and earthly materials become powerful artistic media. Joined by van Belle’s astronomical perspective, including award-winning science endeavors that have been pioneering in the fields of stellar surface imaging and characterization of exoplanet host stars, and Jans’s expertise on the work of Sigmar Polke, a German artist also known for incorporating unconventional materials into his work, and contemporary artistic practice, this engaging guest lecture offers a rare opportunity to discover how meteorites inspire creativity, expand our understanding of materiality, and connect artistic expression with the vast universe beyond our planet. Following the lecture, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team. Please note, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. $15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers Get Tickets This lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history, art theory, and the museum’s collections. Sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. Featured at top right: Ulrike Arnold, Flagstaff, Arizona, San Francisco Volcanic Field (detail), January 2024. Earth and meteorites. Courtesy of the artist.

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Community Art Workshop

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Saturdays 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Please join us! No reservation is required. All materials are provided. Special to the October 17 Community Art Workshop, participants can create papel picado and manteles, two traditional decorations used to adorn altars and ofrendas for Día de los Muertos, using templates designed by our visiting artist, Betsabeé Romero. Not able to join in person? Download the template here. Taco Bell will also be onsite during this special Día de los Muertos Community Art Workshop handing out samples of their new Live Más Café horchata beverages to keep artists refreshed and inspired. Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Museum admission not included. Event Sponsor

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Resident Free Tuesday

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Tuesday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art offers free admission to San Diego County residents (with ID) on the third Tuesday of every month. A valid ID is required for admission and certain restrictions apply as Resident Free Tuesdays tend to be busy. We ask that you not bring food, beverages, backpacks, or other oversized items. Plan for your visit and see our top tips for visiting the Museum.

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Community Open Studio

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.–noon Museum Art Studio Join us for an in-studio art making experience. Come explore art making in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Join us and create work using mediums such as drawing, painting, and mixed media and explore your creativity. Materials will be provided, or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance, at 9:50 a.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Community Open Studio. Museum admission not included.

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Live Model Drawing

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. Museum Art Studio Join us for a live model drawing session. Come engage in figure drawing in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Exercise and develop your drawing skills through observation of a live, clothed model while exploring your creativity. Drawing materials will be provided or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance at 12:50 p.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Live Model Drawing Session. Museum admission not included.

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Family Art Adventures

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second and fourth Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Family Art Adventures bring the Museum collection to life for families. Family Art Adventures are dynamic free guided tours specially designed for families with school-aged children ages 5 to 12. Tours are offered the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. Family tour themes change monthly, and each family tour is followed by a hands-on art-making activity. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. RSVP requested. RSVP registration includes Museum admission. RSVP Now Family Art Adventures is supported in memory of Debbie Cooke.

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Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema

Thursday, October 29 1:00–3:00 p.m. PT Speaker: Meher McArthur, Asian art historian and curator Virtual Event Meher McArthur will offer insights into the new exhibition Painted Prayers: The Japanese Folk Art Tradition of Ema, on view at Mingei International Museum (October 17 2026 through April 4, 2027). Ema are painted (now mostly printed) votive plaques that have been purchased at Shinto shrines and Buddhist temples for centuries and hung outside as prayers to the gods. They depict deities, symbols, animals, plants, and objects that signify wishes as general as health, good fortune, and love to prayers for a cure for warts, blindness, and STDs. Some of the wittiest examples represent prayers for increased breastmilk, recovery from addiction, and an end to toxic relationships. Meher will share her exploration of this folk painting tradition and its place in Japan today. Speaker Bio: Meher McArthur is an Asian art historian specializing in Japanese art and has worked at Pacific Asia Museum, the Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden, Scripps College, Claremont and JAPAN HOUSE LA. She curates local and traveling exhibitions, such as Washi Transformed: New Expressions in Japanese Paper (2021-2024), Sound of Water at Descanso Gardens and KIMONO: Garment, Canvas, and Artistic Muse, now in Louisiana. Her publications include Gods and Goblins: Folk Paintings from Otsu (PAM, 1999), Reading Buddhist Art (Thames & Hudson, 2002) and The Arts of Asia (Thames & Hudson, 2005), An ABC of What Art Can Be (Getty Museum, 2010), New Expressions in Origami Art (Tuttle, 2017), and her memoir A Japanese Art Journey (Tuttle, 2025). Please note, this session will be conducted virtually via Zoom. Save your spot by clicking on this link. All participants will be sent the Zoom link via confirmation email with instructions once you secure your place. Save my spot! Sponsored by the Asian Arts Council. Featured at top right: Unidentified Maker, Ema of a White Horse, a Prayer for Good Fortune in the Year of the Horse (detail), Bunka 7 (1810), Japan. Pigment on wood. Mingei International Museum, Museum Purchase, 2015-118-108. Featured: Ema Hanging on a Stand at Shiroyama Kumano Shrine, Tokyo. Photograph by Meher McArthur.

