Free February Programming at the Walker
Explore free February programming at the Walker Art Center, featuring hands-on workshops, family-friendly activities, and celebrations inspired by Dyani White Hawk: Love Language and Show & Tell: An Exhibition for Kids.
FREE THURSDAY NIGHTS
Enjoy free admission every Thursday night during extended gallery hours. Discover current exhibitions, join a free tour, drop in for art activities, or catch a short film of your choice in the Bentson Mediatheque. Our shops stay open late, and food and drinks are available at Cardamom.
Advance tickets are recommended, but tickets are also available on-site on the day of the event at the Main Lobby desk.
Free Thursday Night, February 5
Camdentown Chess Club at the Walker
Cargill Lounge, 5–8 pm
Camdentown Chess Club returns for a series of monthly pop-ups inviting visitors of all ages to connect and engage in playful strategy and togetherness through the timeless game of chess. Launched in North Minneapolis as a welcoming community space for BIPOC players, Camdentown brings that same spirit of accessibility and belonging to the Cargill Lounge.
Inspired by the Show & Tell exhibition, which celebrates curiosity and exchange as forms of expression, Camdentown Chess Club invites visitors to see chess as both a game and a social practice—one that values patience, dialogue, and the beauty of thinking together. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to the game, all are welcome.
Join us for Chess Club on Thursdays, February 5, March 12, and April 2, 5–8 pm. Chess boards and game clocks provided, supplies limited.
Art Lab, 5–8 pm
Create unique hand-printed cards in this beginner-friendly Art Club, inspired by Show & Tell: An Exhibition for Kids. Learn block-printing basics and design unique cards for Valentine’s Day or any occasion.
Materials are provided and distributed on a first-come, first-served basis; supplies are limited. Activities are designed for all skill levels. No prior registration is required for Art Club. The more you visit, the more you’ll discover.
Free Thursday Night, February 12
Art Lab, 5–8 pm
Decorate small matchboxes with images, gems, sequins, and drawings to honor someone or something you care about.
Skyline Room, 5–8 pm
Join artist Rosy Simas (Seneca Nation of Indians, Heron clan) and Reuben Roqueñi, Executive Director of the Portland Institute for Contemporary Art, in conversation to celebrate the opening of the exhibition Rosy Simas: A:gajë:gwah dësa’nigöëwë:nye:’ (i hope it will stir your mind). The two will discuss Simas’s transdisciplinary practice, from her long history in choreography to her recent work in sound and video installation.
Following the artist talk, enjoy conversation and small bites with a reception in the Cargill Lounge beginning at 7 pm.
This event requires a free ticket, and seating is first-come, first-served. Registering online in advance is recommended and holds your seat until 15 minutes prior to the event start.
Free Thursday Night, February 19
Art Club: Dance Moves Scavenger Hunt
Art Lab, 5–8 pm
Find your groove as you make your way through the Walker campus on a hunt for dance moves! Play solo or bring a team to get clues by moving your body.
Free Thursday Night, February 26
Art Lab, 5–8 pm
Whether you need to mend a chain on that “Be Mine” charm bracelet or you have an idea for a new set of funky earrings, come spend some time playing and beading during our Jewelry Open Studio.
Winter Reset: Aligning with Art
Walker Art Center, 5–8 pm
This winter, join us for an evening of free holistic healing, including sound baths, natal chart crafts, and more. As the days grow longer, immerse yourself in an experience that will rejuvenate you for the new year—or come to simply escape the winter chill. Bring a yoga mat or blanket, get comfortable, and let the soothing vibrations of crystal bowls, gongs, and chimes fill the space while enjoying an immersive experience.
Due to high interest and limited supplies, this program is expected to hit capacity.
FREE FIRST SATURDAY
Free First Saturday features free gallery admission on the first Saturday of every month. Gallery admission tickets are available online in advance and on-site on the event day from the Main Lobby desk. Free admission 10 am–5 pm; activities 10 am–3 pm.
Celebrate Dyani White Hawk: Love Language
Saturday, February 7, 10 am –5 pm
Walker Art Center
As Dyani White Hawk: Love Language comes to a close, join us in celebrating interconnectedness and intergenerational knowledge at this family-friendly event.
SENSORY FRIENDLY SUNDAY
Sensory Friendly Sunday: February 2026
Sunday, February 8, 8 am–11 am
Walker Art Center
Sensory Friendly Sunday is a monthly event designed for kids, teens, and adults with sensory-processing differences, autism, or developmental disabilities. The galleries will be closed to the general public, allowing visitors to enjoy the museum in a calm environment with accommodations such as quiet spaces, fidgets, and sunglasses available. Experience a selection of current exhibitions, make art, or watch a short film. All friends and family members are welcome.
To support the health and safety of visitors at increased risk for COVID-19, masks are required at Sensory Friendly Sunday for visitors over age 2. Accommodations are available if someone in your party is unable to tolerate masking. Please email access@walkerart.org or call 612-375-7561 for more information.
This program was created in consultation with the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM) and the University of Minnesota’s Occupational Therapy Program.
ADDITIONAL PUBLIC PROGRAMS
Friday, February 13, 10 am–1 pm
Gallery B
Come to the Walker for storytelling and art-making every second Friday of the month and Spring Break April 1-3 during the exhibition Show & Tell: An Exhibition for Kids! Show & Tell is on view through April 5.
Storytelling will take place in the exhibition Show & Tell at 10:30 am and 12:30 pm, and enjoy art-making activities in the Cargill Lounge from 10 am – 1 pm.
While walk-ins are welcome, we encourage you to reserve your space ahead of time. Caregivers and relatives of kids receive free admission to the galleries at this event. Ages 18 and under always visit for free.
Activity instructions are available in English and Spanish. Materials will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis; supplies are limited.
Teen Maker Break: February 2026
Friday, February 13, 2 pm–5 pm
Art Lab
A long weekend calls for some art-making! Come hang out and make art with other teens at the Walker. Then, check out our latest exhibitions—all for free.
No advanced registration required—just stop by. Free snacks provided, while supplies last. Can’t make it this time? No problem! The Walker is always free for anyone 18 or under.
Follow @walkerteens on Instagram or email teenprograms@walkerart.org for more.