Hirshhorn Art School: Storytime Studio Summer Hours

The Hirshhorn’s Storytime Studio expands to two days a week for summer 2026, offering a hands-on early childhood program that blends play, storytelling, and art-making. Running from June 1 through August 31, the studio opens on both Wednesdays and Thursdays with two sessions each day at 10 AM and 11 AM. Designed for children from birth to age 6 accompanied by an adult caregiver, each hourlong session follows a structured rhythm: free play with materials like felt and blocks, an educator-led read-aloud, a guided art-making activity, and a brief gallery tour. The program is free and does not require pre-registration, but capacity is limited and entry is first-come, first-served. When the 10 AM session fills, families may return for the 11 AM session. Large groups of eight or more are asked to arrange a reserved program in advance. All sessions take place in the Hirshhorn Art School on the museum’s lower level, and stroller parking is available in the lobby and lower level. The museum itself opens at 10 AM, so the earliest session begins right at opening time. Nursing caregivers are welcome, and accommodations such as ASL interpretation or live captioning can be arranged with at least one to two weeks’ notice by contacting the museum in advance.

When: Wednesdays and Thursdays, June 1 through August 31, 2026.
Showtimes: Two sessions each day: 10 AM–11 AM and 11 AM–12 PM.
Tickets: Free; no registration or tickets required. Entry is first-come, first-served.
Ages: Recommended for children ages 0–6, each with an adult caregiver.
Venue: Hirshhorn Art School, Lower Level of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.
Run time: Each session lasts one hour. Participation for each adult and child is limited to one session per day.
Accessibility: The program is open to all; nursing caregivers welcome. For accommodations (ASL, captioning, etc.), contact the museum at least one to two weeks in advance.
Group policy: Groups of eight or more are encouraged to request a reserved program by emailing the museum.
Session structure: Each hour includes open play (felt, blocks, sketching), a read-aloud, an art-making activity, and a gallery tour. The 10 AM session runs: open play 10:00–10:15, read-aloud 10:15–10:30, art-making 10:30–10:45, gallery tour 10:45–11:00. The 11 AM session follows the same schedule shifted one hour later.
Note: The museum opens at 10 AM. Stroller parking is available in the lobby and lower level. No pre-registration is needed, but capacity is limited.