Celebrate the extraordinary elephant at the National Museum of African Art! World Elephant Day is a global movement to support the conservation of these incredible creatures. Elephants and their ivories have inspired stories and art in many African cultures, and the museum wants to do its part to raise awareness about the largest land animal on earth! Discover how elephants have inspired African artists and how the museum is preserving this heritage while also working to curb today’s illegal ivory trade.
11 a.m.–2 p.m.
- Explore our exhibitions for elephant-inspired art.
- Summon your artistic potential! Create a paper elephant to take home or to share as part of a community artwork (while supplies last).
- Visit our art cart and get hands-on experience with objects from the museum’s teaching collection
- Learn proverbs highlighting the special attributes of the African elephant.
- Photo op! Take an “elfie” with our beaded Cameroonian elephant mask and share it @nmafa using #worldelephantday.
10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 2:30 p.m.
- Join our docents on gallery tours featuring ivory masterworks.
11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m.
- Enjoy performances from local D.C. storyteller Diane Macklin.
1 p.m.
- View a screening of PBS’s documentary Soul of the Elephant
Presented in conjunction with the annual World Elephant Day campaign, the World Elephant Society, and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation
Free and open to the public
