Spending time in the Collections Department reveals just how closely collections management and curating are intertwined. While collections management often focuses on organizing, storing, and tracking objects to keep them safe, curatorial thinking is essential behind the scenes as well. Decisions made during cataloging, like how to group objects, what to name them, or how to describe them, influence how these items will be understood and studied in the future.

Some accessioned collections are especially tricky to categorize. When a museum accessions a collection, it officially accepts the items into its permanent collection, assigns them a unique number, and creates a record to ensure they can be cared for and remembered. Museums often use number systems that have specific meanings to help track and organize these collections.

An accession number functions like a special code that helps a museum keep track of an object. For example, the number 2019.9.1.2 from the National Building Museum collection tells an entire story:

• 2019 indicates the object was added to the museum’s collections in the year 2019.
• 9 means it was part of the ninth group of items accepted that year.
• 1 shows it belongs to the first category or type of item in that group.
• 2 means it is the second object in that category.

The accession number helps museum staff know exactly when the object came to the museum, what group it is part of, and where it fits within the collection. Each element of the accession number acts like a clue, helping museum staff understand the object’s place in the collection. It functions like a library call number, but for museum objects. This system keeps collections organized so staff and researchers can find what they’re looking for.

It is typical for museums to use a three-part number system. In the example above, that number would be 2019.9.2. The four-part number, 2019.9.1.2, is an example of an accession number that the National Building Museum Collections Department uses when an accessioned collection is especially large or consists of a wider variety of items, making them more difficult to differentiate within the three-part number system.

Another numbering practice that museums might adopt is adding letters (a, b, c, etc.) to the end of numbers for items that belong together or are parts of a whole. This can apply to a few different scenarios, like a small box with multiple items or a single item with removable pieces. For example, if an item had multiple parts–like an award with a detachable name plate–cataloguers would add an “a” to the end of the main item’s number and a “b” to the end of the detachable part’s number. This version reads as 2019.9.1.31a and 2019.9.1.31b, helping staff members keep track of both items.

In addition to deciding how to categorize larger groups of items, such as using 2019.9.1 as the first portion of the number for 3D objects and 2019.9.2 for paper and archival pieces within the 2019.9 collection, it is important for cataloguers to use a smart system for ordering and grouping the items. For example, if there are twenty-three nearly identical granite rods within the collection, those should all be catalogued in a row. There shouldn’t be a miscellaneous belt buckle catalogued in the middle, breaking up the number flow. This level of organization makes it easier for collections staff to keep track of objects, refer to groups of objects in a numerical range, and logically rehouse or store items. It is also particularly important since collections staff often craft their own boxes and containers to store each item and group of items in a dedicated place.

Detective work and curatorial thinking are so important when determining what accession number to assign to each item in the museum’s collection. Even something as simple as writing a short object description could raise big questions. Choosing the right words to describe the object involves considering how people in the future will search for and understand it.

Working within the museum’s storage spaces offers a new perspective on how museums work. Every box and shelf holds something with a story, even if it is not on display. Making decisions about those objects–how to describe them, where to store them, and how to relate them to others–is its own form of storytelling. It demonstrates that being a curator doesn’t always mean being in the spotlight. Sometimes, it means making thoughtful choices behind the scenes.

This post was written by Isabella Quartiere, Collections Intern during Summer 2025. To learn more about internship opportunities at the Museum, click here.

Since 1997, the National Building Museum’s Spotlight on Design lecture series has showcased luminaries in architecture, landscape architecture, urban planning, and design. This series presents a unique window into the creative journey and cultural influences of visionary practitioners, illuminating the powerful role of design in shaping the built environment. This upcoming lecture features Gullivar Shepard of Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates (MVVA).

This program has applied for 1 LU (AIA).

Program Schedule

Doors open at 6 pm
Program starts at 6:30 pm
Light reception from 7:30 to 8:30 pm

About Eric Höweler, FAIA

Eric Höweler is co-founder of Höweler + Yoon Architecture and Associate Professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. For seven years, Eric served as an Associate Principal at Kohn Pedersen Fox Associates, where he was the senior designer on the 118 story ICC Tower in Hong Kong. Höweler was a Senior Designer at Diller + Scofidio where he worked on institutional and cultural projects, such as the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston and the Juilliard School/Lincoln Center in New York.