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Artistic Practice: Roxana Velásquez in Conversation with Artist Betsabeé Romero

Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art · 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, October 30 6:00 p.m. Speakers: Roxana Velásquez, Maruja Baldwin Executive Director and CEO at The San Diego Museum of Art, and Betsabeé Romero, Artist MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater Presented in conjunction with the Museum’s Día de los Muertos celebration, this special conversation introduces internationally acclaimed Mexican artist Betsabeé Romero. In dialogue with SDMA Executive Director and CEO Roxana Velásquez, Romero will discuss her artistic practice, the themes of memory, migration, identity, and cultural heritage that define her work, and the inspiration behind her site-specific project for the Museum. This conversation offers audiences an opportunity to meet the artist behind one of the season’s most anticipated installations and to discover how contemporary art can bridge tradition and innovation. Following the lecture, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team. Please note, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. $15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers Get Tickets This lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history, art theory, and the museum’s collections. Sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. Featured at top right: Photo of Betsabeé Romero at Green Carpet: The 12th Player event on August 8, 2026, at The San Diego Museum of Art.

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San Diego Ballet: Día de los Muertos

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Friday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 8:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art, James S. Copley Auditorium Celebrating its second season in residence, the San Diego Ballet presents an original production inspired by Día de los Muertos. Audiences will be swept away by the evocative and romantic “Qué Bonito Amor” set to a rapturous score of mariachi music and “Mambomania,” one of artistic director Javier Velasco’s sizzling signature works. These special performances complement Día de los Muertos at SDMA, a free day of community highlighting a special ofrenda created by the community and designed by this season’s Visiting Artist Betsabeé Romero that transforms the Museum into a powerful tribute to remembrance and celebration. Together, the ofrenda installation in the Plaza de Panama in front of SDMA and the performance offer a multidisciplinary artistic experience. Ballet attendees can enjoy free admission to both The San Diego Museum of Art and MOPA@SDMA on the day of your performance. Show your ticket to the SDMA Admissions team for Museum entry. Tickets: $50 Members | $60 Students, military, seniors | $70 Nonmembers Get Performance Tickets Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art.

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San Diego Shakespeare Society at SDMA: Spooky Shakespeare

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Saturday, October 31 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art John M. and Sally B Thornton Rotunda Double, double, toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble Celebrate Halloween with the San Diego Shakespeare Society as actors present spine-chilling performances that connect to works of art from across the Museum’s collection. Enjoy scenes from works such as Richard III, Hamlet, Titus Andronicus, Romeo and Juliet, and Macbeth. Look for the meeting point sign inside the SDMA rotunda prior to each one-hour performance. 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. A favorite SDMA community tradition returns with scenes of mystery, magic, humor, and the supernatural. Performed in an intimate setting, Spooky Shakespeare celebrates the enduring power of storytelling while welcoming audiences of all ages. Free with Museum admission. Performance date and times are subject to change. Featured: San Diego Shakespeare actor Gabriela Sosa performing during the 2020 Spooky SDMA+ San Diego Shakespeare performance.

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San Diego Ballet: Día de los Muertos

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Friday, October 30, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, October 31, 8:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art, James S. Copley Auditorium Celebrating its second season in residence, the San Diego Ballet presents an original production inspired by Día de los Muertos. Audiences will be swept away by the evocative and romantic “Qué Bonito Amor” set to a rapturous score of mariachi music and “Mambomania,” one of artistic director Javier Velasco’s sizzling signature works. These special performances complement Día de los Muertos at SDMA, a free day of community highlighting a special ofrenda created by the community and designed by this season’s Visiting Artist Betsabeé Romero that transforms the Museum into a powerful tribute to remembrance and celebration. Together, the ofrenda installation in the Plaza de Panama in front of SDMA and the performance offer a multidisciplinary artistic experience. Ballet attendees can enjoy free admission to both The San Diego Museum of Art and MOPA@SDMA on the day of your performance. Show your ticket to the SDMA Admissions team for Museum entry. Tickets: $50 Members | $60 Students, military, seniors | $70 Nonmembers Get Performance Tickets Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art.

