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Free First Thursday: Seattle Art Museum

Thu Jul 3 2025

10 am–8 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Entire Building

Installation view of Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei, Seattle Art Museum, 2025, photo: Alborz Kamalizad.

Call your friends and bring the family, admission is FREE to everyone at the Seattle Art Museum on the first Thursday of every month.

In addition to our regular hours, Seattle Art Museum will be open for Free First Thursday evenings from 5–8 pm to provide more opportunities to visit the galleries for free! Evening hours will feature extra activities like live music, a cash bar, drop-in art making, and in-gallery experiences for visitors.

Tickets are available both onsite and online.

5-8 pm | Celebrating Little Cloud Sky with Cotton Candy by SweetArt
South Hall entrance

<a href="https://www.seattleartmuseum.org/whats-on/exhibitions/friendswithyou-little-cloud-sky>*Little Cloud Sky is a new SAM commission from FriendsWithYou, the internationally celebrated duo of Samuel (Sam) Borkson and Arturo (Tury) Sandoval III. The large-scale installation will be in the museum’s Brotman Forum, its main entrance lobby and a community space that is free to the public to enjoy without a ticket to the museum. To celebrate the arrival of Little Cloud Sky*, enjoy cotton candy spun live by SweetArt Cotton Candy while supplies last! Pick up a wet wipe to clean your hands after.

5-8 pm | Actualize AiR Drop-in workshop: “Trash to Treasure” with Bridget O’Brien-Smith
Brotman Forum

Bridget O’Brien-Smith is a multidisciplinary artist who loves to combine pursuits from as much of the creative spectrum as possible, including visual art, fashion, media art, music, and movement. She often incorporates found materials and the act of transformation and constraint/ process-based intervention when creating. Actualize Artist in Residency (AiR) is a woman-run and woman seed-funded art organization. Their mission is to foster and accelerate the careers of emerging artists by creating space and opportunities, establishing an artist alliance in downtown Seattle.

5-8 pm | DJ Sets by SEA Vinyl Society
Brotman Forum

SEA Vinyl Society is a Seattle-based, AANHPI collective dedicated to uniting communities through the collection, preservation, and performance of music and stories from Asia and the Asian diaspora. Rooted in vinyl culture and community memory, they celebrate their shared heritage through sound.

5:30-6:30 pm | SAM Gallery Presents: The Art of Collecting
MARKET Private Dining Room**

6:30-7:30 pm | SAM Gallery Artist Talk: Wavelength
SAM Gallery

Free First Thursday Evenings Presented by

Paul G. Allen Family Foundation

Related program

Discounts

To ensure that everyone has the opportunity to experience art, SAM offers monthly free days and various discounts for visiting our locations.

view program

Related program

Free First Thursday

Get free admission on Free First Thursday at all SAM locations and take advantage of extended hours and art programming at Seattle Art Museum.

view program

What’s on at Seattle Art Museum

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Jun 19 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Jun 21 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Jun 21 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Jun 21 2025

  

2–3 pm

Seattle Art Museum

canceled

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Jun 22 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Jun 22 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Jun 26 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Little Cloud Sky Opening Night Bash

Fri Jun 27 2025

  

7–10 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Jun 28 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Jun 28 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Jun 29 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Jun 29 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

SAM Gallery Presents: Reverie

Wed–Sun Jun 4–29 2025

  

10 am–5 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Thu Jul 3 2025

  

1:30–2:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Jul 3 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

SAM Gallery Presents: The Art of Collecting

Thu Jul 3 2025

  

5:30–6:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Jul 5 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Jul 5 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Jul 6 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Jul 6 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Jul 10 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Jul 12 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Jul 12 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Jul 12 2025

  

3–4 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Jul 13 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Jul 13 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Jul 17 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Jul 19 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Jul 19 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Jul 19 2025

  

2–3 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Jul 20 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Jul 20 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Jul 24 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Jul 26 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Jul 26 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

SAM Films: Save the Last Dance

Sat Jul 26 2025

  

2–4 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Jul 27 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Jul 27 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Jul 31 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Aug 2 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Aug 2 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Aug 3 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Aug 3 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

SAM Gallery Presents: Wavelength

Wed–Mon Jul 2–Aug 4 2025

  

10 am–5 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Thu Aug 7 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Aug 7 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Free First Thursday: Seattle Art Museum

Thu Aug 7 2025

  

10 am–8 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Aug 9 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Aug 9 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Aug 10 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Aug 10 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Aug 14 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Aug 16 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Aug 16 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Aug 17 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Aug 17 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Aug 21 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sat Aug 23 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Aug 23 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

SAM Films: Sing Street

Sat Aug 23 2025

  

2–4 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Public Tour: Highlights from SAM’s Collection

Sun Aug 24 2025

  

11:30 am–12:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sun Aug 24 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Thu Aug 28 2025

  

2:30–3:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Ai Weiwei Public Tour

Sat Aug 30 2025

  

1:15–2:15 pm

Seattle Art Museum

SAM Gallery Presents: Overcast

Wed–Sun Aug 6–31 2025

  

10 am–5 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Free First Thursday: Seattle Art Museum

Thu Sep 4 2025

  

10 am–8 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Sep 13 2025

  

3–4 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Saturday University: Museums, Collections and Social Repair

Sat Sep 13 2025

  

10 am–11:30 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Sep 20 2025

  

2–3 pm

Seattle Art Museum

SAM Films: The Perks of Being a Wallflower

Sat Sep 27 2025

  

2–4 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Oct 11 2025

  

3–4 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Oct 18 2025

  

2–3 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Nov 8 2025

  

3–4 pm

Seattle Art Museum

Chanoyu: Tea Culture of Japan Demonstration

Sat Nov 15 2025

  

2–3 pm

Seattle Art Museum

2026 Naramore Ceremony

Fri May 1 2026

  

6–7 pm

Seattle Art Museum

2026 Naramore Middle & High School Art Show

Wed–Sun Apr 1–May 31 2026

  

10 am–5 pm