About Meejin Yoon, FAAR
Meejin Yoon is an architect, designer, and educator. She is currently Dean of Cornell University’s College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Previously, she was Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture at MIT where she began teaching in 2001. Yoon is a co-founding principal of Höweler + Yoon Architecture, a multidisciplinary architecture and design studio that has garnered international recognition for a wide range of built work. Her design work and research investigate the intersections between architecture, technology, and public space. Yoon received the New Generation Design Leadership Award by Architectural Record (2015), the US Artist Award in Architecture and Design (2008), and the Rome Prize in Design (2005).

Spotlight on Design is presented by the Anthony and Keiko Greenberg Foundation. Additional support provided by the American Institute of Architects.

Image courtesy Höweler + Yoon.

This program has applied for 1 LU (AIA).

Program Schedule

Doors open at 6 pm
Program starts at 6:30 pm
Light reception from 7:30 to 8:30 pm

About Deborah Berke, FAIA

Deborah Berke, FAIA, LEED AP, is the J.M. Hoppin Professor and the Edward P. Bass Dean of the Yale School of Architecture, the first woman to hold the position. She is the recipient of the 2025 AIA Gold Medal and also received the 2022 AIA/ ACSA Topaz Medallion, the highest honor for architectural education. In 2012, she was the inaugural designate of the Berkeley-Rupp Architecture Professorship and Prize at the University of California at Berkeley, which is given to an architect who has advanced the position of women in the profession. She serves on the jury for the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the highest honor in the field. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and the National Academy of Design. Deborah is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design and The City University of New York. In 2005, she was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.

Spotlight on Design is presented by the Anthony and Keiko Greenberg Foundation. Additional support provided by the American Institute of Architects.

Program Schedule

Doors open at 6 pm
Program starts at 6:30 pm
Light reception from 8 to 8:30 pm

This program has applied for 1.5 HSW LU (AIA)

About Nader Tehrani

Tehrani received The American Academy of Arts and Letters’ Arnold W. Brunner Memorial Prize, the highest form of recognition of artistic merit in the United States, for his “contributions to architecture as an art.” With nineteen Progressive Architecture Awards, he is also an elected member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Design, and recipient of the Design Visionary Award from the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. The former Head of the Department of Architecture at MIT (2010-14), Tehrani was also Dean of The Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture of The Cooper Union (2015-22). His work is featured in the permanent collections of the CCA and the Nasher Sculpture Center, and NADAAA has been widely exhibited at MoMA, LA MoCA and the Venice Biennale.

Spotlight on Design is presented by the Anthony and Keiko Greenberg Foundation.

Additional support provided by the Edward A. Feiner Fund for Public Architecture and the American Institute of Architects.

Thank you to the generous supporters of the Edward A. Feiner Fund for Public Architecture:

Perkins&Will
Angela Miller
Amy Blonder
Thom Mayne & Blythe Alison-Mayne
Casey Jones & Reed Kroloff
Chris Morrison
Craig Hartman
Grunley Construction Company
Leers Weinzapfel Associates
LSM
Lindsey Peckinpaugh
Margaret McCurry
Marilyn Farley
Meg Brown
Ralph Johnson
Ray Huff
Robert A.M. Stern Architecture
Ron Stelmarski
Ross Barney Architects
Safdie Architects
Snow Kreilich Architects
Steven Davis
TenBerke
Thomas Grooms
Toshiko Mori

Image courtesy NADAAA, photo by Jeremy Son.

– Public Program About Brutalism Slated for February 6

WASHINGTON, D.C. January 22, 2025– The National Building Museum announced today that it will extend its Capital Brutalism exhibition through Monday June 30, 2025. This exhibition has sparked intense media and public interest as it tells the story of how D.C.’s Brutalist architecture helped reshaped the city in the mid-century. Capital Brutalism explores the history, current state, and future of seven polarizing buildings and the WMATA Metro system in Washington, D.C.  The exhibition is co-curated by Dr. Angela Person, associate professor of architecture at the University of Oklahoma, and architectural photographer Ty Cole. 

