(Santa Fe, NM) – Make this holiday season one to remember by joining in the festivities at the newly refurbished New Mexico Museum of Art as it launches its second century. Here are some of the special hours and activities you can expect at New Mexico’s oldest museum.
On Friday, December 1, the museum is open until 7PM.
On Sunday December 3, Museum admission is free for New Mexico residents with ID.
Saturday, December 9th, Museum of Art patrons will be treated to the sounds of the Desert Harp Ensemble playing holiday music in the museum lobby in the afternoon in advance of the evening’s Christmas at the Palace (of Governors) across the street.
The Museum of Art’s annual Holiday Open House is Sunday, December 17th from noon until 4pm. This beloved event is a round-robin of puppet plays, art-making projects, picture-taking with Santa Claus, and many other fun family activities.
- From 1-1:30PM & 3-3:30pm in the St. Francis Auditorium, Marionette plays “A Party for Papa Gus.” Teatro Duende presents a little skit by the Marionettes: Juan, Rosina and Miguelito try very hard to get ready for a party, but rascally Warts keeps causing trouble! Puppeteers Joy Ginther, Danielle Reddick, Patrick Briggs, Melissa Heiman and Westin McDowell. Directed by Barbara Hatch.
- From 12-4- you can make your own stick puppet in the Museum Main Lobby. Roni Rohr and friends help children of all ages create their own puppet character.
- Also from 12 to 4 you can Find Freckles in the Museum’s Rear Lobby. Freckles the marionette is hiding somewhere in the museum. As you go through the galleries looking for Freckles, pick up clues that will lead you to find him and win a prize!
- Smile for Selfies with Santa! 1:30 – 2:15 PM and 3:30 – 4:00 PM St. Francis Auditorium. Parents, have your camera ready for this photo opportunity! Get your picture taken with Santa on your lap! It’s a photo opportunity with the Baumann Santa Claus marionette, for children of all ages. Led by Puppeteer Danielle Reddick.
- 3:30pm-4pm St. Francis Auditorium, say Goodnight to the Marionettes. Help tuck the marionettes into their boxes until they emerge next year with their Holiday magic.
About the New Mexico Museum of Art: http://www.nmartmuseum.org/ Founded in 1917 as the Art Gallery of the Museum of New Mexico, the New Mexico Museum of Art has been presenting innovative arts programming in downtown Santa Fe for a century. At its founding, the museum collected and exhibited artworks by noted artists from New Mexico and elsewhere. This tradition continues today with a wide array of exhibitions and a significant collection featuring work from the world’s leading artists. Today, as at its founding, the Museum of Art strives to bring the art of New Mexico to the world and the art of the world to New Mexico. Museum exhibitions and programs are supported by donors to the Museum of New Mexico Foundation and its Director’s Leadership Fund, Exhibitions Development Fund, and Fund for Museum Education. A division of the New Mexico Department of Cultural Affairs. Hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily, May through October; closed Mondays November through April, closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. 107 West Palace Avenue, Santa Fe, New Mexico, just off the downtown Plaza in Santa Fe, NM 87501. 24 Hr. Recorded Message: (505) 476-5072; Front desk: (505) 476-5041. Hours: 10 am to 5 pm daily, May through October; closed Mondays November through April, closed Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s. Events, news releases and images about activities at the History Museum and Palace of the Governors and other in divisions of the Department of Cultural Affairs can be accessed at media.newmexicoculture.org.
