May 16, 2012
The best things in life are free, including many performances and activities in New York City. Whether you crave live music, a screen larger than your television or group activities, there is always something, somewhere, that invites you to join in at little-to-no cost.
In addition to these wallet-friendly events, check out the NYC-ARTS list of Free Museum Days.
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Every Exit is an Entrance: 30 Years of Exit Art
ManhattanSat, March 24, 2012 – Sat, May 19, 2012
Founded in 1982 by Executive Director Jeanette Ingberman and Artistic Director Papo Colo, Exit Art has grown from a pioneering alternative art space into an innovative cultural center. "Every Exit is an Entrance: 30 Years of Exit Art" is a farewell retrospective, as Exit Art closes its doors after 30 years. More -
Deco Japan: Shaping Art and Culture, 1920–1945
ManhattanFri, March 16, 2012 – Sun, June 10, 2012
Showcasing the spectacular craftsmanship and sophisticated design associated with both Japan and Art Deco style, this exhibition is the first in the U.S. to explore a little-known brand of pre-WWII modernism borne of competitive ingenuity and vivacious cosmopolitanism. More -
Strength & Grace: The Olympic Spirit
BronxFri, May 11, 2012 – Fri, Aug 17, 2012
Elisa Contemporary Art presents Strength & Grace, an Olympic Tribute honoring the athletic prowess and beauty of two Summer Olympic sports – swimming and equestrian riding and jumping. More -
BronxWed, April 4, 2012 – Tues, June 5, 2012
On April 4 the gates of the Andrew Freedman Home will open to the public. The home was originally built to be a haven for the rich elderly who had lost their fortunes. Referencing this quixotic history, the exhibition will draw together the economic and social history of the home with the present day realities of the Bronx and its residents. More -
ManhattanFri, March 23, 2012 – Sat, June 9, 2012
Know Gays Aloud is an art exhibit that concerns itself with the civil rights of the LGBT community, both in American and abroad. More -
IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas
National Museum of the American Indian—Smithsonian Institution
ManhattanThurs, Feb 9, 2012 – Fri, Aug 31, 2012
This exhibition addresses the racially motivated laws that have been forced on Native, African American and mixed-heritage peoples. The daily cultural practices that define the African–Native American experience will also be highlighted. More -
Asuka Hishiki: A Window on Nature
ManhattanThurs, April 26, 2012 – Wed, June 6, 2012
Over 35 watercolors showcase the Japanese artist Asuka Hishiki's painstakingly detailed renderings of plants and creatures of the natural world like you've never seen them before. More -
Brooklyn Brewery Beer Garden at BHS
BrooklynThurs, May 31, 2012
Enjoy a cold, refreshing Brooklyn Brewery beer on the patio of Brooklyn Historical Society’s beautiful landmark building. Brooklyn Brewery will be on hand to pour and talk beer (if you like). The Tres Amigos, one of Brooklyn hottest folk bands, will perform. More -
Annual Free Memorial Day Concert
ManhattanMon, May 28, 2012
New York Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert and the Yoko Nagae Ceschina Chair, will lead the orchestra in Mahler’s Symphony No. 9 at the Annual Free Memorial Day Concert. More -
Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM)
BrooklynSat, May 26, 2012 – Mon, May 28, 2012
Over 300 vendors from around the world converge on the streets surrounding BAM, transforming the neighborhood into a global marketplace offering African, Caribbean and African-American food, craftsand fashion. More -
The Box That Rocks: 30 Years of Video Music Box and the Rise of Hip Hop Music & Culture
Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts
BrooklynSat, March 10, 2012 – Mon, May 28, 2012
"The Box That Rocks: 30 Years of Video Music Box and the Rise of Hip Hop Music & Culture" is an exhibition of contemporary art that celebrates the global influence of "Video Music Box," and the show’s historic contribution to urban music and culture. More -
Ted Rosenthal Quintet - Free Friday Night Music
ManhattanFri, June 1, 2012
The band performs music from "Images of Monk," Rosenthal’s award-winning album. The suite of Thelonious Monk’s pieces creatively “deranged” by Rosenthal takes a fresh look at Monk with daring arrangements without losing sight of Monk’s swing and wit. More -
Treasure Your Island: Community Awareness Day
Staten IslandSun, May 20, 2012
Come see Sundog Theatre at Treasure Your Island ! More