Capital Brutalism was originally slated to conclude on February 17 but has been extended to June 30, 2025 due to popular demand.

The exhibition had received much critical acclaim from the media:

A segment that aired on CBS Saturday Morning last weekend said of the exhibition, “At the National Building Museum in Washington D.C., the city’s much maligned concrete beacons of Brutalism are getting a fresh look.”

The Wall Street Journal said, “Capital Brutalism” does what an exhibition of recent architecture should do, which is to take something that has become familiar, commonplace and discolored by decades of auto exhaust and help us to see it with fresh eyes.”

The Washington Post called the exhibition a “fascinating, sometimes tongue-in-cheek look at sites the show calls the past, present and potential future of brutalism in Washington.”

Bloomberg City Lab said the exhibit offers “provocative solutions for some of the city’s least-understood buildings.”

Washingtonian Magazine said, “A New Exhibit Asks You to Reconsider How Much You Hate Brutalism.”

The Federalist called it “An intelligent, provocative show”….“Capital Brutalism is a history show and a design show, but it stimulates thinking and especially the imagination.”

The Georgetowner said, “Exhibitions like this one and articles putting the style in a positive light are on the upswing.”

Smithsonian Magazine called it,  “the largest-ever survey of Washington’s Brutalist architecture.”

“We are thrilled to extend Capital Brutalism at the National Building Museum. If popular culture is any guide, there is a renewed interest in this controversial architectural style that is so prevalent in D.C.” said Aileen Fuchs, the National Building Museum’s President and Executive Director. “Hollywood has elevated the style with the new, award-winning film, The Brutalist. Our exhibition provides additional historical context for Brutalist architecture and inspires visitors to rethink their perceptions of beauty and equity as we consider the future of these Brutalist buildings.”     

The catalogue for Capital Brutalism is available for in person or online purchase at the National Building Museum Gift Shop along with Brutalism merchandise.

On Thursday, February 6, architect Jeanne Gang will lead the Museum’s  Spotlight on Design public program about Brutalism. Gang is founding partner of international architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang, one of the many architecture firms featured in the Capital Brutalism exhibition who created speculative redesigns of some of the D.C.’s Brutalist buildings.

More information and tickets can be found HERE.

This program has applied for 2 LUs (AIA).

Spotlight on Design is presented by The Anthony and Keiko Greenberg Foundation. Additional support provided by The American Institute of Architects.

MUSEUM HOURS – Thursday – Monday, 10 am – 4 pm. Capital Brutalism is located on the second floor. Tickets: $10: Adults; $7: Youth (ages 3-17), Student with ID, Senior (ages 60+); Free: Museum Members. Purchase tickets online

LINK TO ADDITIONAL IMAGES

MEDIA CONTACT

Karen Baratz, karen@baratzpr.com, 240.497.1811

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build. We believe that understanding the impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, construction, planning, and design is important for everyone. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events, we welcome visitors of all ages to experience stories about the built world and its power to shape our lives, our communities, and our futures. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448, info@nbm.org, or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and X.

# # #

WASHINGTON, D.C.–June 6, 2023—The National Building Museum is thrilled to present its highly anticipated seventh Summer Block Party installation LOOK HERE by artist and architect Suchi Reddy, founder and principal of Reddymade Architecture & Design in New York. The installation will open to the public on Saturday, July 1 and will be on display through Labor Day, Monday, September 4. The Museum is open every Thursday through Monday from 10 am to 4 pm.

Best known for her large-scale projects that connect the emotional quality of human engagement with space, Reddy is the sixth designer to produce the Summer Block Party’s signature installation, and the first BIPOC woman to partner with the Museum on this annual exhibition.

“My mantra is form follows feeling,” Reddy said. “I believe that architecture, environments, and experiences play an essential role in shaping an understanding of ourselves as humans with agency, equity, and empathy.”