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Día de los Muertos at SDMA

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Sunday, November 1, 2026 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Come together with family, friends, and the community at large at a special, free community event celebrating and honoring Día de los Muertos. Enjoy live performances, family-friendly art-making activities, and a special Día de los Muertos ofrenda created by visiting artist Betsabeé Romero in collaboration with local San Diego students, all in the Balboa Park Plaza de Panama in front of The San Diego Museum of Art and free to the community. Through artist-designed artmaking activities, community members will be invited to honor loved ones, share memories, and contribute meaningful objects and creative responses to the ofrenda on view in the plaza. Romero will join the Museum community for the inauguration of the SDMA ofrenda on Sunday, November 1 at 11:00 a.m. on the Museum’s front steps. The Taco Party, a gathering featuring unlimited street-style tacos, refreshing beverages, music, and a festive atmosphere, is a ticketed event complementing Día de los Muertos at SDMA. Free admission to The San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) and the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) on Sunday, November 1 at noon–5:00 p.m. further complements the Día de los Muertos celebration.

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The Taco Party

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Sunday, November 1, 2026 noon–4:00 p.m. SDMA May S. Marcy Sculpture Court and Garden Join us for The Taco Party, a lively gathering featuring unlimited street-style tacos, refreshing beverages, music, and a festive atmosphere, all in the Museum’s sculpture court and garden. Designed as a fun and welcoming celebration for all ages, The Taco Party brings together great food, community, and the joyful spirit of Día de los Muertos. The Taco Party is part of Día de los Muertos at SDMA, a day of community highlighting a special ofrenda created by the community and designed by this season’s Visiting Artist Betsabeé Romero, transforming the Museum into a powerful tribute to remembrance and celebration. The Taco Party is a special ticketed portion of the Día de los Muertos celebration bringing together great food, community, and the joyful spirit of the holiday. The Taco Party is designed as a fun and welcoming celebration for all ages. Event includes: Unlimited taco tastings from stations hosted by participating local restaurants and taco vendors One complimentary Panama 66 margarita, beer on tap from Mujeres Brew House, or agua fresca included with ticket purchase; Additional beverages available for purchase through Panama 66 bar Cold brew, coffee, matcha, and more from Marta Refreshing De La Calle Tepache, a modern take on the traditional Mexican fermented pineapple beverage Delicious samples of Taco Bell’s new Live Más Café horchata beverages Themed photo booth Live music by San Diego-based Latin jazz group Quinteto Caballero Interactive art-making activities led by Museum educators And more to be announced… The Taco Party also continues the year-long centennial celebration marking the 100th year of The San Diego Museum of Art serving the community through art and bringing the world’s greatest art to the region. Both museums will be free and open to the public on this day: SDMA: noon–5:00 p.m. MOPA@SDMA: 11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Don’t miss art by Visiting Artist Betsabeé Romero as part of the Día de los Muertos at SDMA community ofrenda in front of The San Diego Museum of Art and in Betsabeé Romero: Tejiendo Redes at MOPA@SDMA. Plus, explore art from Mexican greats including Diego Rivera, Manuel Álvarez Bravo, Rufino Tamayo, and more, as well as artists from around the world, at The San Diego Museum of Art. Tickets to The Taco Party are now on sale! Tickets: $50 Members | $60 Nonmembers | $20 Youth (ages 0-6) Get Tickets Food Station Partners Blanco Cocina + Cantina Casita Colibri Chuy’s Taco Shop Clayton’s Bakery & Bistro The Craft Taco De La Vina Catering Extraordinary Fruits El Indio Mexican Restaurant and Catering Ortega’s Mexican Bistro Panama 66 Personal Touch Dining Petite Paleo Bakery The Prado At Balboa Park La Puerta Ranch Events El Rey del Taco Catering Sarah’s Dessert Bar Taconora El Tapatio Catering El Tianguis El Torito Mexican Restaurant And more to be announced… Event Sponsors

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Family Art Adventures: Early Childhood

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Family Art Adventures bring the Museum collection to life for families with young children ages 3 to 5. Family Art Adventures: Early Childhood are dynamic, free guided tours specially designed for families with young children ages 3 to 5. Discover art through storytelling, color exploration and movement. Tours are offered the first Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. Family tour themes change monthly, and each family tour is followed by a hands-on art-making activity. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. RSVP requested. RSVP registration includes Museum admission. RSVP Now Family Art Adventures is supported in memory of Debbie Cooke.

