First Friday

Join Poster House on the First Friday of every month for free admission and extended hours! Museum members can check in at the Info Desk to receive one free drink ticket to use at the bar from 6–9pm. Explore the museum’s latest exhibitions and get in on the fun by attending a tour, workshop, performance, or activity throughout the day. Every First Friday is different, offering unique opportunities to engage with rotating exhibitions and the permanent collection.

11am–12:45pm: Turning Red Movie Screening

Kick off AAPI Heritage Month with a special First Friday takeover in collaboration with Welcome to Chinatown. Come and enjoy Disney and Pixar’s unusual coming-of-age film, the comic drama Turning Red (2022)

2–3:30pm: Papercut Workshop – $10

Explore the timeless craft of Chinese paper cutting as you transform simple materials into intricate works of art. Learn traditional folding techniques, creating beautiful, symmetrical designs as you uncover the cultural symbolism and meditative nature of this peaceful, hands-on practice.

3–4pm: How to Build an Exhibition – Design Tour

Have you ever wondered how an exhibition comes to life? Join John Kudos, founder of KUDOS Design Collaboratory, and John Lynch, Poster House’s Associate Director of Exhibits, four a tour of Fallout: Atoms for War & Peace where they will explain the nose-to-tail of exhibition building. From initial design concepts to how an installation crew interprets a designer’s vision, this informative tour will have you looking at exhibition building in a whole new light.

5–6pm: Gyotaku Fish Print Drop-in Workshop – $10

Join a Gyotaku workshop at Poster House and experience an exciting traditional Japanese art form. Emerging in the mid-19th century, Gyotaku is the authentic Japanese method of fish printing. This technique involves applying ink to an actual fish and pressing it onto paper. Originally used by fishermen to record their catches, Gyotaku has since become a unique artistic practice.

The workshop will be led by Sato Yamamoto, a distinguished printmaker from Tokyo, now residing in Westchester County. She has taught numerous workshops at such distinguished venues as the Brooklyn Museum, the Worcester Art Museum, Lenox Hill Neighborhood House, Center for Book Arts, Manhattan Graphics Center, and the Brooklyn Botanical Garden.

5–6pm: Happy Hour

Swing by our Night Market and enjoy a complimentary spring roll, provided by our friends at Jing Fong NY! Available while supplies last—RSVP does not guarantee a small bite, so come early!

6–8:30pm: Night Market Curated by Welcome to Chinatown

Experience the Night Market presented at Poster House by Welcome to Chinatown. This event features a carefully curated collection of design and craft items celebrating the creativity and culture of New York’s Chinatown. Seize this chance to discover one-of-a-kind local treasures!

7–8pm: Choy Lay Fut Lion Dance

Experience an extraordinary dance performance at Poster House by New York Choy Lay Fut, a legendary Lion Dance Team from New York’s Chinatown, representing more than 30 years of cultural tradition. Known for its energetic shows and deep community roots (most of the performers are Chinatown high schoolers), the team will perform its much-loved Drunken Lion routine, in which a curious lion discovers a wine bottle and gets a little tipsy, resulting in a humorous and skillful display of movement and character.

After the performance, don’t miss the chance to meet the lion up close! The team will stick around after the show, giving guests a chance to snap photos and learn more about this cherished tradition.

Great for all ages—come for the fun, stay for the culture!

Accessibility Note: Masks and clear masks are available free of charge at the museum. Assistive listening devices and stools are available. ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or a CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is also available upon request. Please contact access@posterhouse.org or (914) 295-2387 to request interpretation services and to address any other accessibility needs. For other event-related questions, please contact info@posterhouse.org.