Bringing this ethos to LOOK HERE, Reddy has designed an installation of reflective fractals that visitors encounter on an oval ramp that fills the Center Court of the Museum’s Great Hall. Oversized mirrored elements shaped like ‘fortune-tellers’, the folded paper playthings that have engaged kids for generations, hang from above. The reflection of the Museum’s interior, the movement of the elements, and the changing light as the sun passes through space will transform the Great Hall into a contemplative though dynamic space during the day, and a disco at night.

As visitors make their way along the ramp, they will also encounter iconic images of activist gatherings in Washington, D.C. such as the 1963 March on Washington. This underscores the idea that Washington was designed, not only to house a democratic government, but also to be a physical representation of democratic ideals and beliefs. It also furthers Reddy’s philosophy that buildings and landscapes impact how we feel and, in turn, shape our society.

“As visitors experience the images of activism in LOOK HERE, it’s my hope that they will see themselves in the reflective surfaces, as part of these important moments in our history,” said Reddy.

At the peak of the ramp, visitors will encounter a round platform with padded seating where they can recline below a series of reflective elements, this time in the form of another familiar toy, the kaleidoscope. Yet, in lieu of colored beads and sequins, these 8-foot-long kaleidoscopes focus on and reflect the stunning architectural elements of the building including its eight massive Corinthian columns.

“Summer Block Party is back, and Suchi Reddy’s design is intriguing, peaceful, and playful,” said Aileen Fuchs, President and Executive Director of the National Building Museum. “By transforming our Great Hall into an abstract ‘Hall of Mirrors,’ we hope our visitors will come to appreciate the Museum’s unique architectural details and D.C.’s important activist history through an entirely new lens. We know our visitors are eagerly awaiting this hugely popular annual installation and we can’t wait to welcome them in to experience LOOK HERE!” she added.

The Museum offers various free and ticketed programs and events throughout its Summer Block Party in conjunction with LOOK HERE including:

Reflections: Meditation and Sound Bath
Monday, July 3, 4:30 pm (and every Monday through August 28)

Daybreaker
Friday, July 7, 6 am
Daybreaker, the early morning dance movement, returns to the Museum for the fourth year on Friday, July 7 at 6 am.

Late Nights
Thursdays – July 13, July 27, August 10, and August 24, 6:30 pm
The Museum reprises its popular Late Nights, offering special evening hours Thursday July 13, July 27, August 10, and August 24. Each Late Night features music, food trucks, and beverages for purchase.

Spotlight on Design
Monday, July 17, 6 pm
Spotlight on Design lecture with Suchi Reddy

Kaleidoscope Workshops
Saturday July 22 and Saturday August 26, 1:30 pm
Kaleidoscope building workshops.

Ward Days–Free Admission for DC Residents by Ward
The Museum once again hosts Ward Days in partnership with the Council of the District of Columbia. Ward Days feature free admission to LOOK HERE and the Museum’s exhibitions for residents of all 8 Wards of Washington, D.C. Each Ward is assigned a particular day Thursday, July 20: Wards 1, 4, 5, 6; Thursday, August 3: Wards 8 and 3; and Thursday, August 17: Wards 2 and 7.

“Amazon is thrilled to partner with the National Building Museum to present LOOK HERE and to share Suchi’s innovative design with our community,” said Patrick Phillippi, Amazon’s Head of Community Engagement in the Greater Washington Region. “We can’t wait to see LOOK HERE and we’re excited to bring this installation to the city and hope all D.C. residents will have an opportunity to experience the Museum this summer through the Museum’s Ward Days.

SUMMER BLOCK PARTY SPONSORS
Amazon is the presenting sponsor for Summer Block Party. Additional support from Luminux® reflective panels, Jancik Arts International, Inc., DPR Construction, 84 Lumber, and The DC Office of Cable Television, Film, Music, and Entertainment.

IMAGES: Images for LOOK HERE are available HERE. Additional images of LOOK HERE will be available in the Dropbox after the installation. 