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Classics 4 Kids Family Concert — Paint It Mariachi: A Salute to the Americas

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Sunday, November 8 2:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art, James S. Copley Auditorium Celebrating its third consecutive year at SDMA, Classics 4 Kids commemorates the 250th Anniversary of the United States with a family concert honoring the nation’s Armed Forces. The Classics Philharmonic Orchestra and Conductor Dana Zimbric present a patriotic tribute, joined by Southwestern College’s Mariachi Garibaldi and folklorico dancers for a vibrant, family-friendly celebration of music, dance, and culture. Colorful selections inspired by the SDMA’s Art of the Americas collection are woven throughout, alongside mariachi classics and stirring patriotic favorites in honor of Veterans Day. Join us for a heartfelt salute to country, culture, and community. Concert attendees can enjoy free admission to The San Diego Museum of Art the day of the performance. Show your ticket to the SDMA Admissions team for Museum entry. Tickets: $20 Adults | $10 Youth Get Performance Tickets Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art.

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Storytime Family Tour

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second Thursdays, monthly 9:50-10:30 a.m. The San Diego Museum of Art Join Museum docents for a family-friendly tour designed especially for young learners and their caregivers. Enjoy interactive conversations, close-looking activities, and age-appropriate storytelling that help families explore works from The San Diego Museum of Art’s permanent collection and special exhibitions while discovering artistic elements such as color, shape, texture, and storytelling in art. Each tour is inspired by the day’s Storytime theme, creating meaningful connections between books and works of art. Participants will be encouraged to share their observations, ask questions, and engage with artworks through imagination and play. Please arrive at 9:50 a.m. to check in with Museum docents at the front steps of The San Diego Museum of Art and prepare for the tour. The tour will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. when the Museum opens and concludes at 10:30 a.m., when docents will guide families directly to The San Diego Museum of Art Library for Storytime. Together, the tour and Storytime offer a unique opportunity for children and caregivers to connect art, literacy, and creativity through a shared museum experience. Recommended for families with children ages 3–8. All ages are welcome. Includes Museum admission. Advance registration requested. Register Now Free members, youth 17 and under* | $25 nonmembers *Children younger than 14 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (age 18 years or older) at all times.

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Books & Art: Storytime in the Library

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second Thursdays, monthly 10:30-11:30 a.m. The San Diego Museum of Art Library Gather to listen to exciting storytelling in The San Diego Museum of Art Library. Each month, Storytime explores a new theme inspired by works from the Museum’s permanent collection, special exhibitions, and the elements of art. Through engaging read-alouds, interactive songs, and a hands-on art activity, children and their caregivers are invited to discover connections between books, art, and the world around them. Entry to The San Diego Museum of Art Library is near the Panama 66 restaurant. No reservation is required.

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Art of Reading Book Club

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Saturday, November 14 10:15 a.m.–noon SDMA Boardroom Be part of the Art of Reading Book Club, where art, literature, and art history converge. Join fellow Museum members and art lovers for lively discussion as we talk about Maggie O’Farrell’s The Marriage Portrait. Set in Renaissance Italy, this novel follows Lucrezia de’ Medici, a young duchess thrust into an arranged marriage after her sister’s death and sent to an unfamiliar court ruled by the enigmatic Duke Alfonso. As pressure mounts for her to produce an heir, Lucrezia must navigate intrigue, power, and danger while fighting to secure her own future. Coffee and light snacks will be served. The book club will be followed by a docent-led tour of art works relating to the book. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. While the book club is free to members, registration is required and the event is expected to sell out. Prior to entry, all participants are required to check in at the SDMA rotunda admissions desk, after which you will meet in the Museum boardroom. Save My Spot Free for members | $25 for nonmembers Click here to purchase a paperback copy of The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell from The Museum Store.

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Family Art Adventures

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second and fourth Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Family Art Adventures bring the Museum collection to life for families. Family Art Adventures are dynamic free guided tours specially designed for families with school-aged children ages 5 to 12. Tours are offered the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. Family tour themes change monthly, and each family tour is followed by a hands-on art-making activity. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. RSVP requested. RSVP registration includes Museum admission. RSVP Now Family Art Adventures is supported in memory of Debbie Cooke.

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Resident Free Tuesday

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Tuesday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art offers free admission to San Diego County residents (with ID) on the third Tuesday of every month. A valid ID is required for admission and certain restrictions apply as Resident Free Tuesdays tend to be busy. We ask that you not bring food, beverages, backpacks, or other oversized items. Plan for your visit and see our top tips for visiting the Museum.

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Community Open Studio

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.–noon Museum Art Studio Join us for an in-studio art making experience. Come explore art making in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Join us and create work using mediums such as drawing, painting, and mixed media and explore your creativity. Materials will be provided, or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance, at 9:50 a.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Community Open Studio. Museum admission not included.

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Live Model Drawing

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. Museum Art Studio Join us for a live model drawing session. Come engage in figure drawing in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Exercise and develop your drawing skills through observation of a live, clothed model while exploring your creativity. Drawing materials will be provided or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance at 12:50 p.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Live Model Drawing Session. Museum admission not included.

