#GWtoDo: Your Curated Arts and Events Agenda

It’s finally time: Celebrate graduating students and the end of the school year during Commencement Week. Plus get a taste of Hawaiian culture, craft with Textile Museum experts at Family Day and more.

May 06, 2019

May 19 at 10 a.m. University Commencement

National Mall
Constitution Ave. between 15th and 17th streets, NW
Free

Celebrate graduating students on the national mall, where NBC’s Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie will deliver this year’s address. NASA engineer Christine Darden, humanitarian Cindy McCain and GW senior Tyriana Evans will also speak. A full schedule of Commencement Week activities is here.

Coming Up:

May 15 to 19 Mel Brooks Retrospective

Warner Brothers Theater
National Museum of American History
1300 Constitution Ave., NW
$12

The Smithsonian will screen comedy classics from the influential director all week, including “Young Frankenstein,” “Blazing Saddles,” “The Producers” and more.

May 16 at 5:30 p.m. Leadership Lessons: Pathways to Progress

School of Media and Public Affairs, Room 305
805 21st St., NW
Free, registration requested

Carl Cohn’s career has spanned 50 years and a number of prestigious appointments, including leadership programs associated with the Broad Superintendents’ Academy, the Harvard Urban Superintendents’ Program and more. In addition, he is a seven-year member of the California State Board of Education and the executive director of a new state agency designed to get useful help to schools and districts.

May 17 at 6:30 p.m. Hawai’i After Hours

National Museum of the American Indian
4th Street and Independence Avenue, SW
$25

Dance to live music with the Aloha Boys and Hālau O 'Aulani, enjoy interactive Hawaiian games and crafts and sample specialty menus from Abunai Poke and the museum’s Mitsitam Café—including a roast pig. Part of the museum’s three-day festival dedicated to Hawaiian culture.

May 18 at 9:30 a.m. Interfaith Baccalaureate Service

Western Presbyterian Church
2401 Virginia Ave., NW
Free

This service celebrates the diversity of faith traditions at GW, celebrating the community’s commitment to service and learning with remarks from President Thomas LeBlanc, musical performances, meditations representing various faith traditions and student reflections.

May 18 at 11 a.m. Family Day: European Textiles

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
701 21st St., NW
Free

Celebrate Art Museum Day and the European Union Month of Culture by learning about traditional costumes, exploring colorful embroidery designs and creating woven belts inspired by Lithuania and other EU nations.

Save the Date:

May 23 at noon Workshop: Paper Dressmaking

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
701 21st St., NW
Free

Learn to create your own haute couture dress from recycled newspaper and other common household items. Part of the museum’s weekly Textiles at Twelve series, which explores textile arts and global cultures through films, lectures, gallery talks and more.

June 1 Museum Shop Inventory Sale

The George Washington University Museum and The Textile Museum
701 21st St., NW
Free

Pick up unique gifts, accessories and home décor at a discount.

June 13 at 6 p.m. “6.13.89” Opening Reception

Flagg Building
500 17th Street, NW
Free, registration requested

On June 13, 1989, the Corcoran Gallery of Art bowed to significant political pressure and canceled a retrospective by the late photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, known for his bold depictions of the human form. The impact of the show’s closure reverberated throughout Washington and the museum community nationwide, and it remains a cautionary tale for institutions. This exhibition will present viewers with an unvarnished look at the Corcoran’s decision, presenting archival materials never before seen by the public and sourced from the Corcoran Archives at George Washington University’s Gelman Library.

Events