Play, create, and connect in the Brotman Forum every first, second, and third Saturday, 11 am–2 pm. This lively space is filled with hands-on art making, concerts, and moments of community—all inspired by SAM’s permanent collections and exhibitions.
Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a curious newcomer, or just looking for a place to recharge this weekend, you’re always welcome. Learn about art through interactive activities, meet new friends, or simply enjoy the atmosphere before exploring the galleries.
Programs in SAM’s entry gathering spaces are always free and open to everyone. Bring your curiosity and imagination, we’ll provide the rest.
SAM Performs: Sa Sa Ye Steel
noon–2 pm
Seattle Steel Pan Project (SSPP), led by Oriana Estrada and Michael Shantz, builds on more than thirty years of steel pan performance and education in the Pacific Northwest. The organization is rooted in the history of the steel pan—an instrument developed in the 1940s in Trinidad & Tobago, where innovators transformed discarded oil drums into a new form of musical expression. Born out of resistance, celebration, and community, the steel pan has since become the most recent acoustic instrument to gain global recognition, now played in schools, universities, and ensembles around the world. SSPP continues this legacy, connecting Seattle audiences to the instrument’s cultural origins and ongoing evolution through education and performance.
Write Postcards to Politicians
In this activity inspired by Ai Weiwei’s political advocacy, you'll write postcards to your elected officials about the issues that matter to you. Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei inspires us to speak out about human rights, government corruption, surveillance, immigration, misinformation, and other topics. What issue do you want to see addressed by your representatives?