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Malice in Wonderland: Cecil Beaton’s Life and Work

Thursday, November 19 10:00 a.m. Speaker: Hugo Vickers, Author and Historian MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater Cecil Beaton (1904-1980) was a total self-creation. Through photography he rose to become one of the great observers of the twentieth century. His portraits of the British Royal Family and of stars of both the stage and screen are legendary. He became a designer of costumes and sets for stage, screen, opera, and ballet; an artist; a wicked diarist; an arbiter of taste; and a man who moved easily in many varied worlds. He portrayed the great figures of the age in dazzling photographs as well as in drawings. In this talk, Hugo Vickers, the biographer and literary executor for Cecil Beaton, explains how Beaton turned himself into this extraordinary figure. Guests will meet the world of the Bright Young Things, Hollywood, the British Royal Family, World War II, Gigi, My Fair Lady, and the Peacock Revolution of the 1960s. Hugo Vickers is well known as a biographer, lecturer, and broadcaster. He is also an acknowledged expert on the British Royal Family. Vickers has also published his own diaries about researching Cecil Beaton, entitled Malice in Wonderland: My Adventures in the World of Cecil Beaton (2021). Following the lecture, guests are invited to enjoy a guided tour led by our docent team. This special Guest Lecture complements Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World, on view at the Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art (MOPA@SDMA) through January 10, 2027. Please note, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. $15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers Get Tickets The Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World exhibition and this lecture are generously sponsored by The Bern Schwartz Family Foundation. This lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history, art theory, and the museum’s collections. Sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council Featured at top right: Cecil Beaton, Cecil Beaton in Hollywood (detail), 1930s. Gelatin silver print. The National Portrait Gallery, London. © National Portrait Gallery, London.

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Community Art Workshop

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Saturdays 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Please join us! No reservation is required. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Museum admission not included.

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The Museum is Closed

Happy Thanksgiving! The Museum is closed across our two locations (SDMA and MOPA@SDMA) in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

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Family Art Adventures

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second and fourth Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Family Art Adventures bring the Museum collection to life for families. Family Art Adventures are dynamic free guided tours specially designed for families with school-aged children ages 5 to 12. Tours are offered the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. Family tour themes change monthly, and each family tour is followed by a hands-on art-making activity. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. RSVP requested. RSVP registration includes Museum admission. RSVP Now Family Art Adventures is supported in memory of Debbie Cooke.

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December Nights

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2026 5:00–9:00 p.m. Happy Holidays! The San Diego Museum of Art is closed during the day, but open and free to the public from 5:00–9:00 p.m. Enjoy the Museum at night as we celebrate December Nights in Balboa Park. Last entry into the Museum is at 8:45 p.m. Please note, MOPA@SDMA will be closed December 4 & 5, including during December Nights. Before you enter, you must check-in food, drinks, umbrellas, mistletoe, oversized backpacks, and large bags at the tent outside the Museum. Pets will not be allowed entry, with the exception of service animals.

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December Nights

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Friday, December 4 and Saturday, December 5, 2026 5:00–9:00 p.m. Happy Holidays! The San Diego Museum of Art is closed during the day, but open and free to the public from 5:00–9:00 p.m. Enjoy the Museum at night as we celebrate December Nights in Balboa Park. Last entry into the Museum is at 8:45 p.m. Please note, MOPA@SDMA will be closed December 4 & 5, including during December Nights. Before you enter, you must check-in food, drinks, umbrellas, mistletoe, oversized backpacks, and large bags at the tent outside the Museum. Pets will not be allowed entry, with the exception of service animals.

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Storytime Family Tour

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second Thursdays, monthly 9:50-10:30 a.m. The San Diego Museum of Art Join Museum docents for a family-friendly tour designed especially for young learners and their caregivers. Enjoy interactive conversations, close-looking activities, and age-appropriate storytelling that help families explore works from The San Diego Museum of Art’s permanent collection and special exhibitions while discovering artistic elements such as color, shape, texture, and storytelling in art. Each tour is inspired by the day’s Storytime theme, creating meaningful connections between books and works of art. Participants will be encouraged to share their observations, ask questions, and engage with artworks through imagination and play. Please arrive at 9:50 a.m. to check in with Museum docents at the front steps of The San Diego Museum of Art and prepare for the tour. The tour will begin promptly at 10:00 a.m. when the Museum opens and concludes at 10:30 a.m., when docents will guide families directly to The San Diego Museum of Art Library for Storytime. Together, the tour and Storytime offer a unique opportunity for children and caregivers to connect art, literacy, and creativity through a shared museum experience. Recommended for families with children ages 3–8. All ages are welcome. Includes Museum admission. Advance registration requested. Register Now Free members, youth 17 and under* | $25 nonmembers *Children younger than 14 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian (age 18 years or older) at all times.