MEDIA CONTACT
National Building Museum: Karen Baratz, karen@baratzpr.com, 240.497.1811
Reddymade: Julia van den Hout, Julia@originalcopy-nyc.com, 773.203.2295

ABOUT THE NATIONAL BUILDING MUSEUM
The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build. We believe that understanding the impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, construction, planning, and design is important for everyone. Through exhibitions, educational programs, and special events, we welcome visitors of all ages to experience stories about the built world and its power to shape our lives, our communities, and our futures. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448, info@nbm.org, or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

# # #

Unique daytime and evening performances and activities to take place inside The Playhouse at the National Building Museum

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The National Building Museum and the Folger Shakespeare Library are creating a summer of engaging performances, hands-on activities, and exciting events as part of the summer-long run of Folger Theatre’s production of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. A full slate of performances, talks, music, tours, and interactive workshops are being presented during the day and prior to performances of Midsummer inside the majestic Great Hall of the National Building Museum, home to The Playhouse this summer.

The Playhouse serves as home for the National Building Museum’s Summer Block Party, providing visitors with lively theater-related experiences throughout the day. Behind-the-scenes tours, face-painting, scavenger hunts, storytime, interactive workshops, and more captivating activities will be offered daily beginning Friday, July 1 and run through August 28, 2022. A full schedule of the Museum’s daytime programming can be found at www.nbm.org/exhibition/the-playhouse.

Tony Cisek (production designer for A Midsummer Night’s Dream) directed the creation of The Playhouse, which was developed in collaboration with Jim Hunter, Chair of the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of South Carolina and South Side Design and Building, responsible for the design and fabrication of the Midsummer Forest, an immersive installation in the Museum’s West Court.

In the evenings, The Playhouse transforms into the enchanting setting for Folger Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The Folger and the National Building Museum will host a variety of pre-show events, including performances by the celebrated Frontera Project, poetry workshops, free musical performances on the Museum’s lawn, free lunchtime readings, workshops on Hip Hop and Shakespeare, artist talks, behind-the-scenes tours, a staged reading of Call Me Olivia, and more.

Folger Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is on stage at the National Building Museum, July 12 – August 28, 2022.

The Playhouse Programming and Special Events:

Beginning July 1, visitors to the Museum will enter this summer’s experience through A Midsummer Forest, an immersive installation based on Joanna Robson’s A Knavish Lad, a double-concertina artists’ book from the Folger collection that visually narrates every scene from A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The book was completed in 2016 to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. Brought to life by Southside Design & Building, adults and children alike will be transported into the world of Midsummer, allowing them to step into the magic of Shakespeare’s beloved play.

Everyday guests will discover the characters of A Midsummer Night’s Dream through an interactive Scavenger Hunt, and crafts inspired by the play, while Shakespeare Mad Libs, Costumes & Crowns will provide inspiration for guests as they explore backstage. Guests will design Elizabethan London in a Shakespearean-inspired City by Design urban planning activity and construct their own Globe Theater to take home. Free with Museum admission.

Each morning at 11:30am, a Storytime and Activity will be offered and on weekends, Face Painting (1pm – 4pm, Saturdays and Sundays) will get guests into the Midsummer spirit. Free with Museum admission.

Paper artist Josefina Hernandez offers art workshops exploring patterns found within the National Building Museum and the illustrative history of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on July 9 and 10. Sessions run at 11:30am and 1:30pm both days. Free with Museum admission.

Beginning Monday, July 11, behind-the-scenes Backstage Tours are led daily at 1pm and 2pm (Thursdays – Mondays). This 45-minute guided experience takes you through the magical Midsummer Forest installation of The Playhouse and pulls back the curtain on the playmaking process right on the set of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where visitors can take center stage through interactive theater exercises. Free with Museum admission.

A Pre-Performance Conversation with Folger Director Michael Witmore about Shakespeare’s madcap comedy takes place on Wednesday, July 13 at 6:30pm. $20, with discounts available for Folger Shakespeare Library and National Building Museum members.

The O.B. Hardison Poetry Series at the Folger presents the Brown Bag Poetry “But A Dream” series at 12pm on July 14, July 21, and July 28. These readings will explore predominant themes of Midsummer—love, dreams, magic, and fantasy. Free with Museum admission.

