Second Fridays

Every second Friday of the month, everyone is welcome to a free evening of art, making, and community from 4–8 p.m. at the Smith College Museum of Art. 

Second Fridays was developed in conjunction with Northampton Arts Night Out in 2005 with the goal of welcoming the community for a free evening of art and connection in downtown Northampton. SCMA is among the founding members of Northampton Arts Night Out and, to this day, welcomes people of all ages to a program that has something for everyone. 

You can expect themed activities each month that include the following:

  • Hands-on art making from 4-7 p.m.
  • Four floors of art 
  • 20% off purchases at the SCMA Shop for Friends of the Museum

And often include one or more of the following:

  • Gallery talks  
  • Films
  • Pop-up exhibitions
  • And more!
August 14
Top left photo of people making art, person in right photo looking at a colorful painting of horizontal stripes with text on lower left that reads Teacher inspired Second Friday, Art, Making, Community, Celebrating Alma Thomas and all educators

All are welcome to a teacher-inspired Second Friday on August 14 when we celebrate the artist Alma Thomas and educators!  From 4–7 p.m., hands-on artmaking activity developed by Tiphareth Ananda of the Smith Campus School.  From 4–8 p.m., explore the  exhibition Composing Color: Paintings by Alma Thomas from the Smithsonian American Art Museum and watch the documentary "Miss Alma Thomas: A Life in Color.” Step on board the Traveling Space Trailer mobile learning hub, and stop by the networking table for teachers! 

July 10
Two photos: left includes person with bright blue jacket standing n front on an artwork while facing a few people; Right includes a bird's eys perspective of a table with 6 people around it making art

From 4–8 p.m., enjoy free admission and discover four floors of art during an evening inspired by one of the world's most captivating colors, blue. From 4–7 p.m. drop-in for hands-on art making and create abstract paintings inspired by the artist Amanda Williams’ painting, Typographical Lapse in Territorial Judgement. At 5:30pm, join a gallery talk with SCMA Curator Danielle Carrabin who will highlight American paintings on view at SCMA and traces the history of blue pigment in Western art. From 4–8 p.m.  Enjoy four floors of art. 

June 12
Two photos: left includes person in a baseball cap dressed in black holding a clipboard to the left of a table with a conveyeor belt on a table surrounded by several chairs with three people sitting in them; Right image has two people walking together towards the viewer in a gallery with four visitors in the background

Visit SCMA June 12, from 4–8 p.m, for art, making, and community; 4–7 p.m. join Northampton-based artist and educator Jeff Kasper to draw, collage, and imagine spaces for rest, play, gathering, community, and care. From 4–8 p.m. enjoy four floors of art, then head to nearby Graham Hall for a screening of films by architect and activist Phyllis Birkby. These films showcase Birkby’s documentation of the feminist movement and NYC lesbian culture from the 1970s through the 1990s. Also, Friends receive 20% off at the Museum Shop.  

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