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Books & Art: Storytime in the Library

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second Thursdays, monthly 10:30-11:30 a.m. The San Diego Museum of Art Library Gather to listen to exciting storytelling in The San Diego Museum of Art Library. Each month, Storytime explores a new theme inspired by works from the Museum’s permanent collection, special exhibitions, and the elements of art. Through engaging read-alouds, interactive songs, and a hands-on art activity, children and their caregivers are invited to discover connections between books, art, and the world around them. Entry to The San Diego Museum of Art Library is near the Panama 66 restaurant. No reservation is required.

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Family Art Adventures

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second and fourth Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Family Art Adventures bring the Museum collection to life for families. Family Art Adventures are dynamic free guided tours specially designed for families with school-aged children ages 5 to 12. Tours are offered the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. Family tour themes change monthly, and each family tour is followed by a hands-on art-making activity. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. RSVP requested. RSVP registration includes Museum admission. RSVP Now Family Art Adventures is supported in memory of Debbie Cooke.

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Camarada: Let It Snow Family Concert

James S. Copley Auditorium · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Sunday, December 12 12:30 p.m. doors open 1:00 p.m. concert begins The San Diego Museum of Art, James S. Copley Auditorium Camarada presents a festive holiday concert with special guest appearances by dancers from San Diego Ballet. A joyful holiday jazz concert for kids, families, and the young at heart. Join us for an afternoon of music among the works of The San Diego Art Museum, featuring beloved favorites including Linus and Lucy, Winter Wonderland, Sleigh Ride, Frosty the Snowman, and more. San Diego Ballet dancers will welcome guests and make a special appearance during the performance, adding a touch of movement and holiday magic to an afternoon celebrating music, family, and seasonal traditions. Concert attendees can enjoy free admission to The San Diego Museum of Art the day of the performance. Show your ticket to the SDMA Admissions team for Museum entry. Tickets: $20 Get Performance Tickets Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art. Featured at top right: Photo of The Camarada Tango Quartet by Gary Payne. Courtesy of Camarada.

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Resident Free Tuesday

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Tuesday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art offers free admission to San Diego County residents (with ID) on the third Tuesday of every month. A valid ID is required for admission and certain restrictions apply as Resident Free Tuesdays tend to be busy. We ask that you not bring food, beverages, backpacks, or other oversized items. Plan for your visit and see our top tips for visiting the Museum.

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Community Open Studio

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 10:00 a.m.–noon Museum Art Studio Join us for an in-studio art making experience. Come explore art making in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Join us and create work using mediums such as drawing, painting, and mixed media and explore your creativity. Materials will be provided, or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance, at 9:50 a.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Community Open Studio. Museum admission not included.

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Live Model Drawing

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. Museum Art Studio Join us for a live model drawing session. Come engage in figure drawing in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Exercise and develop your drawing skills through observation of a live, clothed model while exploring your creativity. Drawing materials will be provided or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance at 12:50 p.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Live Model Drawing Session. Museum admission not included.

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Community Art Workshop

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Saturdays 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Please join us! No reservation is required. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Museum admission not included.

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The Museum is Closed

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Happy Holidays! The Museum is closed in observance of Christmas Day.

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Family Art Adventures

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Second and fourth Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. Family Art Adventures bring the Museum collection to life for families. Family Art Adventures are dynamic free guided tours specially designed for families with school-aged children ages 5 to 12. Tours are offered the second and fourth Saturdays of each month at 10:30 a.m. Family tour themes change monthly, and each family tour is followed by a hands-on art-making activity. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. RSVP requested. RSVP registration includes Museum admission. RSVP Now Family Art Adventures is supported in memory of Debbie Cooke.

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The Museum is Closed

Happy New Year! The Museum is closed in observance of New Year’s Day.

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Community Art Workshop

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Saturdays 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Please join us! No reservation is required. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Museum admission not included.

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Live Model Drawing

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. Museum Art Studio Join us for a live model drawing session. Come engage in figure drawing in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Exercise and develop your drawing skills through observation of a live, clothed model while exploring your creativity. Drawing materials will be provided or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance at 12:50 p.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Live Model Drawing Session. Museum admission not included.