• On Thursday, July 14, a reading on “love” will be presented by DC poet and historian Kim Roberts
• Sally Kindred Rosen will present a reading on fairies and mythology on Thursday, July 21
• Annie Finch concludes the series on Thursday, July 28 with a reading on the moon

Folger Theatre’s Stage Director Talk happens on Thursday, July 14 at 6:30pm. Learn about the creative process, staging, and vision of Midsummer with director Victor Malana Maog in conversation with Folger Theatre Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels. $20, with discounts available for Folger and National Building Museum members.

Creating The Playhouse: Setting the Stage for A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Monday, July 18 at 6:30pm, with National Building Museum Executive Director Aileen Fuchs and Folger Theatre Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels leading a lively conversation about the creation and activation of the theater space with stage designer Jim Hunter and offering insights into the unique challenges and exciting opportunities afforded by the project. $10 for National Building Museum members/$15 for non-members/free student admission.

Join knowledgeable Folger docents for a lively plunge into Shakespeare and his magical comedy A Midsummer Night’s Dream in Education Workshops on Thursday July 21 and Friday, July 22 at 2pm. Whether you’re a Shakespeare scholar or just being introduced to the Bard, this high-action—and loud!—workshop is for all visitors. Free with Museum admission.

Two Poetry Workshops led by Folger Poetry Coordinator Teri Cross Davis are on Friday, July 22 and Friday, August 5 at 6:00pm. Using the themes of dreams and dreaming, participants will study and discuss provided poems in these rich, in-person workshop sessions, and then be guided in the creation of their own work. $45, with discounts available.

Before taking in the production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, sit outside and enjoy the sounds of Music on the Lawn (on 5^th Street, between F & G). Live performances take place on Thursdays July 28, August 4, August 11, and August 18 from 6:30pm-7:30pm.

• July 28: longtime DC Latin band Sol y Rumba founded by Maria Isolina performs
• August 4: Hip Hop artist Malik Work debuts an original spoken word piece, That Purple Juice, inspired by Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
• August 11: Justin Trawick leads his four-piece folk/bluegrass ensemble, The Common Good
• August 18: Kristen “Drum Lady” Arant’s intergenerational all-women drumming ensemble, Bele Bele Rhythm Collective, plays

Acclaimed artists of The Frontera Project will perform on the festival stage July 29, 30, and 31 at 12pm. The Frontera Project brings Mexican and U.S. artists together in a unique, bi-lingual, interactive performance that fuses elements of theater, movement, and music. The Frontera Project, with its specific focus on Tijuana/San Diego, celebrates the richness, complexity, and humanity of Fronterizo life. Free with Museum admission.

The Frontera Project will also be offering lively and interactive workshops in the classroom at the National Building Museum on Thursday, July 28 at 2pm and July 29, 30, and 31 at 2:30pm.

On Monday, August 1, The Frontera Project will perform on the festival stage during a special Late Night at NBM at 8pm. Doors will open at 6:30pm and admission includes Museum exhibitions, including The Wall/El Muro: What is a Border Wall?, light bites, and drinks. $25; $10 for NBM and Folger members; $5 students.

Audience members are encouraged to stay and take part in our Post-Show Discussion with the cast of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on Thursday, August 4. This interactive discussion, led by Folger’s Resident Dramaturg Michele Osherow, will follow the 8:00pm performance.Actor, writer, and musician Malik Work leads Hip Hop Shakespeare, an interactive workshop designed to unveil the tools of theater and storytelling using the celebrated work of the Bard and the innovative and relevant work of contemporary Hip Hop. These free workshops will be held on the Midsummer stage on Friday, August 5 at 2pm and August 6 and 7 at 12:30pm.

Spotlight on Design: Renovation of the Folger will take place on Monday, August 8 at 6:30pm. Folger Shakespeare Library Director Michael Witmore and architect Stephen Kieran will discuss the Folger Shakespeare Library’s multi-year renovation project currently underway. They will examine what it takes to bring a historically listed 1930s building into the
21^st-century. $10 for National Building Museum members/$15 for non-members/free student admission.

