(New York, May 21, 2025) – The Metropolitan Museum of Art will officially reopen the newly renovated Michael C. Rockefeller Wing on Saturday, May 31, marking the occasion with a full day of cultural celebration. This highly anticipated event will offer visitors the first opportunity to experience the transformed galleries dedicated to the Arts of Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania, following a multi-year renovation project.
The celebration will unfold across The Met’s Fifth Avenue location and its plaza, featuring a dynamic lineup of live music, art-making activities, performances, film screenings, artist demonstrations and workshops, food experiences, and more. Programming is designed for all ages and will be presented in multiple languages. All outdoor events are free, while indoor events are free with Museum admission, with no registration required.
- Advertisement -
“This celebration for the Michael C. Rockefeller Wing reflects the extraordinary spirit of creativity and community that is so essential to The Met and New York City itself,” said Max Hollein, The Met’s Marina Kellen French Director and CEO. “After four years of transformation, we are delighted to welcome everyone to celebrate this reopening with a festival that will offer opportunities for art lovers of all ages to experience the historic reimagining of these collections through the objects, ideas, music, and dance of the cultures represented in the galleries.”
Opening Ceremony and Festival Highlights
The day will begin with a ribbon-cutting ceremony from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., followed by a variety of festival activities from 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Highlights include:
Queens Night Market: Culinary Heritage Reimagined
Celebrated chefs and vendors from Queens Night Market will present specially curated pre-colonial menus inspired by the histories and collections of the Rockefeller Wing. Representing regions from Sierra Leone to Nigeria, Ethiopia to Hawaii, New Zealand to Peru, each dish is made without post-colonial ingredients, offering a rare and immersive culinary experience from 1:00 to 6:00 p.m.
Art-Making and Artist Demonstrations
Visitors can engage in interactive art-making sessions with acclaimed visual artist Manny Vega, who will guide a mosaic workshop inspired by The Met’s collection. Participants will contribute to a large-scale communal artwork, representing diverse diasporic pathways in New York City. Additional artist demonstrations include weaving workshops by Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez (Peru) and Teokotā’i Paitai (Oceania), drum-making workshops, and a community mural collaboration.
Community Hub on the Plaza
The museum plaza will serve as a Community Hub, where local organizations will highlight cultural heritage through interactive exhibits and activities. Participating groups include Artistic Noise, Asian/Pacific/American Institute at NYU, Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI), Cetiliztli Nauhcampa, Hālāwai NYC, FORGOTTEN LANDS, Pachamama Peruvian Arts, and the Pacific Island Film Festival of NYC.
Global Rhythms and Performances
Throughout the museum, festivalgoers will enjoy a vibrant array of music and dance performances from across Africa, the Americas, and Oceania. Featured acts include:
- Te Ao Mana – Hawaiian and Tahitian dance
- MAX Percussion – Senegalese drumming
- Asase Yaa Cultural Arts Foundation Youth Ensemble – Traditional West African dance
- Mariachi Real de México – Mexican folk music
- Snowbird Bento – Hula performance and cultural dialogue
- Famoro Dioubaté – West African balafon maestro
- Cumbe Center for African and Diaspora Dance – Dance workshops
- Mario Ulibarri and José Adán Pérez Ensemble – Canción bolero performance
This momentous reopening signifies a renewed commitment by The Met to celebrate and elevate the artistic contributions of cultures across Africa, the Ancient Americas, and Oceania. Visitors are invited to explore the galleries, immerse themselves in cross-cultural exchange, and experience a festival that reflects the global stories and creative vitality of these regions.
For more information on the event and full schedule, please visit www.metmuseum.org.