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Art of Reading Book Club

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Saturday, February 13 10:15 a.m.–noon SDMA Boardroom Be part of the Art of Reading Book Club, where art, literature, and art history converge. Join fellow Museum members and art lovers for our first book club of the new year. We’ll be engaged in lively discussion about Whistler by Ann Patchett. Set in motion by a chance reunion at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, the story explores memory, love, loss, and the enduring connections that shape our lives. Thoughtful, beautifully written, and deeply moving, Whistler offers a compelling discussion for art lovers and book lovers alike. Coffee and light snacks will be served. The book club will be followed by a docent-led tour of art works relating to the book. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged. While the book club is free to members, registration is required and the event is expected to sell out. Prior to entry, all participants are required to check in at the SDMA rotunda admissions desk, after which you will meet in the Museum boardroom. Save My Spot Free for members | $25 for nonmembers

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San Diego Shakespeare Society at SDMA: Romantic Shakespeare

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Saturday, February 13 1:00 and 2:30 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art John M. and Sally B Thornton Rotunda An intimate theatrical celebration of Shakespeare’s timeless stories of love performed by San Diego Shakespeare Society actors in the Museum galleries. Enjoy timelessly romantic performances from a selection of Shakespeare’s works such as Romeo and Juliet and Twelfth Night paired with works of art on view. Performances will last one hour and be held at various stops throughout the Museum. Look for the meeting point sign inside the SDMA rotunda prior to each one-hour performance. 1:00 p.m. 2:30 p.m. Free with Museum admission. Performance date and times are subject to change. Featured: Photo of San Diego Shakespeare Society actor Joy Yvonne Jones performing inside The San Diego Museum of Art.

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Live Model Drawing

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. Museum Art Studio Join us for a live model drawing session. Come engage in figure drawing in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Exercise and develop your drawing skills through observation of a live, clothed model while exploring your creativity. Drawing materials will be provided or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance at 12:50 p.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Live Model Drawing Session. Museum admission not included.

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Building Balboa Park: John D. Spreckels and the Shaping of San Diego’s Cultural Heart

Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art · 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, February 19 10:00 a.m. Speaker: Sandra E. Bonura, PhD, Author and Historian MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater Join The San Diego Museum of Art and Author Sandra E. Bonura, PhD, for a behind-the-scenes look into the monumental legacy of John Diedrich Spreckels, the titan who shaped San Diego’s iconic Balboa Park. While history often casts Spreckels as an industrialist, he was at his core a passionate patron of the arts who believed deeply in the power of civic beauty. When San Diego took on the gamble of hosting a world-class exposition, Spreckels stepped up as its financial backbone, personally underwriting the effort through two turbulent years to guarantee its success. From gifting the majestic Spreckels Organ Pavilion, a grand musical monument to the public that remains a cultural cornerstone today, to laying the civic and artistic foundation for what became The San Diego Museum of Art, Spreckels proved that true empire-building went far beyond rail lines and sugar docks. It was about creating a vibrant, enduring home for the human spirit. Please note, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. $15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers Get Tickets This lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history, art theory, and the museum’s collections. Sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. Featured at top right: Detail of Empire Builder: John D. Spreckels and the Making of San Diego book cover.

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Community Art Workshop

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Saturdays 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Please join us! No reservation is required. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Museum admission not included.

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San Diego Ballet: Discover: Exploring the Asian Collection

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Friday, February 26, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, February 28, 2:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art, James S. Copley Auditorium Celebrating its second season in residence, the San Diego Ballet Artistic Director Javier Velasco takes inspiration from The San Diego Museum of Art’s world-class Asian art collection to create an evening of evocative dance. Ballet attendees can enjoy free admission to both The San Diego Museum of Art and MOPA@SDMA on the day of your performance. Show your ticket to the SDMA Admissions team for Museum entry. Tickets: $50 Members | $60 Students, military, seniors | $70 Nonmembers Get Performance Tickets Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art.

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San Diego Ballet: Discover: Exploring the Asian Collection

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Friday, February 26, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, February 28, 2:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art, James S. Copley Auditorium Celebrating its second season in residence, the San Diego Ballet Artistic Director Javier Velasco takes inspiration from The San Diego Museum of Art’s world-class Asian art collection to create an evening of evocative dance. Ballet attendees can enjoy free admission to both The San Diego Museum of Art and MOPA@SDMA on the day of your performance. Show your ticket to the SDMA Admissions team for Museum entry. Tickets: $50 Members | $60 Students, military, seniors | $70 Nonmembers Get Performance Tickets Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art.

