Educational Programs

The Museum's educational programs encourage visitors to explore the variety and wonder of the textile arts, and to learn more about how textiles are made and why they are important. Exhibition-related programming is designed to enhance and expand upon the exhibition themes. All exhibitions feature school tours, and programs are offered for educators throughout the year.

Click here to see the Museum's current calendar of events.

PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES & CHILDREN

• Family First Saturdays
• Celebration of Textiles
  

Family First Saturdays
Drop in and explore The Textile Museum as a family at this ongoing program, held the first Saturday of every month from 2 to 4 pm. Each program session focuses on different objects and activities. Participants enjoy scavenger hunts, hands-on projects, visits with local artists, performances and much more. This program is FREE and no reservations are required.

Upcoming Family First Saturday Program: "Blue Jeans"
Saturday, May 3, 2–4 pm
Learn why denim jeans are called "blue jeans" and examine Levi Strauss jeans from different eras. Wear your favorite pair of jeans and receive a free bookmark, while supplies last. Inspired by the exhibition BLUE, bring in a pair of jeans to decorate or use materials provided to create your own blue textile. FREE; no reservations required.

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PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS
Adult programs include tours, lectures, workshops, films and year-round Saturday Rug & Textile Appreciation Mornings. Click the links below for more information on ongoing programs and visit the calendar page for specific listings.

• Rug & Textile Appreciation Mornings
• Ask-a-Curator, Ask-a-Conservator
• Highlights Tours
• Guided Exhibition Tours
• Textiles & Tea
• The Textile Museum Fall Symposium

Rug & Textile Appreciation Mornings
Held most Saturdays at 10:30 am, Rug & Textile Appreciation Mornings give visitors an opportunity to expand their knowledge of textiles from around the world. Speakers include local collectors and experts who share textiles from their own collections and invite visitors to share theirs in an informal environment. See the calendar page for descriptions of upcoming Rug & Textile Appreciation Mornings.

Ask-a-Curator, Ask-a-Conservator
This ongoing program, held the first Wednesday of every month (September through May) from 10:30 am to 1 pm, gives visitors the opportunity to learn more about their own textiles from Textile Museum curatorial and conservation staff. While Museum curators specialize in the textile arts of non-Western cultures, the conservation staff can answer questions about caring for textiles produced worldwide. Fee: free/members; $5/non-members. No reservations are required.

Highlights Tours
Walk-in tours that feature an overview of the Museum and highlights from current exhibitions are offered every Saturday and Sunday (September through May) at 1:30 pm. No reservations are required.

Guided Exhibition Tours
Group tours of current exhibitions may be scheduled for the following days and times: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10:15 am to 3 pm; Thursday from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. Please reserve the tour at least four weeks in advance of the preferred date.

To request a guided exhibition tour for adults using our Online Tour Request Form, click here.

Textiles & Tea (available only for groups of seven to 20 people)
Extend the pleasure of a visit to The Textile Museum! Take a docent-led tour of a current exhibition, then enjoy afternoon tea under John Russell Pope's wisteria-covered pergola or in the Museum's elegant Myers Room. Catered by Teaism, a popular local teahouse, this delicious repast includes a selection of teas, sandwiches, cookies and truffles. Fee: $27.50 per person. To schedule for groups of seven to 20, please call (202) 667-0441, ext. 65 at least four weeks in advance. Available Monday through Saturday only. Please note: payment is required at time of reservation.

A view of the wisteria-covered pergola in The Textile Museum's garden.

The Textile Museum Fall Symposium
The annual Textile Museum Fall Symposium is designed to bring together individuals interested in learning more about textiles and to promote scholarship, camaraderie and the informal exchange of ideas.

This year's program will be held October 17-19, 2008 on the topic Cultural Threads: Exploring the Context of Oriental Rugs and Textiles. Complementing the fall exhibition Timbuktu to Tibet: Rugs and Textiles of the Hajji Babas, the weekend conference will feature a varied program of presentations by scholars and collectors, an evening reception, exhibition tours, and a special “Show-and-Tell” session. For more information, including registration fees, click here.

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Click here for school tour details (pdf).

To request a tour for a school group using our Online School Tours Request Form, click here.

Museum-School Partnership Opportunity
As part of the 2008 Celebration of Textiles, The Textile Museum invited all 1st through 6th grade classes in District of Columbia Public and Charter Schools to apply for participation in a unique museum-school partnership project. Click here for more information on this fun project.

Workshops, open house evenings, and support materials are offered in connection with some exhibitions. The Museum's interactive online learning experience, Common Threads: Unraveling the World of Textiles, features resources for teachers and suggestions for using that site in the classroom. Online lesson plans and resources are available in connection with the past exhibition, Flowers of Silk and Gold: Four Centuries of Ottoman Embroidery. The Textile Museum is a partner in the Arts for Every Student Program with the D.C. Arts and Humanities Education Collaborative and D.C. Public Schools. Send us your mailing address to be added to the Museum's Educator E-Mail List.

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