Free Sunday storytimes are getting a new chapter. The Whitney Museum of American Art is partnering with The New York Public Library to offer free storytimes to families on the second Sunday of every month.
The storytime programs will take place at the Whitney (located at 99 Gansevoort Street in Manhattan) as part of the museum’s Second Sundays free admission initiative, launched in January to help connect more people to the museum and its mission of celebrating contemporary American art and artists.
On the second Sunday of each month, the museum offers free admission for all (visitors 18 and under are always free), all-ages artmaking projects, performances, tours, Spanish-language programs and more. Beginning on Sunday, March 10, Second Sundays will also feature The New York Public Library librarians conducting their popular and engaging storytimes throughout the day. The first installment of the partnership on March 10 will include an appearance by Patience, the Library’s beloved lion mascot.
Additionally, in honor of the Oscars happening the same day, families who attend the March 10 Second Sundays event will also have an opportunity to walk a “yellow carpet”—as the official Second Sundays color is yellow—and take family photos.
The partnership between the museum and library system brings free Sunday storytimes back to the City, as The New York Public Library—which operates branches in the Bronx, Manhattan and Staten Island—announced it had to eliminate Sunday service in November due to budget cuts.
Second Sundays is made possible by a generous three-year grant from the Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All Program, which supports increased access to museums across the country and fosters engagement with local communities by focusing on common barriers to access. Earlier this year, the program announced $40 million in grants to over 60 cultural organizations across the country, including the Whitney.
The free storytimes program and another initiative at The Whitney Museum of American Art that launched in January, Free Friday Nights, both aim to reduce barriers to access, removing admission fees and offering programs that are entry points for anyone interested in visiting. While admission is free for these programs, tickets are still required and can be reserved at whitney.org/tickets. Advanced tickets are strongly encouraged.