Family members of all ages can join comic book maker Evan Keeling and Folger staff in Evan’s Story-Making Workshops on Thursday, August 11 and Friday, August 12. Participants will capture a favorite story and learn how to make a mini 8-page book out of a single sheet of paper, creating their very own comic book. Free with museum admission.

 Folger Theatre’s popular Brews & Banter Pre-Show Talk will be held on Friday, August 12 at 6:30pm. Join in on this off-the-cuff pre-show conversation with Midsummer cast members Bryan Barbarin (Demetrius) and Renea S. Brown (Helena). Ticket includes complimentary craft beer, available for tasting at 6pm. $15, with discounts for Folger Shakespeare Library and National Building Museum members.

An Open-Captioned performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream will take place on Sunday, August 14 at 7pm.

Please check the Folger website at
www.folger.edu/events/midsummer-nights-dream-2022, and the National Building Museum website at www.nbm.org/exhibition/the-playhouse, as events continue to be added to the performance calendars.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is produced in association with the National Building Museum and the University of South Carolina.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Ticketing Information & Performance Dates:       

A Midsummer Night’s Dream plays at the National Building Museum from July 12 through August 28, 2022. Please check the Folger website for a full performance schedule.

Tickets are $20 – $85, and may be purchased from the Folger Theatre Box Office at www.folger.edu/theatre or (202) 544-7077. Tickets are also on sale at the National Building Museum Visitor’s Center Thursday through Monday from 11am – 4pm.

The Playhouse at the National Building Museum can be explored July 1 – August 28, 2022, Thursday – Monday, 11am – 4pm. The Museum is located at 401 F St., NW in Washington, DC.

Visiting The Playhouse during the day and participating in all of the hands-on activities is included with admission to the National Building Museum. Tickets to performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream and other evening programs are a separate purchase.

COVID-19 Safety Protocols:

The safety and health of our community are of utmost importance to us. There will be no vaccination checks for all daytime programming inside The Playhouse. However, well-fitted masks are recommended for all visitors.

Evening programs, including pre-performance talks, and performances of Folger Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream will require the following of audience members to ensure a safe venue for patrons and our artists:

• Provide proof of vaccination with either an original vaccination card or a clear photo.
• Wear a well-fitting mask that covers both the nose and mouth at all times.

All Folger performers and staff are vaccinated. Folger staff and volunteers on site will be masked at all times.

About Folger Theatre and Folger Shakespeare Library:       

 Folger Shakespeare Library is the world’s largest Shakespeare collection, the ultimate resource for exploring Shakespeare and his world. The Folger welcomes millions of visitors online and in person. It provides unparalleled access to a huge array of resources, from original sources to modern interpretations. With the Folger, you can experience the power of performance, the wonder of exhibitions, and the excitement of path-breaking research. The Folger offers the opportunity to see and even work with early modern sources, driving discovery and transforming education for students of all ages.

The award-winning Folger Theatre in our nation’s capital bridges the arts and humanities through transformational performances and programming that speak inclusively to the human experience. Now under the leadership of Artistic Director Karen Ann Daniels, Folger Theatre continues its legacy through exciting interpretations and adaptations of Shakespeare and expands the classical canon through cultivating today’s artists and commissioning new work that is in dialogue with the concerns and issues of our time. Folger Theatre thrives both on its historical stage and in the community, engaging audiences wherever they happen to be.

During a multiyear building renovation, join the Folger online and on the road. Learn more at folger.edu.

About the National Building Museum:

The National Building Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build. We believe that understanding the history and impact of architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, construction, and design is important for all ages. Through exhibitions and educational programs, we show how the built world has power to shape our lives, communities, and futures. Public inquiries: 202.272.2448 or visit www.nbm.org. Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Sponsors:

Folger Theatre’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream is supported by the Share Fund, the William Abell Foundation, with additional funding from the University of South Carolina Excellence Initiative, a grant program that promotes transformative teaching, research, creative activity, and community engagement.

Season Sponsors
Maygene and Steve Daniels, Helen and David Kenney and Family, and the late Neal T. Turtell

Contributing Sponsor
Gail Kern Paster

The Playhouse at the National Building Museum is generously supported by presenting sponsor AARP and lead sponsor CoStar.