Official event page

San Diego Ballet: Discover: Exploring the Asian Collection

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Friday, February 26, 8:00 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 8:00 p.m. Sunday, February 28, 2:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art, James S. Copley Auditorium Celebrating its second season in residence, the San Diego Ballet Artistic Director Javier Velasco takes inspiration from The San Diego Museum of Art’s world-class Asian art collection to create an evening of evocative dance. Ballet attendees can enjoy free admission to both The San Diego Museum of Art and MOPA@SDMA on the day of your performance. Show your ticket to the SDMA Admissions team for Museum entry. Tickets: $50 Members | $60 Students, military, seniors | $70 Nonmembers Get Performance Tickets Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art.

Official event page

Live Model Drawing

Monthly, Third Tuesdays 1:00–3:00 p.m. Museum Art Studio Join us for a live model drawing session. Come engage in figure drawing in the SDMA Museum Art Studio! Exercise and develop your drawing skills through observation of a live, clothed model while exploring your creativity. Drawing materials will be provided or you can bring your own. No oil paints or solvents please! This is a pay-what-you-wish event. Please RSVP here to save your spot. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Registration is limited to 20 people per session. Meet at the House of Hospitality, near the Prado restaurant entrance at 12:50 p.m. and look for the OPEN STUDIO sign. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the Live Model Drawing Session. Museum admission not included.

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Camarada: Love, Light, & Longing

Thursday, March 18 7:00 p.m. doors open 7:30 p.m. concert begins The San Diego Museum of Art John M. and Sally B Thornton Rotunda Celebrating the first season of Camarada in residence at SDMA and inspired by the Museum’s renowned collection of German Expressionism, Camarada presents an original concert exploring one of the twentieth century’s most revolutionary artistic movements. Love, Light and Longing brings audiences on a musical journey from Bach’s baroque world to early twentieth-century expressionism, exploring the very human themes of love and yearning that echo through the ages. Presented inside the Museum rotunda, the performance demonstrates how music can deepen our understanding of the permanent collection while embodying the vision of Museum as a Stage. Tickets on sale now! Get Tickets $70 VIP seating | $50 General admission seating Museum as a Stage is The San Diego Museum of Art’s performing arts initiative, created to reconnect the performing and visual artistic traditions and expand the ways audiences experience art. Rather than presenting performances only alongside exhibitions, the program invites artists to create in direct conversation with the Museum’s collection, exhibitions, architecture, and public spaces. Experience a full season of music, dance, theater, and family programming with Museum as a Stage at The San Diego Museum of Art. Featured at top right: Photo of The Camarada Tango Quartet by Gary Payne. Courtesy of Camarada.

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The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Saved the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park

Museum of Photographic Arts at The San Diego Museum of Art · 1649 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, March 19 10:00 a.m. Speaker: Sandra E. Bonura, PhD, Author and Historian MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater Join us at The San Diego Museum of Art for a fully illustrated, interactive presentation with award-winning biographer and historian Sandra E. Bonura, PhD, author of The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Built the San Diego Zoo. When the Fine Arts Gallery (now The San Diego Museum of Art) opened its doors in 1926, Belle Benchley was stepping up to run the neighboring San Diego Zoo. Over the next three decades, as SDMA cultivated the city’s artistic soul, Belle transformed the living world next door into a landmark of its own. In 1925, a middle-aged, divorced mother with zero animal training took a temporary bookkeeping job at a struggling local zoo. Through sheer grit, administrative genius, and media-savvy marketing, Benchley didn’t just keep Balboa Park vibrant; she revolutionized animal welfare and built a global conservation powerhouse in our own backyard. Through a rich multimedia showcase featuring rare archival movie clips, historic radio broadcasts, and 1920s photography, Dr. Bonura brings Benchley’s world vividly to life. Please note, this lecture is in-person only and held at the MOPA@SDMA Joan and Irwin Jacobs Theater in Balboa Park. $15 members and students | $20 seniors and military | $30 nonmembers Get Tickets This lecture is presented as a part of the Guest Lecture Series, which offers a platform for renowned scholars and experts from the art world to share their insights and knowledge on topics related to art history, art theory, and the museum’s collections. Sponsored by The San Diego Museum of Art Docent Council. Featured at top right: Detail of The Zoo Lady: How Belle Benchley Saved the San Diego Zoo and Balboa Park book cover. Artwork by Wagner Humphreys.

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Community Art Workshop

The San Diego Museum of Art · 1450 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92102

Monthly, Third Saturdays 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. The San Diego Museum of Art May S. Marcy Sculpture Garden Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Please join us! No reservation is required. All materials are provided. Free with Museum admission. Great for artists of all ages. Community Art Workshops invite artists to enjoy hands-on art making experiences inspired by the thinking and creating processes of artists on view at the Museum. Artists under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the duration of the workshop. Museum admission not included.

Official event page